Checking out her tan legs, I noticed her toenails were painted a light purple color. Adult Kelly literally blew my mind. High heel sandals, painted toenails, miniskirt and makeup. She’d had the most epic glow up. The sassy girl was gorgeous and had my heart racing.
We entered The Cocky Cactus holding hands. If she pulled her hand out of mine, I wouldn’t try to stop her. Since she didn’t, I held on tightly.
The lounge was dark as most were, with a speakeasy vibe. Four armless velvet sofas filled the space in the middle of the room with wooden coffee tables and mosaic lamps. Along the walls were a few high-back leather booths and on the opposite end was the bar. The walls were dark green, gold framed pictures and mirrors, and the recessed lights gave off a warm glow.
The Cocky Cactus was the fanciest place in San Diablo.
“Wow, this place is amazing,” Kelly said, surprise in her voice. “Where’s the special room?”
“Why, are you into pole dancing?” I asked teasing her.
“Maybe. I might want to give it a whirl.” Her words turned me on but the thought of her in skimpy lingerie with her ass and tits falling out for others to see made me want to lock her in a room to hide her from the world. “But I wouldn’t want an audience.”
“What about an audience of one?” I wiggled my eyebrows, tugging her closer to me. It wasn’t lost on me that every pair of eyes were on us. From the bartender to the servers to the customers, I wanted them all to know Kelly was with me.
Something flashed in her baby blue eyes. Like what I’d said had given her a thrill. “I guess it would depend on who was the customer.”
“I think we both know who it would be.” Me, of course. I stared into her eyes and tried to reach her soul, making myintentions known. I was never the guy who dropped hints or kept a girl guessing about my feelings.
“Let’s not forget we’re here as friends. This isn’t a date.”
“I know.” But that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to try my damnedest to make it end like all my other dates. I needed to taste Kelly’s lips and feel her soft curves under my hands. And if I could get my dick hard, I would be inside her.
And with that, I led her to my favorite booth and guided her to slide in. Instead of sitting across from her, as a friend would do, I boldly sat next to her.
She sighed and tilted her head. “Maybe I wasn’t clear.”
“Clear about what?”
“This isn’t a date, Gideon. My life is complicated and I don’t have the time to nurture a new relationship.” She put her hand on my shoulder. “But I do want to be your friend.”
“We’re already friends, Kel.”
“It’s been a lifetime since we knew each other. We’re adults now. We’ve changed. I mean, look at you.” Her blue eyes traveled over my face and body. I could tell she liked what she saw. ‘You’re not the tall, skinny kid who used to smoke in the park. You’re a biker and I don’t know the adult you, just like you don’t know the adult me.”
“But I want to know the adult version of you. Seeing you for the first time yesterday after all these years, it’s like it was fate.”
“Fate?” She laughed softly. “Don’t be so dramatic.”
“No, seriously. I’ve been in a really bad place since the accident. Some days I prayed I wouldn’t wake up in the morning.”
“Oh, God, Gideon. Don’t say that.” She teared up and the sight of her emotions put an ache in my chest. “You have so much to live for. People who need you and love you.”
I shook my head. “I’m not the same man I was last summer. I used to be the resident playboy. I could get any woman I wanted, but I’m not that person anymore.”
“Hey, GQ. What can I get you both?” Shelley asked, interrupting my vulnerable moment. Perhaps it was for the best. I was getting deep with Kelly way too fast, but strangely, that was how comfortable I was with her.
I nodded at Kelly to go first.
“Can I get a lemon drop martini, please?”
“And I’ll just have my usual IPA,” I told Shelley. Not that I really wanted a drink. Since last night, I hadn’t taken any oxy or drank any booze. It was weird how clear my mind was but that shouldn’t surprise me. I wasn’t impaired, so of course, the world seemed brighter.
“Coming right up.” Shelley sashayed away, swinging her hips for my benefit.
“As the resident playboy, I assume you’ve been with her.” Kelly flicked her eyes at Shelley.
“Yes.”
