AN Thanks for the reviews, ladies! I have more ideas for this story now, so here's a little more to tide you over until I can get the rest of what's in my head out! Enjoy and continue reveiwing!
:oP Nevermind
By the time we started in on our fourth song that night, we managed to get Sheldon, Don and Mac up on stage with us. Sheldon and Don were drunk enough to belt out "Rock and Roll All Night" but Mac – Mac was really good. We convinced the bassist to give up his guitar and let Mac have a go, and I'll tell ya, he blew us all away. I was suitably impressed and I think his employees were downright shocked to see this new side of their boss.
After we figured we'd hogged the stage enough, I decided to buy the next round. By this time there were just way too many people in the pub to get a waitress' attention, so I went over to the bar to order the shots. Once the bartender poured them however, I realized I was gonna need more than two hands to get the glasses back to our table.
And that's when that smirk caught my attention again.
"Need some help?" Danny asked me. The crowd at the bar had forced him closer to me than he should have been. He smelled like cologne and beer. I'd forgot how much I liked that smell. He took four of the shots from me and eased his way back through the crowd. I followed in his wake, since it was easier than forcing my own path through.
Don, Sheldon and Aiden cheered at the sight of the shots. We toasted to something or other – I couldn't pay attention. My brain was still full of his smell.
I shot back the tequila and felt the liquor burn in my throat. Aiden had a lemon wedge between her teeth and leaned back her head to offer it to me. I took it and it occurred to me how easily we'd slipped back into our old habits of making sure every guy in the room was paying attention to us. I noticed Stella cock an eyebrow at us and suddenly felt embarrassed by our college-girl antics. Aiden was too drunk to care.
I hid my embarrassment behind the sour shock of the lemon, but risked a glance at Danny to find out whether or not he'd fallen for our ploy. But he'd hidden his reaction behind a long drink of his beer, so I was out of luck again.
I turned away from the group to watch the guy on stage. He was pretty good. A little too drunk for "Bed of Roses" but he was kinda cute, so I could forgive him.
"You're not how I pictured you," a voice said very close to my head. I could feel his hot breath on my hair and closed my eyes in an effort to remain firmly in control.
"And how did you picture me?" I asked, feigning aloofness.
"Shorter, with lighter hair," he told me.
"Sorry to disappoint."
"I'm not disappointed."
I wouldn't look at him. I couldn't look at him or I'd probably kiss him. I kept trying to remind myself of Jake, but I could hardly remember what he looked like.
"Aiden tells me you just got out of a relationship."
I'm going to kill her.
"I did."
"That sucks."
This is awkward. What does he want from me?
I finally turned to face him, folding my arms in front of me to prevent them from doing anything stupid like grabbing him and pulling him against me. "Is there something on my face?" I asked.
He looked confused and a little disconcerted. "No, why?"
"You keep staring at me."
He relaxed and grinned, pushing his glasses a little further up his nose. "I keep trying to figure out the politest way of asking if I could see your car."
What? "What?"
"Aiden told me about your Lexus, and I was...kinda hoping I could get a chance to see it."
You have got to be kidding me. God, I hate men. I let my arms fall to my sides. He'd managed to return my self-control to me on a freaking platter.
My best friend suddenly draped herself over me. "Let's get out of here," she slurred. "Everyone's invited to our place for more drinks!" she announced.
Don grabbed her and clamped his hand over her mouth. "Aiden, shhh! You don't want to invite the whole bar!" he told her with a drunken shake of his finger.
"Yes, I do!" she announced.
"That's your friend," Danny grinned at me.
I grinned back. "That's your partner."