Crazy Stupid Love (Crazy Love #1)(18)

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“So are you gonna take me somewhere private or what?” The sexy redhead in front of me leans over the bar and trails her hand down the side of my face.

“That depends.” I pull away from her touch.

“On what?” She slides back down into her stool.

“On whether or not you can make it until close without puking,” I say, already knowing she won’t make it another hour before she finds her head in a toilet.

“Done.” She smiles, taking the shot in front of her before spinning around and rejoining her friends on the dance floor.

“What is that, five now?” Val steps up next to me, an amused expression lighting up her face.

“Six, but who’s counting.” I let a laugh roll through me.

“I swear to God, women have no shame.” She laughs, nudging me in the side with her elbow.

“You would know.” I slide two shots across the bar to one dude before nodding to the next guy who immediately asks for a beer.

“That’s why I like them so much.” She runs a hand through her boy short dark hair and gives me a playful smile. “One of these days you’re going to have to let me show you how to really please a woman.” She laughs when I arch my brow at her.

“I think I got that covered,” I reply, lining the bar with four shot glasses before pouring each one full of vanilla vodka.

“Well, the offer stands regardless.” She hits me with a teasing grin before sliding down the bar to help another customer.

Val was the very first bartender we hired after the bar opened. She’s a bit of a spit fire but given the atmosphere, it seems to work in her favor. I never have to worry about her being able to take care of herself with this rowdy crowd. She’s small, but she definitely knows how to fend for herself.

I can’t help but shake my head at her when she leans across the bar and lays a kiss directly on the mouth of one of our male customers. Despite the fact the she’s one hundred percent same sex interested, she still plays her role nicely. She’s here to make money, and she knows how to do just that.

Turning my attention back to the endless amount of drink orders, I quickly fall back into a groove, sliding drinks across the bar without even really paying attention as to who I’m serving them to. As long as they have a yellow wristband that says they are over twenty-one, I don’t need to know who they are.

We are slammed tonight. So much so that I had to pull my ass out of the bed I’ve been laying in all day to come down and help Val and Gavin bartend. Of course, had Matt not called off they would have been fine without me. That f*cker better actually be sick. If I find out he called off on a Friday night for some other bullshit reason, his ass will be looking for a new job.

“Can I have a water please?” I hear a familiar voice and look up to find a big set of beautiful blue eyes staring back at me.

Kimber.

It takes me a moment to get over my shock of seeing her here, but I quickly recover.

“What are you doing here?” I smile, grabbing a glass, quickly filling it with water before setting it on the bar in front of her.

“I’m celebrating.” She shrugs, taking a long drink of water, her gaze temporarily leaving mine.

She looks incredible tonight. Her petite frame is draped in a royal blue sleeveless dress that clings to her chest and flares at her waist. Her blonde hair is pinned back loosely, a few escaped strands falling around her face. Like the other times I’ve seen her, her makeup is light and natural, not that she even needs it. I don’t know that I have ever met anyone as naturally beautiful as the woman standing in front of me.

Just watching her full lips close around the rim of her glass is enough to make my groin tighten. Fuck...

“What are you celebrating?” I wait until she lowers the glass before asking.

“My birthday. Angel and Harlee wouldn’t let me out of going out. I figured if they were going to force me to celebrate, I might as well use it to my advantage.” She points to the dance floor where I immediately spot her two friends from last weekend.

“They don’t waste much time,” I observe, watching the two girls who have already managed to draw quite a crowd of men around them. Shaking my head, I turn my attention back to her.

“No kidding.” She laughs, looking back towards me.

When her eyes meet mine again, an instant blush floods her face. It’s deep enough that it’s visible even under the dim bar lighting. Fuck, it takes everything I have not to reach across the bar and touch her.

I can still taste her, feel the way her bottom lip trembled against mine. My eyes immediately find her mouth, and I suck in a ragged breath. That kiss is all I have thought about since last night.

“Happy Birthday,” I manage to get out, trying to pull my shit together as I once again meet her gaze.

“Thank you.” She gives me a shy smile, clearly still not sure if she made the right choice coming here.

I want to tell her she didn’t. In fact, coming here was the worst decision she could have made. There is no way I am going to be able to let her walk out of here tonight. I can’t fight how deeply I crave this girl. But then again, something tells me she already knows this, and that is exactly why she is here.

“How about a birthday shot?” I ask, grabbing a shaker glass.

“Oh no, thanks.” She shakes her head. “I don’t drink.”