I glanced down at myself, flushing. Stepping closer, I lowered my voice. “Do I not look right?” My hand tugged on my shirt. I didn’t have a lot of night-out clothes, since we didn’t normally go out. The black shirt wasn’t tight, but the threading along the arms bared some of my skin and made me feel sexier, even if no cleavage was on display. Jeans had seemed like an easy choice to pair with it, but now I wondered if it would have been better to show more skin.
“You look just fine. It’s more how nervous you are.” He glanced down at where my hands had twisted together.
I forced them to loosen, gripping my purse again.
“Don’t worry, this is a nice bar. As safe as it gets.” His arms unfolded as he stepped back to give me room. “It’s a good place to live a little, if that’s what you’re doing, but if you’re nervous, take a seat on this end of the bar and I promise to keep an eye on you.” He pointed out one of the barstools when I drew closer.
“My name’s Sean, if you need anything. Or if I’m on break, you can talk to my buddy, Jack.” He nodded toward the bar. “He’s the bartender, and he also happens to own this place.”
My gaze shifted over to the man whose black shirt hugged similarly tattooed arms. Jack wasn’t as thick as Sean and was shorter, but he still had really nice arms and curly hair similar to Neil’s, only a much darker brown. “Oh, if he’s the owner, I couldn’t bother him.”
Sean snorted. “He’d be offended if you didn’t let him know you had a problem. He prides himself on this place.”
I took in more than just the bar. The decorations matched the theme of muses, with paintings of wild forests and gorgeous women, all scantily clothed but not naked. They were beautiful, honestly, and mixed among them were different instruments and music sheets. Along the ceiling, white lights had been strung like fairy lights.
“It’s beautiful,” I breathed, taking a step inside.
Sean laughed again, the sound deep and mellow. “Tell him that. He’ll likely get all embarrassed.”
“Why isn’t it busier?” I asked, flushing when I realized how that sounded and glancing at Sean, ready to apologize.
“It gets packed, just later than you’ve come. Most start showing up around ten, since that’s when the music starts.”
Disappointment filled me. “That late?”
“Ten is early for the night scene.” Sean had a dimple in his right cheek above his beard when he smiled. “We don’t close until two in the morning.”
“Oh.” I was more of a morning person than a night owl anymore, but that was because I’d linked work schedules with Neil a while back so we’d have more time together in the evenings. I used to go in at nine, but that had been two hours later than him. Changing my arrival time had actually caused me to work more overtime, since some of my clients were two or three hours behind our time zone, but it had also made him happy.
“I hope you can stick around to hear the music. The band tonight is supposed to be pretty good. Jack is involved in lining them up.” He nodded toward the bartender again. “But either way, enjoy the atmosphere and the chance to loosen up.”
I eyed him, but he didn’t seem to be making fun of me, just honestly wanting me to have a good time. “Thanks, Sean.”
I crossed the floor to the barstool he’d indicated, slipping onto the green seat while still looking around.
“What can I get you?” a woman asked.
Surprised by the lighter voice than I’d been expecting, I turned to her. With all my staring at the owner, I’d completely missed that there was a woman bartender as well. “Oh, um.” I leaned forward, lowering my voice, even though the closest other patrons were sitting at the barstools on the other side. “I was hoping you could make me a mocktail? Something fruity, just without alcohol.”
“You came to a bar to… not drink?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “I can grab you a ginger ale, little girl.”
My eyes dropped as I flushed and grabbed the bartop. “I’d rather it look like I’m drinking. I’ll pay full price if that helps. It’s not that I’m trying to be cheap.”
The woman laughed, her cleavage bouncing where it showed over the top of her tight shirt with the bar’s logo. “Nah, I was just busting your balls a little, but I get it.” Her eyebrows dipped as she considered her options. “I don’t make them often, though. Maybe—”
“I can make her something,” Jack offered, moving in front of me and nudging her aside. “Wendy, could you take over making another old-fashioned for our regular at the end?”
“Got it,” Wendy said, but her eyes slid to me. “Sorry for teasing you. I didn’t mean anything by it, really. Us women gotta stay safe, don’t we?”
I nodded, biting my lip. A flush still spread up my neck and over my cheeks. I watched Jack’s hands as he opened a fridge and pulled out some fruit juice. “Sorry to be such a hassle,” I mumbled.
“No hassle,” he said, adding a splash of red and a spritz of soda to the mixture. He speared a few pieces of fruit with a small sword, linking it to the side before dropping a cherry in and placing it in front of me.
“It’s so pretty,” I breathed, shifting the drink to admire it better.
“Hopefully, it tastes good, too,” Jack said with a smile. He motioned with his hand. “Go on.Give it a sip.”
I did, expecting it to be almost too sweet. It wasn’t. “Delicious,” I admitted, his widening smile causing butterflies to dance in my stomach. “Thank you, Jack.”
