by Ana Sparks
Karen looked from her to the three women who were just walking out the door, and then back to her again with an expression of uncertainty on her face. “I’m really not sure about this, Jen.”
“Go. I’ll be fine. Call me tomorrow, okay?”
Karen leaned in to give her a hug, and with a final “are you sure?” she turned and walked quickly away to catch up with the other women, leaving Jen alone at the bar.
Chapter Four
Jen self-consciously caught the attention of the barman and ordered herself another drink. The only thing worse than being alone in a bar was being alone and not drinking, and the last thing she wanted to do was draw even more attention to herself.
She sipped her drink slowly, trying to blend in, but as she heard the ever-increasingly loud whispers aimed in her direction, she cringed inwardly with embarrassment.
“Hey, sexy, why don’t you come and join us?” The twang in the man's voice was enough to let her know that he wasn’t from her neck of the woods. “A girl like you shouldn’t be sitting in a bar alone. Not unless you’re here on business, in which case you really need to come and sit here.”
His friends guffawed with laughter at his innuendo, and Jen felt her face flame as she realized what he was implying.
“Can I get you another drink?”
The deep gravelly voice made her jump and she looked up to see the barman who’d served her just a few minutes prior, taking in his vivid green eyes and muscular, tattooed forearms for the first time.
Jen nodded her head. “Yes, please. The same again.”
She watched him as he made her drink, admiring the way his muscles moved under his T-shirt and the deft way he handled the bottle. He’s pouring a damn drink, for God’s sake, not performing brain surgery. Jen gave herself a mental shake as he filled the glass to the brim.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
“Sure thing.” His voice was like smooth chocolate, rich and filled with an undertone that she couldn’t quite place. She could easily listen to him talk all night, given half the chance. He placed the drink on the counter in front of her and gave her a smile that could have melted an iceberg.
“I couldn’t help noticing that your friends went and left you. Are you waiting for someone, or was it because you happened to like the clientele here?”
Jen couldn’t help but laugh, which was obviously what he’d intended as a grin spread across his gorgeously chiseled face.
“Well, I figured that the nightclub wasn’t going to give me such a broad spectrum of male species as you seem to have in here, so I thought I’d stay awhile.”
It was the bartender's turn to laugh, and Jen felt goosebumps sprout up on her arms. “Well I’m glad you decided to stay. You’re livening a boring night up. My name’s Dan, by the way.” He held out a hand and Jen placed hers in it, marveling at how small it felt in his when he closed his huge fingers around it and gave it a gentle shake.
“I’m Jen. Pleased to meet you, Dan.” Thankfully she didn’t stutter; something she was known to do when she was nervous.
Maybe having a few drinks here wasn’t such a bad idea after all, she thought to herself.
“It’s good to meet you too, Jen. So, what are you really doing here all alone?”
Jen shrugged in an attempt at looking carefree. “My friends and I were on our way to a club in the next town, but the car broke down a mile or so back and the guy from the garage couldn’t get out here for another hour at least. We figured having a drink here was better than waiting out there in the rain, but then they changed their minds and went back to the car to wait.”
“Leaving you here by yourself?” He frowned as he talked, looking disappointed on her behalf and giving her a nice warm glow inside as she watched him. “That’s not very friend-like, is it? Or was it your decision?”
“A little bit of both, I suppose. I was going to go with them, but I think my pride might have gotten in the way.” She shrugged her shoulders again. “I guess I wanted to show them I'm not always the ‘play it safe’ girl they think I am. Is it wrong to not want to be boring all the time?”
Dan shook his head slowly as he pondered her question. “Not at all. Although, proving them wrong somewhere a little classier and closer to home than this may have been wiser.” He smiled to show that he wasn’t meaning any offense with his words, and Jen smiled back.
“I know you’re right, and I really wanted to have a good night out to forget about my worries for a while, but it doesn’t look like I’m going to get it, does it?” She checked her watch. It had been less than half an hour since the girls had left her there, but it felt as though she had been talking to Dan for hours. “Still, no-one can say that I haven’t stepped outside of my comfort zone tonight, can they?” They both laughed quietly.
“So, how on earth did you end up working here?” Jen looked around the bar again, wrinkling her nose delicately at the beer-stains on the carpet and the cigarette burns on the bar top. “No offense, Dan, but you seem too intelligent to be working in a place like this.”
Dan laughed heartily. “You’ve known me for less than an hour, and you already think I’m intelligent? Damn, I should have taken up acting.” They both laughed at his words and Jen relaxed a little bit more.
Unfortunately, her relaxation was short-lived.
“So come on then, sexy, tell us what it’s gonna cost us for an hour of your time.” The grating tones of one of the four men sitting at the table behind her dragged her concentration away from her conversation with Dan, but she resolutely ignored the jibe.
“An hour? Hell, I could do no end of things to that sweet body in an hour. Maybe we should pool our money and book her for the night. We could all have some fun that way.” The four of them laughed raucously again, making lewd and suggestive gestures behind her back.
