I need to tell you why I’m here.”
He leaned in a little closer. “Why don’t you at least tell me your name and age?” I rolled my eyes and shook my head.
“I don’t think so.”
My hand reached out to take a much needed drink but before I knew it, he had snatched the bottle away.
“Hey!” “I meant your ID, princess.”
“You’ve already served me.” My hands were out in front of me as I stared, wide-eyed, at this confusing individual.
“My bar. My rules.”
My face plainly displayed my irritation with him. He was quickly ruining my night. It didn’t make me any happier to see the amusement in his striking blue eyes. I flipped open my clutch, pulled out my ID and just for effect—threw it on the bar. He wasn’t affected in the slightest, as he picked it up for further examination.
For a flash his eyes widened before locking with mine. “Danielle Hamilton—as in…?”
“Yes.” I answered before he could finish. Everyone in this town knew my Grandmother, so I shouldn’t have been all that surprised a bartender did as well.
Even worse than this guy knowing my Gram was the likelihood that he knew my mother too. No doubt he was thinking to himself that these Hamilton women all have the same booze-hound ways. What I should have done right then was get up, leave and find another place to pick my match—no need to give this man one more negative impression about us. I was pretty sure my mom had sat at that same bar, gotten wasted and then proceeded to take one home…just as I planned.
Damn—if that realization wasn’t a slap in the face that I truly was my mother’s daughter—I didn’t know what would be.
“You must be the granddaughter.” This time I was flashed a heart-stopping, knee-shaking, panty-dropping smile, as he showed off the dimple in his right cheek. For a second I forgot what we were talking about, where I was—hell— I forgot who I was! That’s when I decided maybe staying there wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Pull it together, Dani! After the shock wore off, I yanked my ID back and held out my hand for my beer. “Boy, you’re good.”
“What are you doing in town?” The genuine interest in his tone matched his expression.
“I moved back. Temporarily. So I need a drink and if you don’t want to give me mine then I’ll go somewhere else.”
He held my beer out with a smile. “Now, why don’t you tell me who it is you’re looking for?”
“Not that it is any of your business, but I’m not looking for anyone.” Our eyes held and after a beat I finished. “I’m just looking.”
The full lips on his deadly attractive face curved up into another full-on smile, as he realized the meaning behind my words. Before he was able to respond, someone else called for his attention.
“Hey buddy, can I get some help over here!” A 30-something guy asked as he stumbled to the bar on the other end from where I sat. The guy looked down at us and proceeded to over exaggerate his eye roll.
“C’mon man, I may not have tits like that, but I’m still a paying customer.”
In a flash, the bartender’s fun demeanor was gone, and the line of his jaw tightened as his eyes narrowed at the drunkard. My eyes were drawn to the scene playing out in front of me, as he sauntered over to where the drunk guy stood visibly swaying. The bartender’s voice dropped to a low and borderline, frightening tone.
“You’ve had enough, Johnny. Now get the hell out of my bar, and if I hear you say one more jackass thing to a woman in here—I will personally kick your ass.” Johnny scoffed and waved his hand in a dismissive action.
“Lighten up, C man—you know I was messing around.”
“Get out.” He repeated; fists clenched at his side. Drunken Johnny slurred out some more crap before choosing, what I assumed was the wiser fate, and walked out. His eyes stared after the stumbling drunk without losing his defensive stance until Johnny was out the door. Once Johnny was gone, he loosened up and returned to work. While he went back to making cocktails for a couple of desperate looking women, I decided to go explore. During my ‘intentions interrogation,’ the place had already picked up. The tables were becoming more crowded and a couple additional bartenders joined the owner, while one took drink orders, as another ran food from the kitchen.
The