Page 40 of Snowed

Unfortunately, when I entered, an attractive girl had leaned in to flirt with him over the bar. Of course. This was Tucker’s life—a hot bartender who probably took women home left and right. Women closer to his age and not four years older. Women who weren’t his sister’s best friend.

After using the bathroom, I decided to sneak out without saying anything to him.

On the drive home, I felt dumb for having stopped at the bar. It felt desperate.

Back at my place, I washed off all my makeup and changed into some comfortable clothes. Just as I was about to turn on the TV and escape into a show, there was a knock at the door.

I opened it and was surprised to find Tucker standing there. It was only ten, and the bar shouldn’t have closed yet.

My breath hitched. “What are you doing here?”

His eyes traveled down to my breasts. I’d taken my bra off.

“Why did you leave the bar?” he asked, walking past me and into my house.

“You saw me?”

“Yeah. I saw you leave the bathroom and walk right out the door.”

“I came to say hello to you, but you seemed…busy.”

“Busy because I was working and talking to a patron, like I do every night? You made the wrong assumption.”

“How are you even here, and not there? You’re not closed yet.”

“I had someone cover for me, Lucy. I’m the boss. I can leave whenever I want.”

“You left early to come talk to me?”

“Didn’t you leave the bar early, too, when you came to talk to me?” His eyes veered downward again, and I covered myself with my arms.

“You just ended my peepshow,” he said, his voice a growl.

I cleared my throat. “Yeah, well, I’d be wearing a bra if I’d known you were coming by.”

“If you answering the door with no bra is what I get for stopping by unannounced, I might plan more impromptu visits.” He winked. “I’m kidding.” He muttered, “Sort of.”

I lowered my arms and walked over to grab my hoodie draped over the back of a chair. “I did want to see you,” I admitted as I zipped it up.

“Did it have something to do with a certain decision I asked you to make the last time we were together?”

My body tingled at the mere thought of his naked body. “I’m confused about what to do with you.”

“I have an idea of what you can do with me.”

I rolled my eyes. “I can’t tell if you’re serious. But even if you are, I need more than just, you know…” As much as it seemed I did want that with him.

He cocked his head. “You think I’m only after one thing?”

“That’s one of my fears when it comes to you.”

“I’m sorry if I spooked you by being forward. That’s just my personality.”

I raised a brow. “So you do this with everyone?”

“No. Not at all. But if I want something, I try to make that clear. Not sure how I can be any clearer.”

“Okay then. I’m not looking for a relationship that’s purely physical.”