Jen tensed when she heard the scrape of wood against the floor as one of the men pushed his chair back and stood up. She heard heavy footsteps as he made his way across the short distance to where she was sitting at the bar. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she sensed him stop behind her.
She didn’t have time to say anything as she felt, rather than saw, the man reach out a hand as though to pinch her bottom. Before she could do or say anything, Dan had jumped up and over the counter and placed himself between her and the man who’d approached her.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Dan's voice was low and menacing, and Jen turned in her seat in time to see the stranger slink away back to his seat.
“Sorry, Dan. No harm intended.” The other three men at his table turned back to their drinks. Without saying another word, they downed what was left in their glasses and got up to leave, the fourth man trailing behind them as they hurried out of the bar.
Jen didn’t think that more than two minutes had lapsed for the whole event to take place, and she turned in astonishment back to Dan.
“Thank you. You didn’t have to do that. I'm grateful that you did, but I definitely could have handled them by myself.” Jen seriously doubted that, but Dan was too much of a gentleman to argue the point with her.
“It was no problem. I don’t like that kind of behavior in my bar, and I detest men who think that a woman drinking alone is asking for their attention.” He had moved back behind the bar, walking around this time instead of jumping over it. “How about another drink? On the house this time.”
“You don’t have to do that, but thank you, a drink would be nice.” She watched as he made her another, trying and failing not to stare at the tattoos on his arms. She blushed as he turned in her direction and caught her ogling him, but he was nice enough to just smile at her as he placed the glass on the counter.
“It looks like the place is calming down for the night.” Jen looked around and was surprised to see that apart from a young couple, they were the only ones left in the bar. It was as though his show of machismo had scared everyone away.
“Mind if I come around that side and
join you for a drink?” Dan asked.
How could she say no when he’d so gallantly jumped to her defense?
“Sure. Some company would be nice.”
She watched as he poured himself a beer and then walked around the bar to take a seat beside her.
“So, Jen, tell me why you would prefer to stay here on your own rather than go out with your friends? It’s pretty obvious by the way you’re dressed up that you had plans to go somewhere a little more exciting than a dingy bar.”
“Oh, it was supposed to be my last real blow-out before I make a decision on what to do with my life. I wonder if it’s fate telling me that I need to buckle down and give in.” She laughed ruefully. “The trouble is, it seems like I’ve been giving in all my life.”
“I’m not sure if that sounds like hard work or boring for you. But judging by your expression, I’d say that it’s not something you enjoy either way.”
Jen shrugged. “It’s not really a case of being boring, and hard work has never scared me. It’s a case of my parents expecting that I do what they want me to do without any regard for what I actually want. Maybe that’s because I don’t know what I want.”
She took another sip of her drink. “Although that’s not strictly true. I know that I want to take some time off studying and travel a little before the rest of my life is taken up by work. I don’t think it’s too much to ask for, seeing as how I’ve never taken any kind of break before.”
“And your folks aren't happy with that idea I’m guessing?”
“You’ve got that right. They’re both doctors. Good ones. And they want me to follow in their footsteps and enroll in med school to eventually become a specialist in some field or another. It’s a worthy thing to do, of course, but I’m just not sure it’s what I want.”
She took another sip. “The thing is, if I don’t apply soon, they’re going to cut me off, and I’m not sure that I’d be able to do anything then, let alone leave the country.”
Dan got up and went back around the bar to make them both another drink. “The way I see it, Jen, you have two options here. You can let your family dictate how you should live your life, or you can take control and make your own decision. Ultimately, they’ll come around and respect you for proving that you know your own mind and are the master of your own life. Or should that be mistress?” He smiled at her and she felt herself start to blush at the possible hidden innuendo beneath his wording.
“I know you’re right, but it’s easier said than done when you have parents like mine.” Jen knew she sounded petulant, but she was speaking the truth.
“Well, you’re obviously someone who's well-educated and intelligent. You’ve got the world at your fingertips, and your background can only be an added bonus when you think about it. You just have to figure out how to use it to your advantage, is all. You’ll work it out.”
Jen smiled at him. “You know something, Dan? You’re the first person in a long time to actually ask about what I want to do. It’s been a long time since anyone showed any interest in what motivates me. Thank you for that.”
Jen could have sworn that she saw the beginning of a blush creep up over his cheeks, but he turned away from her before it bloomed.
“I tell you what, it’s time for me to close up, so how about I cash out the register, and then we go for a drive somewhere. Will that be reckless enough for you to brag to your friends about?”
She should say no. She knew she should. But there was something about Dan that piqued her interest. She wasn’t sure if it was his natural charm, rugged good looks, or maybe the way he’d jumped to her defense earlier on, but somehow she felt safe with him.
Jen decided that, for once in her life, she was going to throw caution to the wind. “That sounds like a great idea.”
