The door to the bar opens, and a wall of a man walks in, shaking off the snow. My breath literally catches in my throat as my eyes travel across his frame. He has tattoos on his hands, which are exposed, a choice that’s crazy in this cold.
“Ready, baby?” he asks, his eyes pinned to Tate as she grabs her coat.
“I could’ve walked myself home tonight, Wylder. It’s too cold for you to be out.”
“Fuck no. No way I’m letting my woman walk alone in the cold. Never going to happen.,” he says as he slides his arms around her back, pulling her against him. “Let’s get you home and in bed.”
She smiles up at him, melting against his body. “You know the magic words. Bye, you two,” she says without looking our direction.
“Bye, sis.”
“Bye, Tate,” I say, and I’m so damn happy for her. Not only is the man drop-dead gorgeous, but he loves her so much he’d walk through a snowstorm so she’d get home safe.
“Want a refill or something stronger?” Brax asks as soon as they leave.
“What do you have in mind?”
“A shot to celebrate moving on this year.”
“You pour, I’ll drink.”
“I’ll pour, we’ll drink.”
I smile, liking everything about how this night is turning out, even if my car is broken and I was stood up. The night could’ve ended so much worse.
Instead of ending on a bad note, I am going to share a shot with a hottie bartender and take a new outlook on life.
3
BRAX
“They’re something, huh,”Iris says.
“Who?” I ask as I fill the shot glasses for a third time. Tomorrow, I am going to regret drinking so much, but it will be worth it, seeing Iris relaxed and with a smile on her face.
“Your sister and her man.”
“They’re nauseating at times, but it’s also nice to see my sister so happy.”
“That’s sweet,” she says as she lifts the shot glass to her lips. “Last toast because I’m not sure I’ll be able to walk if I have another.”
“You get a gold star from me. Three shots of this stuff would be more than enough for the average person.”
Her gaze dips down to the filled glass. “Really? I barely feel anything.”
“You will,” I tell her with a chuckle, knowing thepunch of this stuff after it’s had enough time to work through someone’s system.
“Great,” she mutters before doing this cute shrug with her shoulders and making a funny face. “Okay. Okay. The last toast… To finding happiness that makes other people nauseated.”
I chuckle again, because she’s using my word against me. “Cheers.” I tap my glass against hers as gently as possible, so the contents don’t slosh over the side and into her lap.
I watch her over the rim of the shot as she downs the liquor with ease. I take in her features, wondering how any guy could leave her at the altar. Besides ditching such a beautiful woman, you have to truly not like a person to embarrass them in such a public way in front of the people who care about them the most.
When she sets the shot glass back on the counter, she shivers. “That one wasn’t as smooth as the others.”
“I think we’re done here.” I snag the two empty shot glasses and the bottle of booze to put back for the customers on Tuesday. “I’ll grab my coat and walk you over to the apartment.”
“Why are you being so kind? I’m sure your wife isn’t happy that you’re coming home later than usual.”
