took position before Maverick started playing the opening notes to a popular number. Soon the rest of us were joining in, the lights dimmed completely, and hundreds of eyes were on us. But I didn’t care about everyone else watching me, only the man behind the bar. In the few times we’d interacted, the innocent bartender had gotten under my skin and he had no idea. So I didn’t play for anyone else, only for him as I poured my heart and soul into my music.
When we paused to take a break, I walked up to the bar while the other guys dispersed and was grateful there was an empty seat.
“Here you go,” Mina said as she placed a bottle of water in front of me with a flourish.
“Thanks,” I told her before removing the cap and taking a long swig.
But my attention wasn’t on her, but instead on the man at the other end of the bar. I watched as he flashed a pretty brunette a wide smile, and an invisible fist tightened around my chest when she leaned closer and placed her hand on his forearm.
I hadn’t realized I’d reacted until I heard a growl rip from my throat as I squeezed the bottle in my hand, causing water to spill from the top onto the counter.
“Easy there, big guy,” Mina said as she grabbed a towel to mop up the mess.
“Sorry,” I grumbled as I loosened my grip and sat the water bottle down.
“It’s only water, and the counter could use a wipe-down, anyway.”
I couldn’t tear my gaze away from Foster, though. And rather than look anywhere else, I kept my eyes trained on him while he continued to chat up the brunette. I seethed as I watched him stretch across the bar to whisper something in her hear and she tilted her head back to give a hearty laugh. What were they laughing about? I wanted in on the joke, too. Not that I liked jokes; I just wanted Foster to whisper them into my ear.
“You know, this might sound like a crazy idea, but you could just walk over there and actually talk to him,” Mina suggested.
I turned my head sharply to stare at Mina and winced when my neck cracked. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Mina shot me a knowing look before casting her shrewd eyes on Foster. “Uh-huh, whatever you say. But you really have nothing to worry about.”
I shrugged. “I’m not worried about anything.” But the way my eyes instantly went back over to Foster told a different story.
Mina chuckled before yelling out, “Erica,” and I watched as the pretty brunette made her way over toward us. Her smile was already radiant, but only got wider the closer she got to us. Of course, if I had Foster whispering in my ear while casting that smile in my direction, I’d be grinning like that too. But no sooner did that thought enter my mind than she and Mina both leaned across the bar to give each other a lingering kiss.
My jaw must’ve practically been laying on the bar because Mina placed a finger under my chin and pushed it closed.
“Like I said, nothing to worry about it,” she said a wink. “She’s mine.” Then she turned away to wait on someone else.
I felt like such an ass. Mina was right. I needed to just walk over and talk to him. I wasn’t a shy man. I saw what I wanted, and I took it. And what I wanted was the timid man behind the bar.
Foster handed over a drink he’d mixed to a person he was serving, but the expression on their face screamed they had no problem waiting as they watched him in action. Not that I could blame them. In the short time I’d been playing there, even I noticed a change in his confidence as he pulled beers and mixed fruity concoctions. His smile went from timid to sure, and his shoulders weren’t nearly as tense from fear of screwing up.
When the person moved away, I noticed a lull in customers, so I decided now was the time to take my shot. Even if it was a brief exchange of words, at least I would have talked to him. I could even use the excuse of asking how his car did getting him to work—not that I needed an excuse to talk to him. But a heavy hand landed on my shoulder, thwarting my plans.
“Ready?” Maverick asked.
I bit