Dan looked as surprised as Jen felt at her words, but there was no way she was going to back out now.
Chapter Five
It didn’t take long for Dan to cash up and turn the lights off, and then he was getting his jacket and holding the door open for Jen to go out before he turned on the alarm and locked up.
“My car's parked around the back,” he told her.
Jen jumped when he reached out and took her hand in his, pulling her along at an eager rate and making her laugh breathlessly as they jogged around the building.
He opened the passenger door for her and then quickly walked around to the driver’s side and climbed in.
“It might be a good idea to text one of your friends and let them know that you’ve got a ride home.”
“I’m ahead of you. I did it while you were locking up.”
Jen was touched that he’d actually thought of it. She didn’t tell him that Karen had sent her a text back telling her that she was an idiot for going off somewhere with a complete stranger. She figured she would keep that little nugget of information to herself.
“Do you have any objections to taking a short drive to the countryside? I know a great place that is just off the beaten track where we can relax without interruptions. It’s not too secluded, but it is nice and quiet if you’re not too nervous about being alone with me?”
He ended his comment with a question, and Jen thought carefully about her answer before replying.
“I know it’s strange, and it’s probably really reckless of me, but I feel safe with you, Dan. It almost feels as though I’ve known you for way longer than a few hours.”
And it really did. Besides, a man who jumped to her defense and potentially put himself in harm’s way to make sure she wasn’t hurt surely wouldn’t have any intention of doing anything bad to her, would he?
She looked across at Dan as he drove, and couldn’t help noticing the smile that played across his face in the darkness.
“I know exactly what you mean. I feel the same way, Jen.” His words gave her a warm glow inside. “Why don’t you choose a station on the radio? Anything but pop, I just can’t stand it.”
“I’m the same way.” Jen laughed, reaching forwards and twiddling with the knobs on the stereo until she found a good station.
Dan changed lanes and then turned off onto another road. They drove in comfortable silence, talking sporadically as they enjoyed the night drive. The rain had stopped some time ago, and Jen wound her window down a little to enjoy the cool damp air, taking in what scenery she could in the darkness of the night.
Eventually, Dan pulled off the road and into a clearing that Jen had no doubt was quite beautiful in the daylight. As it was, the darkness of the hour meant that all she could see were shapes and shadows, but then the moon came out from behind the clouds, and the place was lit up with blue light.
Dan opened his door and stepped out, walking further into the clearing before turning to her. “Are you going to join me, or is this too far out of your safety zone?”
She could tell from the tone of his voice that he was just playing with her, and she laughed as she opened her own door, standing there for a few seconds as she watched him sink to the ground and then lay down on his back with his hands cradling his head.
“Okay scaredy-cat, get your butt over here.”
“You’re being a little presumptuous for someone who only just met me a few hours ago,” Jen quipped. She was smiling as she spoke, walking over to where he lay and dropping down beside him.
“Ah, you’ll forgive me. You’re that kind of girl.” He was still teasing her, and she found it quite endearing. “Lay back and enjoy the view.”
He gave a light tug on the back of her top, pulling her backwards until she was lying flat on her back looking up at the sky.
In ordinary circumstances, Jen probably would have felt uneasy and self-conscious, but for some reason she felt completely at ease with Dan.
“Oh wow, look at all the stars!” Her voice was filled with wonder as she took in the beautiful nightscape that nature was blessing them with. “I don’t think I’ve ever really realized how beautiful the sky can be at night, living in the city.”
> “You’ve been missing out, then. If you lay still long enough, you might get to see a shooting star, and if you tell me that you’ve never seen one of those before, then I’m going to have to have strong words with you.”
Jen cleared her throat and deliberately stayed quiet, and Dan looked at her incredulously. “Are you serious? You’ve never seen a shooting star?” She shook her head. “Never?”
Jen shook her head again and laughed softly. “I’ve never seen one.”
“Well here, make yourself comfortable and stay a while. Use my arm as a pillow.” He nudged at her head with his elbow until she raised it up enough for him to slide his arm underneath, effectively cradling her neck when she lowered her head back down. “There, much better.”
Jen had to agree with him. Lying on her back with his arm beneath her while she looked up at the crystal clear night not only felt good, it felt peaceful and right.
“Some of them look so big. Look at that one.” She raised her arm and pointed in the direction of the star that had caught her eye.
“Do you see that one?” He used his free hand to point upwards. “If you follow it down to the one directly below it and then across…” he carried on directing her with his finger, “that’s the plow. There are so many constellations up there that it blows my mind how they named them all.”
Jen was mesmerized by his words as well as the stars. His voice had a hypnotic quality to it that she could easily listen to all night.
“Do you ever wonder if there’s anything out there?”
“You mean like aliens or something?” His tone was genuinely curious, as though her question needed serious deliberation before he answered her. It made Jen feel good that he didn’t laugh at her for asking such a seemingly ludicrous question.
