by Anne Conley
He watched Renae while he played the opening lick and saw realization dawn just before Les started belting out the lyrics taking over the melody on the guitar. The blush that stained her cheeks was priceless, and Jason only felt a little bad for having the attention forced on her this way. But she was so damned good looking he was sorry he hadn’t been thinking about her more.
Les was a great guitar player and had a versatile voice. He could sing Frank Sinatra or Marvin Gaye and then follow up with a real crooner like Etta James. He was really a magician musically, able to make any song his own, and Jason was only filling in some sultry sounds where they were needed. Half the set they hadn’t rehearsed. They just played well together. Jason was having the time of his life, and the scenery wasn’t bad either.
He continued watching Renae and saw her come to some sort of decision, as about two-thirds of the way through the song, her chin lifted, and she finally met his eyes. The flush still stained her cheeks, but she seemed to be willing herself not to think about it. He saw determination light a fire in her eyes, and he found himself aching to uncover what else lay inside.
Chapter 7
If Les ever finished playing, she was going to choke the living daylights out of him. But Claire was first on her list.
When Claire had sent those drinks up to the stage, Renae heard her tell the waitress what to say, and tried to stop it. She was not some loose floozy who threw herself at the talent no matter how sexy they were. No matter if she still felt guilty for nearly killing him. No matter if watching his fingers on the keys of the saxophone brought visions of the same fingers undoing the buttons on her shirt…
Before she knew it, the music from the stage had been replaced with music from the DJ, and Renae stood to find Les and give him a piece of her mind. She was mortified. Beyond embarrassed. And it was his fault. She wouldn’t go out with him, so he was going to embarrass her in public?
She stretched up on her toes to see over the crowd that had formed while she’d been lost in the music to see if she could find the prick when hands at her waist and a breath in her ear stilled her.
“I believe it’s our dance.” It was him. The saxophone player she’d nearly killed. Jason.
She turned and could only shrug, since all the air had been sucked out of the room. He was as stunningly handsome as she’d remembered. Gaping at him on stage hadn’t dampened her desire for him one bit. His warm hand enveloped hers as he led her to the dance floor where some slow country song was playing. He wrapped his hand around her waist and tugged her closer than necessary until she was flush against his long hard body. Everyone else was two-stepping, but Jason just buried his nose in her hair and swayed to the music. His exhalations on her scalp sent tingles of desire coursing through her body. Her fingers clutched his broad shoulders and she buried her face in the lapels of his jacket, inhaling his aroma.
The spicy musk brought to mind the day of the accident, and she raised her head to look at his face.
“I’m sorry about the accident. I was a bit foggy that day, and I don’t know what happened.”
He smiled at her, the crinkles around his eyes becoming more pronounced. “It’s okay. I flew high the rest of the day. Something about the adrenaline rush of surviving. It’s a real pick-me-up.” He lowered his head back to where it had been before and inhaled again before continuing. “So… Renae. What do you do?”
His voice turned her insides to mush, or else she’d had too much to drink. “I’m a bank teller. You?” She turned her head to the side and saw Les watching them, a forlorn expression on his face. She almost felt bad, except she’d been telling him forever dating him would be incestuous.
“I’m a graphic designer for a firm in Houston.”
She deflated. A few of the clouds she was walking on lost some of their oomph. He wasn’t staying. “Oh?” She forced a cheery tone into her voice. “What brings you to Serendipity?”
“My dad. He’s having some troubles, and I’m staying a couple of weeks to get him straightened out. Hopefully.”
She wasn’t sure if he was hopeful he would stay a couple of weeks, hopeful his dad would get straightened out, or hopeful he would go back home. It was vague, and Renae chose not to ponder the question. The two margaritas she’d had, plus the tequila shot Alyssa had insisted on, were doing their damnedest to make her a carefree woman tonight. And care free she would be.
“Well, good luck to you on that. I know parents can be difficult at times.” Thinking of her own difficult-to-please mother made her voice genuine. Although thinking of her mother didn’t really do much for her mood.
