More Than Friends Read online

  Darrell calls her name and she walks over to him with a smile on her face. “Yes, darling?” she asks and bats her long dark eyelashes at him.

  “Why don’t you sing me a song?” Darrell asks sweetly.

  She rolls her eyes. “Can’t sweetie, I’m working,” she states in a matter of fact tone and shrugs her shoulders.

  “Come on!” Sam spits and slaps the top of the bar.

  “Look, I’ll sing one song for you in a few, but that’s gonna have to do because Tom and Chloe would have my ass for slacking off,” Crystal announces.

  She reaches across the bar and grabs the empty beer bottle in front of Darrell and replaces it with a full one.

  “All right,” he says as he beams at her.

  Crystal walks back to where Brady and I are sitting and I quickly get up to find a stool on the other side of the bar. No way do I want to hear any of the bullshit ladies-man Brady spits to these poor girls. That’s his usual MO. He finds a girl, sleeps with her, and then tosses her like yesterday’s trash. He never sleeps with the same girl twice, and although I don’t really care for the way he treats these girls, it’s not up to me to tell him how to live his life.

  “What? I stink or something?” Brady knows exactly why I moved. He’s just trying to be a smartass, and judging by the eyebrow wag he just gave me, he knows it.

  While Brady sweet talks Crystal, I get lost in all things Chloe. I don’t know what I really expected but whatever it was, she is not it.

  Chloe is no longer the little girl with innocent, tropical eyes. She had lost some weight but still has all her delicious curves. I didn’t realize she knew what a dress was, but the one she’s wearing tonight is filled out nicely.

  The dips and lines of her body combined with the sway of her hips when she walked into that office blew my fucking mind. Chloe radiates confidence and sex appeal and looks like the type of woman that can break a man in half. Her toned, sun-kissed legs look so smooth and soft.

  I don’t think I’ve ever seen her hair down before and I warred with the urge to run my fingers through her strawberry blonde tresses during the meeting. She stood right beside me the entire time and I could smell a hint of strawberries and cigarette smoke. I wrestled the desire to lean into her to inhale more of her scent.

  I noticed her eyes darting in my direction from time to time during our meeting. Her breathing would speed up, goose bumps breaking out on her skin, and I reveled in the fact that I could affect her in such a way.

  “Ain’t that right?” I hear as someone bumps my shoulder. I crane my neck to the side and see Brady, Harley, and Kasey standing next to me.

  “Huh?” Is my unintelligible response.

  “I said your hair looks nice.” Kasey grins at his joke and once again he’s the only one that thinks it’s funny.

  “Were gonna go out back and toke before we go on. Wanna go?” Harley grins as he tries to no so discreetly persuade me to go with them.

  “No, y’all go ahead,” I decline.

  “Fucking told you he would say no.” Brady sulks.

  “Yeah, whatever. He’s gonna cave one day,” Harley snaps back.

  “Yo, assholes! I’m still sitting here. Shut the fuck up!” I bark across the room since they’re already at the side exit.

  They all start laughing and Kasey yells “fuckin puddin’” over his shoulder as they open the door.

  Crystal turns to me with an amused expression on her face. “Y’all are something else.” I ignore her and take a swig of my beer.

  Brady and Crystal continue to flirting at the bar and I don’t know where the other two have disappeared to. I get off my stool and grab my phone from my back pocket to text Harley while I walk toward the exit. It’s warm and stuffy in here and I could use some fresh air before we go on.

  “Crystal, I need you to clean the restrooms before everyone gets here.” I hear Chloe’s voice echo throughout the bar. I look behind me and notice she has her back toward me. Glued to my spot with no desire to move, I watch as she points toward the bathroom, her strawberry-blond hair swaying with the movement.

  Crystal stutters, embarrassed that her boss caught her flirting with Brady.

  I see Chloe tense for a moment and decide that now would be a good time to sneak out the door so she doesn’t catch me watching her. I turn and silently slip out.

  I lean on the wall next to the door and take in a deep, calming breath of the warm, May night air. I slowly release it and take in another. My adrenaline starts kicking in as I think about taking the stage in a little bit.

