* * *
Callie was both relieved and disappointed the moment she walked in the door of the Lucky Strike and noticed someone else was behind the bar. Sure, it would have been fun to talk to Jake some more, but now she didn’t have to worry about the fact that she was dressed in her most comfortable clothes and probably looked like a child with her lack of makeup.
Just as she took a sip of her beer, she felt a jolt of electricity run through her. Instinctively she knew, it was him.
“Hey, Gorgeous. Nice to see you in here again, I see you like that Peach Ale.”
Callie whirled around at the sound of Jake’s deep voice. Unfortunately, she was caught off balance and stumbled right into his rock-hard chest. As his strong arms came up to steady her, she let out a breathy sigh that she hoped no one noticed.
“Easy there, I’ve got you. How many of those have you had?” Jake’s twinkling eyes showed he was teasing her, and as his hands lingered on her arms for just a moment, Callie let herself melt into the awareness of his attention.
“Oh, Jake, hi! I didn’t think you were here tonight. Not that I was looking for you I mean, well, someone else is behind the bar. Oh my god. Ummm hi.”
Callie groaned to herself. Could she not control her words even a tiny bit around this man? She did not normally ramble when she was nervous, so what was it about Jake that turned off the filter in her head that told her to stop talking. Much to her surprise, his reaction was to lean in and give her a swift hug that was over far too soon.
“It’s good to see you, Callie. Can I get you a drink?”
Callie nodded, but as she stood up to head to the bar with Jake, she suddenly remembered the table of coworkers she was there with. Coworkers who were watching her and Jake closely.
“That’s so kind, but I’m here with some friends. I shouldn’t…”
“Oh honey, yes you should,” Melanie interrupted. She walked up beside Callie and looked Jake up and down appreciatively. “Who is this hunk of a man and why are you even considering refusing a drink from him?” She stuck out her hand as she said, “Hey handsome, I’m Melanie, I work with Callie over at Oakville Memorial.”
Jake smiled and gave her a strong handshake. “Hi, Melanie, I’m Jake. Nice to meet you, hope you’re enjoying the place. I’d be happy to send over a round of drinks for the group,” he slanted his gaze to Callie. “If Callie agrees to go out for dinner with me tomorrow night.”
A surprised laugh burst free from Callie at his bold move. She arched her brow and put her hands on her hips, hoping to sound just as confident in her response, “Oh really. You think you’re such hot stuff that I’m going to agree to a date just so that my friends can get a free beer? I bet you make that offer to every woman who walks in here.”
Jake laughed, then his eyes turned smoldering as he leaned down and, in a tone soft enough that only she could hear, he whispered, “Oh no. I only make that offer to the woman I can’t stop thinking about. The woman whose perfect smile and smart mouth haunts me every night. The woman who scrambled my brain with her beauty, so much that I forgot to get her number the last time I saw her. Trust me, I won’t make that mistake again even if that woman doesn’t accept my offer.”
Callie felt the heat of his words send shivers through her body. Damn. Jake had stepped up his seduction game. How could she resist? Looking up into his eyes, she whispered back, “Well, I guess that woman would be a fool not to put you out of your misery. But what if she doesn’t live up to the fantasy in your mind?”
Jake held Callie captive with his seductive gaze. His voice was like silk sliding over her skin, teasing her where it touched when he replied, “Trust me, that won’t be a problem. I have the sense that an evening with her will be even better than I could ever imagine. So how about that woman gives me her phone so we can exchange numbers. I’m not letting her get away a third time.”
Jake held his hand out for her phone. She unlocked it and handed it over, watching as he added his number, and sent himself a text, setting his contact name asHot Bartender. Then he quickly added her info into his phone, under the nameGorgeous.
Callie chuckled under her breath, happy to have some humor ease the sky-rocketing sexual tension. “Cocky much?”
Jake shrugged and smiled unabashedly. “Nah, I’ve decided your name should definitely be Gorgeous. And you called me hot bartender last time. I figured it’s better than ‘former patient’.”
Jake glanced at the bar, where a lineup was forming. He pressed a sweet kiss to the back of Callie’s hand and said, “I’d better go and help out, can’t keep people waiting. I’ll send a waitress over with some fresh pitchers of beer. And, Callie, I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”
Callie let out a sigh as she watched him away. Had that actually happened? Had she really agreed to a date with the sexiest man she had ever met? Her phone beeped with an incoming text message, pulling her back to the present moment.
Hot Bartender: Hey Gorgeous. Wish I could stay with you and your friends longer but duty calls. Be ready tomorrow night at seven. I want to show you what a real date should be like. Dress comfortable. Or sexy. Your choice.
Callie let out a laugh at his audacious text and looked up to catch Jake’s gaze just as he pulled the handle to pour a perfect pint of beer. He smiled, and it warmed her, even across the crowded bar.
Gorgeous: I’ll be ready…
With that, Callie sent Jake her address, and turned back to her friends with a smile on her face.
Melanie squealed and hugged Callie around her shoulders. “Damn he is HOT with a capital H! You know I expect a full report, right?”
Callie sighed as she leaned into Melanie’s embrace. “You’ve got it, Mel; I can’t believe that just happened. I guess I have you to thank for making me come out tonight. This certainly beats eating popcorn for dinner while watching Scandal for the third time.”
With her hand over her heart, Melanie turned her gaze upward with a mock serious look on her face. “Girlfriend, Olivia Pope is a goddess, and popcorn and red wine is totally a complete meal. But a date with that stud is way better than anything Shonda Rimes could create.”
Callie couldn’t hold back an excited giggle, “Preach, sister…”
