Page 35 of His Pickle Her Jam

I saved a table right by my section of the bar for Del and Jan. Call me a possessive prick, but I needed her close.

I felt tingles on the back of my neck, and I knew she’d arrived. Turning around, I watched her walk behind Del, her lower lip caught between her teeth as she stole glances at me.

“Irene, cover for me a second,” I said, and vaulted over the bar, heading towards my woman.

I couldn’t say what drove me for certain, only that there was far too much space between us. Also, I’d seen the way that group of businessmen, the ones who came in determined to blow off steam, were checking out my woman’s fine as fuck ass in her painted on jeans.

Apparently, I was a possessive dick.

Whatever.

Jan melted into me as I cupped her face between my hands and savored her lips, drinking her in like the fine wine she was.

“Hot dayum, Buck! I had no idea you had it in you,” Del said, wolf whistling while I slowed mine and Jan’s kiss.

“Hi Del,” I said, not taking my eyes off Jan’s pretty lust glazed amber ones.

“Hello, David,” Jan said to me, and shivers raced up my spine like they did whenever she said my name.

“Hi yourself, Pretty Girl.”

I kissed her one more time, wrapping my arm around her shoulders before lifting my head. Next, I herded the two of them to the table I’d placed a reserved plaque on.

“Sonny told me you were coming, so I saved you a table. Now, what can I get you?”

“Ooh, can I have a cherry pineapple seltzer, please?” Delani asked, and I nodded.

Ever since she found out she was expecting, I’d started making her every flavor of seltzer imaginable.

Mixing them myself meant I knew exactly what went in them, seeing how she could no longer have caffeine and too much sugar wasn’t advisable for expectant mothers.

Basically, I muddled fresh fruit and went crazy with the soda pump.

“And for you?” I turned to Jan.

“Can I please have a mint julep?”

“Ooh, that sounds nice. What about food? Want me to handle it?” I asked.

“Yes, but can you make sure I get pretzels with melted butter?” Delani asked.

“You got it. What about you, Jan Baby? Something special you want?”

“Surprise me,” she said.

“On it,” I replied and winked.

Damn, she was cute.

I kissed her lips one more time before heading back to the bar.

Okay, so maybe I didn’t need space to think anything through.

Maybe I just needed Jan.

The night passed quickly. Irene was competent enough for me to leave her at the bar alone, stepping in when she got backed up.

Summertime was unpredictable for establishments in Northern New Jersey simply because many locals went down the shore when it got too hot. I owned a house in Cape May myself, so I understood the inclination.

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