  Two girls step into the alley. They’re laughing and don’t see me standing in the shadows. “I looked them up online,” the petite blonde says. “They seemed pretty legit and hot.”

  The second girl, a very pretty raven haired beauty says, “I hadn’t heard of them until Tom told me they were coming. I looked them up, too, and oh my God, did you see the lead singer? Fuck, what I wouldn’t give to get him alone.”

  I snicker at their comments and step out of the shadows. Both girls stop dead in their tracks with wide, terrified eyes and take a step back, getting ready to make a quick retreat.

  “Well, ladies, we are pretty fuckin’ awesome onstage and I’m sure my boy Brady would love to spend some QT with ya, honey, but I think your girl behind the bar is already sinking her claws into him for the evening so ya better hurry,” I say smugly and watch as their terrified expressions slowly turn into curiosity.

  They both crane their necks to look at the other with wide eyes. “W-Who are you?” the blonde asks, her voice trembling.

  I take a step forward and extend my hand, but stop when they both take another step back. I drop my hand and just say, “I’m Skye. I play guitar with the band.”

  The girls look relieved that I’m not some crazy serial killer hiding in the alley. “You and Tom are friends, right?” The brunette asks while tilting her head to the side like a confused puppy.

  “Yes, ma’am. Since high school. What’s your name?”

  She blushes and in a voice barely above a whisper she says, “Erin. And that’s Anna.” She points to the blonde.

  I nod and give them a kind smile, hoping to ease the tension I still see in Anna’s face. “Well, ladies, it’s nice meeting y’all.” I grab the door and hold it open so they can go inside the bar.

  They mutter their thanks and run into the building. I let the door shut and lean against it again. After a few minutes, my head clears and I’m ready to enter the building and find a seat at the bar. Crystal immediately hands me a Bud Light. “Thanks,” I mumble.

  Chloe is on stage with the guys. I can’t hear what they’re saying and I’m debating whether or not I should go up there. I’m leaning more toward not since the view from here is fucking awesome. Chloe’s dress is clung to her hips and even from all the way over here at the bar, I can tell she’s wearing a thong.

  Brady notices me watching and takes a very small step toward Chloe, winking at me with a devilish smile. My fists clench and I see his shoulders shaking from laughter, but his face remains passive.

  The son of a bitch is messing with me. I’m just about to get out of my seat and go to the stage when I hear Chloe’s lovely voice.

  “Oh yeah, where’s Skye?” she asks.

  I notice the way she’s trying to act casual but there is a shaken strain to her voice. Brady points at me and Chloe turns slowly. I raise my bottle toward her, inclining my head.

  My eyes follow as she climbs down the stairs, sashays across the dance floor, and clambers up the two steps to the deejay booth. Judging by the sudden swag she has in her step and the way she holds her head high with her breasts pushed out, she knows I’m watching.

  After taking a few minutes to check on the playlist with Paul I turn to walk away. He lets me get halfway across the room before he starts playing Luke Bryan’s “Country Girl (Shake It For Me).” I stop dead in my tracks and hang my head in defeat. “One time, Paul! Let it go!” I throw my hands in the air in agg
ravation and everyone that knows what this song means breaks out in hysterical laughter.

  Paul only plays this song to annoy and remind me of a very drunk Christmas party last year. At said party, I had WAY too many shots of tequila and professed my undying love for Luke Bryan. Poor Paul was forced to play “Country Girl” a million times while I described, in very fine detail, how I would shake it for him if ever given the chance. I would like to forget the experience but Paul thinks it’s funny to constantly remind me.

  I start walking again, leaving a snickering Paul behind, and join Anna and Erin at the bar. “Employee meeting!” I shout across the room. Everyone gathers at the bar and I say, “Every Friday and Saturday night before the crowd comes in we all do a shot together.”

  Anna has already poured everyone a shot of Jack and starts passing them around. I raise mine in the air and say, “To our newbies, may neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, the angels protect you, and heaven accept you.”

