Page 55 of Revived

Chapter 18

Rachel

“Hey! What are you guys doing in here tonight?”

It’s my mid-week shift at Tony’s and a few familiar faces have taken residence at one of the high top tables in the back.

“We’re having boys' night,” Cash answers as he, Kane, and Cooper all take a seat. Another man is with them that I haven’t met yet. He shoves his thumb over at his company. “These two are officially on summer vacation and Cooper needs a drink.”

“Rachel, this is Drew, my best friend from work,” Kane introduces me to the stranger, as if he momentarily read my thoughts.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

“Drew, this is Luke’s nanny,” Kane explains as Drew’s eyebrows shoot up.

“Really?”

“Is that so hard to believe?” I admonish.

“No, that’s not what I meant. I mean, I guess I…”

“Just thought you’d put your foot in your mouth?” Cooper interjects as the guys laugh at Drew’s expense.

“Fuck, I’m sorry. I just didn’t expect someone that looks like you.”

“Not making yourself look any better, my friend,” Cash adds.

I shake my head in amusement and then change the subject. “Anyway, what can I get for you boys?” I’m normally behind the bar full time, but tonight one of the cocktail waitresses had a family emergency and Tony needed me to fill in. I’ve watched those girls run circles all over this bar as I filled their orders. How hard could it be?

The men shoot off their requests and then I bee-line back to the bar, filling up steins with frothy beer and lining them up on my tray.

It’s a Thursday night at Tony’s, and although that’s not my normal shift, I’m working since I was told by my other boss to keep the weekend open. One of the girls offered to switch shifts with me since I’ve returned the favor in the past. So here I am on a Thursday evening, filling glasses to the brim with alcohol and helping the wonderful patrons of Emerson Falls unwind after a hard day.

Tony’s is your typical neighborhood bar—old enough to have charm, but clean enough not to make you question the department of health’s rating on the window. Light wood panels line the walls and the long bar along the furthest wall inside matches in material and color. Pool tables are positioned in one corner and booths line the other walls around the room. High-top tables are scattered around a wooden dance floor where a few couples tap their toes and spin around the surface. There are neon signs on the windows and glass lamps that hang from the ceiling that offer dim lighting, keeping the ambiance slightly dark and broody.

Luke had his last class tonight, but his parents and sister had already arranged for Grayson to stay the weekend with them, a detail I didn’t know until Luke explained it to me yesterday. And with that information, it finally made sense why he wanted me to keep my calendar empty for the next few days—so we could spend some time together, just the two of us. I’m not going to lie and say I’m not nervous for what the weekend could hold or what might transpire. But if his touches have been any indication, I’d say Luke is getting closer to sealing the deal with me.

Patience is not my strong suit, except when it comes to children for some reason. With that being said, it’s been hard to not pounce and ride Luke into giving in and finally having sex with me. But he’s not just any man. He’s a man that I feel so strongly for and understand how delicate his circumstances are despite how badly I want to explore that final hurdle with him. Patience is the only option in our relationship, so I’ve done my best to control myself, although my wild side is going to come out as soon as Luke gives us the green light. I’m dying to feel him inside of me, the thought getting me flustered right now just thinking about it.

Waiting a moment for my blush to subside, I deliver the drinks to the guys, but get surprised by the addition to the table that must have made his way inside while I was daydreaming.

“Luke? What are you doing here?” I stop cold in my tracks, holding the tray up on my shoulder so it doesn’t fall.

That panty-melting grin he possesses stretches across his lips. “I’m having a drink with my friends.”

“I can see that. I mean, why aren’t you at work still?” Placing each glass on the table one at a time, I wait for him to reply.

“My last class wasn’t that big of a deal. The students just needed to turn in a hard copy of their paper to me and fill out the feedback form that the university mandates at the end of each class.”

“Oh. Well, good. I’m glad you could make it out. You deserve this,” I say as I flash my best smile at the group, fighting the urge to rush into his arms and kiss him senseless.

I never thought when I took this extra job that I’d ever see Luke in here while I was working, knowing he’d probably be home with Grayson if I was ever here. But now he’s standing before me—the sleeves of his dress shirt rolled up to his elbows showcasing those sexy and toned forearms I love to watch flex, especially when his hand is between my legs. His jaw is lined with the dark scruff that grows thicker throughout the day that I love to run my fingernails through, and the confidence he seems to exude right now as he stands tall with his friends with a pleased grin on his face is making my body buzz with excitement and my core throb at the vision of him in his entirety.

“Thanks. I’ll take a beer please.” He finally breaks the silence of our stand-off, the heat of his gaze as it travels all over my body makes my skin come alive like a live wire.

“You got it.” Turning on my heels I make my way back behind the bar, filling up his glass while trying not to shake. Our secret relationship is getting harder and harder to contain, especially when my body reacts to him the way that it does—beyond my control and with wild abandon.

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