The song ended, but Jason didn’t let go of her. Instead, he looked at his watch and said, “I still have ten minutes or so of my break. You want to go somewhere and talk a little more?” His eyes looked hopeful and Renae shrugged again, feigning nonchalance, when all she really wanted to do was haul him to a back room somewhere and kiss him senseless. He grabbed her hand and led her to the bar to order a beer for him and another margarita for her. She really should stop, she but was having too much fun. This was the first time ever a man she was attracted to had paid her any attention, and she was going to enjoy it. Today was the first day she was actually succeeding at the whole living for herself thing.
“So… enjoying a night out with friends?” He asked her before taking a drink. Renae couldn’t stop focusing on the way his lips caressed the mouth of the beer bottle.
“Yeah.” She nodded. “I don’t get out much, and they sort of forced me tonight.”
“Homebody, huh? Me too. I’d much rather stay at home and listen to music.” His elegant fingers grasped the bottle lightly, swinging it back and forth, while his blue eyes danced across her face. “Although it’s usually better with someone interesting to talk to.”
“Yeah,” she agreed weakly. His eyes bored into hers and she realized they were such a light blue they were almost like shiny aquamarine gemstones. “You have really pretty eyes.” Wow. And now her filter was gone. She felt the flush rise to her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I said that.” Her hands rose to her cheeks to feel the burn.
“It’s okay. Your eyes are pretty too. And guys dig girls who think we’re pretty.” His grin was panty-melting, and Renae bit her tongue to keep those particular words inside. “I think your eyes aren’t all that’s pretty about you.”
She nearly clamped her hand over her own mouth as her eyebrows rose in surprise. She was speechless as she watched his eyes trace a path from hers to her mouth, to her breasts where they lingered, before traveling down her legs to her boots. And then back up. She licked her lips with nervousness when they got back to her face.
“In fact, I’d be hard pressed to find a prettier girl here tonight.” His eyes never left her face, and she knew in her heart he wasn’t even looking at other girls. He finished his beer and set the bottle down before tracing his finger down her arm, leaving a trail of goosebumps in his wake. When he got to her hand, he clasped her fingers in his and raised them to his lips, breathing warm air on them. “What are you doing later? After the show?”
Renae tried to get her hand back, but he held on. “I don’t-”
“I just want to get to know you a little better.” He kissed her hand before placing it back in her lap. “I think you are the bright spot I need in my life right now.”
The words right now brought the feelings of deflation back. He wasn’t going to be here forever. He was just here for two weeks. Then he’d be gone. What would getting to know him do for her?
“You still have time to decide. We’ve got another set to play, and it’s time. Don’t leave without giving me your number though, please?”
She started reciting her number and giggled while he hurriedly fumbled for his phone out of his back pocket to input it, repeating it back to her to make sure he’d gotten it in right.
Then he rose to go back to the stage and dropped a quick kiss on her cheek before he left.
Renae’s hand flew to th
e warm spot his lips left on her cheek before she walked back to her table in a daze.
“Holy shit! What did y’all talk about?” Claire was peppering her with questions.
“I don’t know.” Renae shrugged. She’d spent too much time with teenagers. “Stuff. He wants to hang out after he’s done playing.”
“Do it!” Alyssa chimed in.
“I don’t know him, ‘Lyssa. I don’t know what he wants from me… I just—” Her fingers twisted the napkin she’d retrieved from under her drink.
“Who cares? Have fun, Renae. You deserve to have a little fun now and then. Jeez. You don’t have to marry him. You can just fuck him.” Alyssa waggled her eyes at Renae.
“Good god woman!” Dalton had overheard this last part of the exchange. “That’s my sister you’re talking to!”
“So? Your sister needs to get laid.” She patted him affectionately on the chest.
“Do you guys always objectify men like that?” Claire’s husband Max asked with a smirk on his face.