  Before I take my shot, Erin speaks up, “Wait! I have one, too. Here’s to those who wish us well, and those that don’t can go to hell.”

  “Out with the old, in with the new. Cheers to the future, and all that we do,” Anna chimes in next.

  “Okay, anymore?” I laugh. “We do have a bar to run.” Everyone remains silent so I shout, “Down ‘em!” We all take our shots and part ways.

  Tom gives me a shit-eating grin. “Oh, Chloe,” he beckons in a sing song voice, drawing out the “e”. I groan, making my discomfort known. The only time he ever says my name like that is when he’s up to no good, and more often than not I end up embarrassing myself.

  “What do you want from me? I’m trying to run your bar,” I say jokingly as I place my hands on my hips and raise my eyebrow.

  “Well, Tanner and I fixed the bull. I need you to give it a test run since no one else can stay on it for more than two seconds.”

  “Hell no! I’m wearing a dress. Can’t you do it?” I beg.

  He gives me a sly grin. “That’s never stopped you before. Let’s rock, paper, scissors it.” This has been our go-to decision making technique since we were ten. I give him a look that says “seriously?” but quickly ball my fist and we both say, “Rock, paper, scissors. Shoot!” I throw paper and Tom throws scissors. Damn.

  “Cowgirl up, Chloe!” He gloats and quickly turns back toward the bar. Tom is six-one and stacked, thanks to a strict diet and the gym he has in the back of BAR. His short, chocolate brown hair matches his eyes and his full beard. Rugged and tough, he’s one of those people you either love or hate. But, like a lot of people, if you can get past that tough exterior there’s a soft mushy person behind it that needs a hug. I probably would go as far as to call him hot, but saying that makes me feel dirty since he’s like a brother to me.

  “Not so fast, boss man,” I yell at him before he can get too far. “Let’s make this interesting.” Tom can never back away from a challenge and he cocks his head to the side, showing interest. I love getting him all worked up.

  “I bet you a hundred dollars that I can stay on that bull longer than you.” The devilish gleam in his eye tells me that he’s going to accept my challenge, but I can’t help but goad him further. “Unless, of course, you don’t think you can do it? We wouldn’t want you to embarrass yourself in front of everybody, would we?”

  He casually strolls across the few feet between us and I realize my mistake. With his most teasing voice he says, “Well, let’s wait until the first break and do a little show for the customers. Winner gets the hundred dollars, and loser has to dance on the stripper pole.”

  “What? I meant before the bar opened!” I pout, stomping my foot to drive my point home.

  “What fun would that be, love?” he chides and taps my chin with his knuckles.

  “Douche bag,” I mumble under my breath, but the infuriating fool just laughs.

  I’m not too bad on the stripper pole. On Tuesday nights, we have an aerobics instructor, Patty, who comes from a couple towns over to teach a class, and I often participate. It’s a great workout and it attracts a small crowd on what would otherwise be a very slow night.

  We call it “Girl’s Night” and don’t allow men into the bar after the class starts. Tom sometimes comes in after class and Patty works with him one on one. He’s surprisingly pretty good, but I know my dear, perverted friend better than to think he has any real interest in it. He probably sits in his office watching the security feed while the girls are practicing.

  Since I apparently have no shame, I concede. “Challenge accepted! Get ready to dance, asshole!” I take off for the front of the bar before he can say anything else, calling over my shoulder, “Now, go do something productive and leave me alone. I’ll be checking IDs at the door if you need me.”

  Before I know it, the place is so packed that we have to start turning people away. I check my watch and see it’s almost time for the band to go on. “Erin, I’ve got to get to the stage and announce the band. You and Tanner got this?”

  “Yeah. We're good,” she replies and turns back to the crowd at the door.

  While climbing the steps to the stage, I notice that everyone, with the exception of Skye, is ready to play. “Y’all ready to go?” I ask.

  “Fuck, yeah,” Brady yells across the stage.

  “Where’s Skye?” I ask, and Brady answers me with a smile.

