double take. “What are you doing?”
He flashed me a nervous smile, then pulled the stool forward and sat down. “Giving you your birthday gift.”
The guitar intro to Pearl Jam’s “Alive” exploded through the speakers. I threw back my head and laughed. Of course he’d pick something so symbolic.
Thankfully, for Hayden, the bar was crowded. Because when the lyrics scrolled across the screen, I could barely hear my own voice over the noise, forget his. But I had to hand it to him. He sang. Whether he was good or bad, it took major guts to get up in front of a packed house and belt out a song. But he did it. And I knew he did it for me, which made me love him even more.
Love?
Oh, crap.
HAYDEN
Singing at Jake’s turned out to be the most embarrassing thing I’d ever done. When Alex and I descended the stage, we were met by lots of high fives. I couldn’t tell if they were happy the song ended and my ass was off the stage or if I didn’t totally suck.
At our table, we ordered more drinks and a heaping plate of nachos. As I devoured half the plate, Alex stared at me with a crooked smile. The same smile she’d worn since we left the stage.
I knew my gift was the cheap way out, but I had this need to give her whatever she wanted. Not because it’s what she was used to. But because I got to watch her face light up, her eyes grow big, and happy creases dig into the corners of her mouth.
Pure serenity.
Maybe I couldn’t afford expensive things, but I’d make damn sure to come through in the other areas.
“A couple months ago I couldn’t even imagine celebrating my birthday. Celebrating anything.” Alex flashed me a sad smile. “But this. This has been perfect.”
I took a pull of my beer. Alex’s candor still unnerved me. It had been a long time since anyone spoke to me with the honesty she did. And just as long since I meant something to someone, the way I clearly did to her. “Glad you’re having fun.”
Alex leaned closer, her voice lower than normal. “When are we doing the body shots?”
My brows flew up as I choked down the beer in my mouth.
Was she joking? She had to be joking. Because she was too classy to strip down so I could suck shots from her naval in the middle of a packed bar. Not that I wouldn’t want to. Because, man, I wanted to.
I shook my head like the standup guy I needed to be. “No way in hell I’m letting anyone see you like that.”
Her cheeks flushed to a pretty shade of pink. “I didn’t mean here.”
Fuck me.
I lifted my face to the heavens. I needed strength. Mine was seriously faltering.
I wanted this. And I wanted it with Alex. But I had a feeling, like deep down in places my conscience had no business being, that she’d never had sex before.
I needed to be smart. There was a lot riding on the remainder of the night. I couldn’t do anything to screw it up. The old Hayden would’ve. This Hayden couldn’t. “Why don’t we finish up here and see where the night takes us.”
ALEX
Had I just been rejected? Because it felt a lot like a rejection.
I didn’t understand. After the way things heated up over the past twenty-four hours, I assumed it was a logical progression. It wasn’t like I’d asked him to screw me on a table in the middle of the bar. Okay. So maybe the screwing was implied, but come on. He’s a guy. What guy wouldn’t immediately ask for the check and race back to his place?
Maybe he wasn’t planning to sleep with me. Maybe he sensed my inexperience. Maybe it was so glaringly obvious I should’ve been mortified.
“Hey,” Hayden’s voice broke through my musings.
I glanced to his blue eyes, such a contrast to his white shirt and navy tie.
“Where were you just now?”
No use lying. I tapped the side of my head.
“Well stay out of there. Our night isn’t even close to over yet.”
His assurance brought a bevy of flutters to my stomach. God, I was so easy.
* * *
“Wait here,” Hayden instructed as he turned off the engine and jumped out of his truck.
My feet bounced with nervous energy as he passed the front of the truck. He opened my door and took my hand, helping me out. My nerves kicked into high gear