Kerry and Jadainvited me out for drinks, but I was so convinced he’d call that I told them I was too tired and wanted to start my new job search.
Never in my life had I waited around for a man; I’d never cared enough to, but I found myself constantly checking my cell phone for a sign. It was good in a way because it kept my mind off work and the impending changes that I couldn’t control. My mind was so fixed on Pagan that suddenly work somehow seemed unimportant.
I should have been looking through industry magazines and checking out all my contacts on LinkedIn to find a new job, but I couldn’t concentrate. Instead, I had a shower, lotioned and spritzed my body to within an inch of its life, and did my hair again, just in case he called and said he was on his way.
But he didn’t.
In fact, he didn’t contact me at all; he didn’t even message to check in and make sure I was okay.
I sipped my wine and stared at the TV, not that I watched it. Instead, my mind whirred on a loop while I second-guessed myself and everything he’d said to me the night before.
By nine o’clock, I’d had enough. My stomach swirled with nerves from winding myself up, along with burning disappointment because Pagan didn’t seem bothered about me. He knew my day had probably been hellish, but still, all I got from him was radio silence.
Screw this.
Getting up from the couch, I stabbed at my cell and clicked it onto the loudspeaker while heading for my bedroom. By the time Kerry eventually answered, I was already standing inside my tiny closet, studying my choices. The call connected, and my friend's voice shouted over the blaring music of the bar, “Wait a sec, Ash.” She must have gone outside or to the bathroom because the noise faded, and she came back on the line. “That’s better, I can hear you now. You okay?”
“I’m coming out,” I declared, grabbing my folded, tight, black leather pants from a shelf. “Where are you?”
“The Mercury,” she told me. “There’s a decent crowd in tonight. Remember that fireman I got talking to a few weeks ago at Hi-Dive? Well, he just walked in with a few friends.”
I grabbed a tight-fitting, black crop top and then headed toward my dresser for clean underwear. It wouldn’t take me long to get dressed and slap on some makeup, and the Uber would take about ten minutes.
“I’ll be there in thirty,” I stated.
“Awesome. I’ll save you a seat,” she replied excitedly before the line went dead, and I made for the bathroom to brush my teeth, already feeling better about my night. As I squeezed toothpaste onto the brush, I told myself it didn’t matter that Pagan hadn’t called. I could put him in the back of my mind and not give him a second thought while I did my own thing.
At least that was what I told myself, anyway.
—————
Twenty-six minutes later,I walked into the Mercury Café and headed straight for the bar where my friends were shooting theshit with a small group of guys wearing Denver Fire Department tees.
Jada, who was wedged between two burly men, saw me first, her face alight with mischief as she waved a hand and called out, “Over here, you baddie.”
Half the bar glanced around, including the guys my friends were with. A plethora of interested grins and appreciative glances were sent my way, and I added some pep to my step, or as my friend Tristan would call it, some slut to my strut.
I wasn’t somebody who shied away from attention, especially since I had confidence in my looks and knew how to work my shit to my advantage. Though it had to be said, my leather pants, cropped tee, and four-inch heels no doubt helped.
The instant I approached the bar, one of the firemen leaned toward me, his gaze dropping to my chest. He had the decency to raise his eyes and flash me a sheepish grin before his stare raked over my face, and his smile widened to show me straight, white teeth.
“You must be Aislynn.” He held out his hand and took my fingers in his, giving them a gentle squeeze. “Kerry told us all about you.”
“All bad, I hope,” I drawled, giving him a half-smile while I took in his dancing blue eyes and attractive, messy blond hair that curled into his collar. He seemed nice, a bit all-American boy next door for my tastes, but that glint in his eye made me wonder if there was more to him than brawny good looks and white teeth.
Jada cackled while Kerry let out a whoop, and the guys all laughed.
“Wanna drink?” Blond hottie asked.
I smiled. “I’d love a beer, please.”
He clutched his hand to his chest. “A girl after my own heart. Most girls who look the way you look drink cocktails.”
I let out a small laugh. “I do drink cocktails, but my tipple of choice is a beer and whiskey chaser.”
He looked up and whisper-shouted, “Thank you, God,” before tipping his face back down to mine and demanding, “Marry me.”
I brought a scandalized hand to my chest. “But, kind sir, I don’t even know your name.”
