Page 10 of Tangled

Kane

“Well, if it isn’t the greatest history teacher of all time!” Tony greets me with my signature IPA as I hoist myself onto my regular stool at the bar.

“You always say that Tony, but for all you know I could be the worst teacher on the face of the planet,” I reply before quenching my thirst with that first sip of my beer.

“I seriously doubt that, Kane. I may not have seen you in action, but I know how much you love your job. And any teacher that loves that job has to be doing something right.”

“Those kids might drive me nuts, but when I see the passion come alive, it’s all worth it,” I shrug. “And I have a project they’re starting on Monday that I hope will spike their interest. Getting teenagers excited about studying history is a tough job.”

Tony chuckles as he wipes down the counter in front of him, slinging the bar towel over his shoulder when he finishes. “I can only imagine. Any more nightmares?” He lowers his voice and flicks his eyes up to meet mine in a concerning manner.

I shake my head while downing more of my beer. “Not lately.”

“Good,” he grunts. “Just know they’ll always pop up when you least expect them to.”

I nod, choosing not to continue our conversation on that topic. Even though Tony understands what time overseas can do to a man, it’s not something I like discussing in public, let alone a crowded bar on a Friday evening.

“The place is packed tonight, Tony,” I say before spinning around to take in the crowd. Usually this many people would deter me from staying too long, but as my eyes move around the room, they pause on the deep red hair cascading down the back of a woman that I can only describe as mesmerizing.

Her back is to me of course, but her curves are on full display, cinching into a tiny waist before continuing down to an ass only a true man can appreciate. Dark blue jeans hug her legs and a simple black tank clenches her torso as she sways to the music all alone at her table.

“Yeah, plenty of people to talk to. You should go mingle.” Tony nudges my shoulder from over the bar, pushing me off balance so I slide off my stool. Luckily, I land on my feet before I make a fool out of myself, turning around sharply to glare at him.

“Yeah, not interested,” I grunt before fixing myself back on my seat, ignoring the inkling in my brain to turn around and look for the redhead again.

“You sure? ‘Cause it seems to me you found something, or should I say, someone, that sparked your interest there for a minute.”

“Yeah, well, women are trouble. And my life has been trouble-free for a while now, Tony. No sense in changing that.”

“Her friends will be back soon. Go talk to her. That woman doesn’t look like trouble. That woman looks like fun. Any woman who can move her body like that knows how to let loose. Lord knows you could use some fun, Kane.”

I veer up at him with a glare. “I have fun,” I say, trying not only to convince Tony but also myself of that fact.

Tony huffs. “Sure, okay. Name the last time you did something fun?” He challenges me, crossing his arms over his chest, resting on his gut.

I take a minute to study him, his dark grey beard and matching hair slicked back on his head. His eyes framed by hard-earned wrinkles zero in on me like a father who’s caught his son in a lie. Only I have a dad, but my dad doesn’t scare me as much as Tony does.

I sigh. “Fine. You’re right. I can’t remember the last time I ‘had fun’,” I throw up quotations around the last two words, mocking him with a roll of my eyes. Normally, I would answer with riding my motorcycle—but after Natasha, I haven’t even had the urge to do that.

Twisting around to glance in her direction again, I notice the woman moving even more suggestively now, igniting an interest in me even deeper than before.

As I stand, I grab my beer and turn back around to acknowledge Tony. “Here’s to some fun.” I raise my glass in my hand in his direction before heading towards the redhead. What the hell… what have I got to lose?

Reaching her table, I stand behind her and watch her for a moment, contemplating my opening line, and then I opt for teasing her a bit. I want to see just how fiery this woman can be.

“You know people can see you, right?”

Her hips abruptly stop and her shoulders tense as she turns around and shoots me a glare that only a pissed-off woman can perfect.

But when I see her face for the first time, I realize that this girl is more than just fun. She’s exactly what I thought she’d be in the first place.

Trouble.

The deep burgundy of her hair shimmers in the light from the lamps above us as it frames her face. Forrest colored eyes narrow back at me above pursed lips, so full and plump that I wonder what they’d feel like against mine. Her chest is just as curvy as her body, showing a classy amount of cleavage from the top of her tank. Her shoulders are square and she straightens her spine before lacing her reply with venomous confidence.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I don’t care that people can see me. When Jon Bon Jovi sings, you dance, and you don’t interrupt. This song is a classic,” she lifts her eyebrow at me.

Standing there watching her, I let her words sink in. Rarely do you see a woman so blatantly secure in who she is or how she feels. Granted, I’ve only known her for about thirty seconds now, but the energy she gives off is no bullshit. She’s sure and confident, which is a total turn-on. I feel blood rush south as I offer her a sly smirk and steer the conversation in a different direction.

---