Renae smiled brightly. “You should have heard some of the stuff I’ve listened to about you over the years.” Renae had grown up with Les and Max along with their other friend, Brent, and her brother Dalton and had heard just about everything from the other girls in PE. Those boys managed to get around. And if she could listen to all that crap about her brother, he could damn well suck it up for one night out with her and her friends.
“Yeah. It’s Renae’s turn now,” Claire said. “You just hush up now and let us convince her to let loose for a change.” Turning to Renae, she continued. “When is the last time you got laid?”
Flushing bright red again, Renae stammered. “Um, you weren’t around then, but it was about seven years ago, a guy named Johnny.”
Dalton cleared his throat. “While I don’t really want to know the details of your methods, I do agree with Alyssa and Claire. You deserve some fun.”
“Okay.” Her eyes dropped back to her lap, but when the music started back up again, she forced herself to meet the penetrating gaze of Jason, who continued to stare her down while he played. She smiled at him brightly and nodded once. His pinky finger fluttered over a key on the sax and he let out a trill in the middle of the song that could only be celebratory. She muffled her giggle behind her hand while Alyssa elbowed her ribs.
Now that her mind was made up, the rest of their set seemed to last forever. Renae had a couple more drinks, but she noticed Jason only had one of the shots that her group sent up to the musicians. He moved the majority of them to the side for the drummer to take.
Finally, when the set was over, Jason boxed up his sax and bounded down the steps to the stage, landing at Renae’s feet.
“You ready?”
She nodded. “Yeah, but I’ve got to drive everybody else home. They rode with me, cuz my car’s bigger.”
Renae was proud of herself. She wasn’t slurring her words. But when she stood, the room spun, and she sat down again. Hard. Great. She’d sat there, sucking down drinks all night, and now she was drunk. It probably didn’t really matter what she did from here on out —she wouldn’t remember it.
“How about you give me your keys and direct me from shotgun. I’ll drive everybody home, and we can go to my place last. We can talk, if you want. Or I can feed you something, if you would like.” He rubbed his hands together fiendishly. “I open a mean can of tomato soup.”
Renae thought about what he was offering, and something niggled at the back of her mind. She was forever cautioning Kelly about things like this, going home with strange boys. She giggled to herself. Jason wasn’t a boy — far from it. He looked to be about her age, and all man. The way he was looking at her told her he was up for anything tonight, and the way Renae’s lady parts were clenching, he wouldn’t disappoint.
Aw, fuck it. “Okay.” It sounded feeble when it came out of her mouth, but when Jason held out his hand for her to take, she willingly latched on. His other arm went around her waist and he led everybody out to her dilapidated minivan.
“Nice ride,” he smirked down at her.
“Don’t make fun. It’s paid for.”
“I wasn’t making fun. The image of a gorgeous girl like you riding around in this hoopty just doesn’t fit. It’s an anachronism. That’s all.” He spoke softly in her ear, and made the words sound almost intimate.
For some reason, that was the funniest thing she’d heard all night. She laughed a deep belly laugh that almost made her fall down. If Jason hadn’t been holding her up, she would have.
He brought his other hand to her waist and pulled her close against the passenger side of her car while Max, Claire, Alyssa, and Dalton were filing in the back seats.
“You’re beautiful when you laugh like that.” His voice was a husky murmur, and it brought their faces closer together. Renae was possessed by her inner sex-demon, and she grasped his lapels tightly and brought his mouth crashing down to hers, fulfilling the fantasy she’d been having about him all night.
Her tongue forced its way into his mouth, which opened willingly. His hands pulled her against his hardness, and she could feel his sizable erection through his pants on her hip. Gasping, she released him. “How fast can you drive?”
“Are you kidding me?” He opened the passenger door and pushed her in, leaning over to buckle her seatbelt. He leaned further over and spoke into the backseat while Renae exercised every ounce of self-control she had not to lick his neck just two inches in front of her. The alcohol. It had to be. “You guys better buckle up. The lady wants to go fast.”
