Drawn to You (Lover to Stepbrother)(71)

I head to the bar and order myself a bottle of beer and a shot of tequila. The bartender asks if I want salt and lime but I decline, and he looks at me like I grew two heads. He watches me down the shot unflinchingly. I am used to my drink—I am not like those girls who make pouty faces.

“Wow, hard-core,” the cute bartender says and I can’t help but smile.

“Thanks.” I lift my bottle and take my first sip and I sigh with satisfaction.

I turn around and lean my back against the bar as I look around me. I look at our booth and Cara seems to be in her element. If I was back home I would be in mine—talking about people and places that I know, not sitting here feeling lost. I watch the band playing and their music is catchy. It must be their original work. I know music and they are good. I know I should head back but I’m happy being right where I am.

Alone.

“Think you could do with another.” When I turn around, the same bartender is smiling at me. He lifts a shot glass indicating the drink and I watch him pour more tequila. “On the house.”

I smile and take the shot as he watches. I drink it like it’s water.

“You were right, bro, that was hot,” I hear another bartender say. They are both smiling at me. They look like they could be twins. Both have mousy brown hair and light green eyes.

“I’m Cory, and this is Sean,” the bartender who gave me the shot says.

“I’m Iris.” I shake both their hands and unlike how Calvin shook mine, theirs are friendly.

“Nice to meet you. So what is a badass like yourself doing here?” They both lean forward on the bar, leaning on their arms.

I look down the bar and see some glares from a few of the women nearby. “I just moved here from England. Doing my last year of college here.”

“I guess we will be seeing much more of you then; we will be going to the same school,” Sean says, standing back up and returning to serving.

“Well, welcome to the States and if you need to know anything, you know where to find me. I work most nights, same as my brother.” He points to Sean; I knew they were twins.

“Thanks, really appreciate that.” I do, I’m happy that I made two new friends. I take another sip of my beer and look back to our booth and he follows my stare.

“You know them?” he asks me, nodding in their direction.

“Cara is my cousin, just met the other two tonight.”

“Cara is your cousin, now that’s interesting—wouldn’t have guessed.”

Yeah, most people wouldn’t. “Yeah, I know.”

I stay at the bar talking to either Cory or Sean and I’m actually having a good time. Cara comes over every now and then to make sure I’m okay. When the twins start to get too busy to talk, I just watch the band play. I am looking at the stage as the current band goes offstage. The lights overhead turn off.

“Oh, my God, he is coming on.” I hear a shriek and see Cara standing next to me, pulling my arm.

The crowd is cheering and already the floor in front of the stage fills with women. I must admit my interest is piqued. A single spotlight comes on and I see a guy’s silhouette. I try to squint my eyes to get a better look, but I still can’t see him well. I watch him as he walks to the microphone and he stops. No music, no sound, and the crowd quietens. I watch as he looks around him. Then I feel it. I feel like he is looking over in my direction, but surely he isn’t looking at me.

I hear drums start off a beat, then the guitar and bass join in. When the first words leave his mouth, I feel like I’m frozen on the spot. His voice is husky but soothing all at the same time. I feel like his words are penetrating right through me. Full light now covers the stage and I can really see him and the band. But my eyes are trained on him as I take him all in.

His black T-shirt looks tight on him, his jeans just sitting on his hips, and when he strums his guitar, I notice how his muscular arms bulge. He stops playing and holds the microphone with both hands, and even his hands look sexy. I have been attracted to men before, but not like this. I feel mesmerised.

“Now you know why he is my future husband.”

I feel like the trance is broken. What the fuck was I doing? Cara already told me she liked him and here’s me, staring at him like he’s a piece of meat. I feel the guilt seep into me.

“Yeah, he sounds really good.” I turn around and ask Sean if I can have another beer when he’s ready. I don’t wait long till he passes me one. The bar has gotten busy and all I can hear is his voice.

Stupid voice.

“I’m going to see if I can squeeze through to the dance floor,” Cara says and I wish her luck as she leaves.

I try to not look, but I must be a glutton for punishment because I feel like his voice is in my head, demanding for me to turn around. When I do, I wish I hadn’t as his eyes are on me. I gasp that they are. I look at his beautiful face, at his thick, dark brown hair. He really does look like sex on a stick.

He looks away, looking around the room and into the crowd. I pray that his eyes go onto my cousin and I’m about to look away when he looks back up and looks at me. His eyes look dark and he is watching me intently. I feel my body heat up. I can’t tear my eyes away. I am praying for him to look elsewhere but he doesn’t.

“Be careful with that one.”

I thank the high heavens that I am pulled back into reality. I turn to see Cory looking at me with concern. “What do you mean?” I take a long drink from my beer.