  It’s at that moment I realize someone is standing behind me, and I know it’s him before I even turn around. I can smell his cologne and my body starts tingling, acknowledging his presence. As soon as his breath hits the back of my neck, my body starts to lean into him, as if we’re two magnets being pulled together.

  Before I can catch myself, his chest is pressed into my back. “Missing me already?” he whispers. The hair on the back of my neck rises to attention and goose bumps break out on my skin as his slow southern drawl washes over me.

  The sound of his voice alone causes my heart rate to speed up. Looking over my right shoulder, I realize my lips are just a hairs breadth away from his. My gaze touches his soft, full mouth and his lips part slowly. I quickly shift my eyes to his but he’s staring intently at my mouth. Suddenly every person in the bar has disappeared and it’s just him and me in a sensual standoff. Neither of us is willing to make the first move but neither of us is willing to look away, either.

  One of the guys clears his throat somewhere in the background, and with a big gulp I become aware that we are being watched by a shit-ton of people. I curse myself for allowing him to affect me like this again and remind myself I’m on a man-ban.

  Going into boss mode, I attempt to act as if the long moment between Skye and I never happened. I address the band as a whole, trying my damnedest to hide the shakiness of my voice, “Y’all ready to go?” They all nod.

  I grab the mic off the stand and sneak a glance at Skye. He looks beyond delicious with his guitar strapped to his hard chest. The image of him wearing nothing except that guitar invades my mind and my body temperature rises a few degrees. Shit. I have got to get it together.

  I turn to face the crowd. “Hey, y’all! Everyone ready for a good time?” The crowd hollers their approval. “We’re so excited to announce that one of Bartow’s finest has recently returned home! Everyone say hello to Skye!”

  Skye waves and gives a brilliant smile as I continue with my introduction. “We’ve got Brady on vocals, Kasey on drums, and Harley and Skye on bass. Y’all give it up for Escaped!”

  As the band’s name burst from my lips, everyone starts screaming and jumping. Kasey starts their first song out on his drums and I almost break into a sprint to get down the stage and to the bar. There is only one thing on my mind. Alcohol.

  Harley hits a few strings on his guitar and Brady’s voice fills the room. The song they’re singing doesn’t sound familiar, but I wouldn’t be able to tell you what color dress I have on if I tried. I have tunnel vision and all I can see is Skye making sweet love to the microphone. I turn in my seat to b
e able to see him on stage, but I am not prepared for the wave of emotions that hit me when I look up to the platform.

  Even as he sings, Skye’s eyes are on me, watching every move I make and it’s unnerving as well as exciting.

  “Oh shit, Chloe! Have I told you how jealous I am of you right now?” Anna says right before I quickly toss the brown liquor down my throat.

  “Huh?” I ask innocently.

  “Don’t play dumb. The sexual tension between y’all is fucking insane. Feels like a boiling room in here.” She fans her face to drive her point home.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I’m lying through my teeth and we both know it.

  Anna makes a very unladylike noise in the back of her throat and rolls her eyes while pouring me another shot. “Sure, whatever you say, Chica. I’m not stupid or blind, and I can see plain as day the way you two affect each other. Deny it if you want, but just know that while you’re busy wasting time in denial, you could be busy having fun.” She wags her brows at me.

  I get up and walk across the dance floor, stopping along the way to mingle with the customers. My job at BAR is to keep everyone entertained and happy. I dance and mingle with the crowd, and show off on the bull. I basically get paid to party.

  I spot Skye staring at me from the stage. He’s watching me like a hawk, and not giving the slightest bit of attention to the large gathering of women desperately trying to grab his attention. I mingle with the crowd so I don’t have to watch the brave women. I’ve made my way around the entire bar before I hear Skye announce that they’re taking a break and that it’s time for me to get my sweet ass to the bull.

  I arrive at the bull and Tom is there along with the band members and a large crowd of bar patrons. He takes a quarter out of his pocket and grabs the microphone he has stashed on the control panel.

  “Hey, y’all!” he addresses the crowd. “Does everybody know Chloe?” Cheers ring out through the bar.