Dalton groaned loudly. “My sister! This is the last time I go out with you guys. Seriously.”
Renae giggled. She was positively giddy with anticipation as she knew exactly what she wanted tonight. If the alcohol hadn’t dulled her inhibitions enough, that kiss certainly had. Her heart thudded in her chest as she reveled in the freedom she felt at this moment. She was about to have her first ever one-night stand. And if the hunger in his kiss told her anything, he wanted her as badly as she wanted him. Granted, he’d said he just wanted to get to know her, so if she chickened out and couldn’t go through with it, she knew he would do the right thing.
She looked over at him, and he winked at her. Her heart continued fluttering dangerously as Jason drove. True to his word, he got everyone home safely in record time.
Chapter 8
After Max and Claire got out of the car, Jason turned to Renae who was stiff and alert in the passenger seat. He knew she’d had a lot to drink, and as badly as he wanted to take her to his room and explore her body, he also didn’t want to do anything she’d regret tomorrow. Normally, he wouldn’t think that much about it, but something about Renae screamed she was different. He needed to be careful with her.
“I’m at the hotel up the road. Do you still want to go back to my room, or do you want me to drive you home?”
She was quiet, punishing her bottom lip with her teeth. Jason found himself drawn to that small gesture, unable to tear his eyes away from her mouth. She took a deep breath, lifting her chest and drawing his attention down as she turned to him.
“Your room,” she said softly.
“You sure?”
“You said we could just talk if I wanted, right?” The hesitancy in her voice tugged at Jason. She didn’t want this night to end either.
Inside his mind, he let out a triumphant war-whoop, but aloud he said, “Of course,” as he put the car back in gear.
When he pulled up to his hotel, without getting out of the van, Jason turned to Renae. “I had a great time tonight,” he said carefully while stroking her cheek. He needed to make sure she was still okay with this. He could tell she didn’t normally pick guys up at the Gin, and something about that fact made his heart swell.
“Me too.” Renae’s body had stiffened, and Jason craved the suppleness under his fingers again, like when he’d kissed her earlier by the passenger door. Was she having second thoughts?
“Do you still want to
come to my room?”
“Why?” Her eyes were guarded, but she sounded more curious than defensive.
Treading carefully, “I just want to spend more time with you, Renae. We can talk, or we can do other stuff, whatever you want. I don’t want tonight to end. Not yet.” He meant every word. Jason was almost desperate to have her with him longer tonight. He couldn’t explain it, but something about this woman was calling to him, to be with her, in whatever way she would allow.
The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, and a twinkle lit her eye. “What sorts of other stuff?”
His eyes fell on her bare shoulder, noticing the expanse of smooth skin where her shoulder met her neck. The top she wore was modest, classy, yet her bare shoulders showed off enough velvety flesh to hint at what lay beneath. His knuckles slowly stroked her collar bone, relishing the feel of downy, glossy skin.
“Whatever you want. Whatever you’re comfortable with. Whatever makes you feel good.” He watched her carefully, while he moved slowly. She swallowed and took a deep breath before nodding.
“I want sex.” His cock twitched in response to the words.
“Are you drunk?” He didn’t want this to be a mistake on her part.
“Not anymore.”
Jason’s heart beat wildly. “My room’s right there,” he pointed to the row of rooms in front of the minivan. She nodded. “Stay here.” He got out of the van and walked around to the other side to open her door. She stepped into his arms, and he tasted her lips again.
Renae opened up to him eagerly as he hauled her against his body. Something felt right to Jason when he kissed her. He could imagine all the world’s evils dying off, all the petty arguments resolved, nothing would bother him again, not with this kiss.
Her fingers trembled against him as they wound around his neck and tangled in his hair, pulling gently. The stinging tingles sent tremors of need surging through his body. Their tongues entwined, and he could taste remnants of the sour sweetness of her margaritas, but it was overpowered by a taste that was purely Renae. There was nothing like it.
