I nod and stand up. “What day are you thinking?”
Autumn looks up from my phone, which I reach down and take back from her. “Week from Thursday is the best day weather-wise. Zero chance of rain and I also went on Lacey Baldwin’s website and she has no events planned so we aren’t going to compete for attendance.”
“Cool. Do you want me to talk to Harrison and Joss or do you want to?”
Autumn smiles. “I’ll talk to them. They like me better because I don’t break things.”
“Ha ha.” I roll my eyes even though she’s probably right. “Okay. I’m going to nap.”
“You and your band buddy stay up late?” Woody says and I stutter step. My brain heard bed buddy and it takes me a minute to realize he saidbandbuddy.
“You okay there big bro?” Autumn asks and her eyebrow is arched again. I fight the urge to reach out and try to physically push it down with my fingertip.
“I’m tired. I didn’t sleep well last night, which is nothing new.” I lie and head inside. Autumn and Woody go back to brainstorming this event.
I’m not thrilled with the idea, but it does make sense. I try to push it from my brain and concentrate on the fact that in a few short hours I’ll be at work, and Chase is probably going to be there too. That’s enough to make me smile and I haven’t smiled about working a shift at Vino and Veritas since I got the job.
13
CHASE
I get to Vino and Veritas late. It’s already pretty packed. Bowen is nowhere to be seen but I grab a bar stool as soon as two women get up to leave and smile at Murph. He gives me a little wave. “Hi gorgeous. Are you in a Pinot or a Cab mood today?”
“Cab, thanks.”
He starts to pour me a glass as Bowen emerges from the back with a tray full of clean glasses. His face lights up when he sees me and he mouths the wordhey. I give him a small, hopefully subtle wave, and bite the inside of my cheek to keep my smile from getting too big. Truth is, I want to grin like a lovesick teenager. He looks great, as always. He’s given up trying to pull his chin length hair into a ponytail and it’s loose. He’s got on a simple black tee and a pair of black jeans that hug the curve of his ass. The shirt also lifts as he reaches up to slide the wine glasses into the holder above the bar and I see that perfect smooth ridge near his hip that I’ve had my lips on before.
My dick relives the moment in my pants and I shift on my bar stool and will my cock to simmer down. “Hey. Chase!”
I blink and turn to see Riley Meadows has slipped in between two occupied seats at the other side of the bar. We make eye contact, and he waves at me with a tattooed arm. Riley came back to town recently to take care of his grandfather and I helped him out with business applications through the Chamber of Commerce. “Riley. Good to see you. How’s it going?”
“Good. Great, actually.” Riley gives me a smile, which isn’t something I’m used to seeing on his face so things really must be going well. I’m glad to hear it. He’s a really nice guy.
“You wanna grab a drink?”
“I’m here with my… ah… Peter.”
He tilts his head back toward the other corner of the bar and I see the lawyer from Sprysky and Gentry. Peter’s eyes widen when he sees me and he waves. I nod in return with a friendly smile. It’s weird seeing him in the wild and not across a conference table, trying not to grimace at the shit show that is my family.
“You’ve met before?” Riley asks.
“Yeah. My family does business with his firm.” I lean closer to Riley. “If he ever comes home grumbly and annoyed, he’s probably had a meeting with my family. Sorry.”
Riley just smiles. “You here by yourself? Blowing off a rough work week or something?”
“Or something.” I smile. “Just bored, really.”
“You’re welcome to come and sit with us,” Riley offers as Murph slides him two Shipley ciders.
I shake my head. “No, thanks though. Enjoy yourselves without a third wheel.”
Riley lifts a pint toward me in a ‘cheers’ motion before he takes the drinks and heads back to Peter. He’s got to be Riley’s boyfriend even though he didn’t say it. I’m left with a bit of an ache in my chest. It looks so easy and effortless – date night. With a guy. I’ve always looked forward to the day I could openly do that too, but now it feels even more pressing. I want it more than I wanted to get into a college or make the swim team in high school, or open Christmas presents when I was really young and still thought Santa brought them. Because now I have an actual person I want to go on a date with.
My eyes find Bowen again. He’s finished loading the clean glasses and is wiping the bar top where two customers just left. His eyes are on me though, until I look at him and then he looks away. His expression isn’t readable. I walk over and drop back down on my bar stool and sip my wine.
An hour and a half later I’m standing at the end of the alley, waiting for him. The back door opens, and I hear him talking to someone. “Let’s keep that streak going tomorrow night.”
“I intend to,” I hear Bowen say. “See you then, Tanner. Night.”
