Page 60 of Everything I Crave

“Don’t we know that feeling.” He laughs.

Brad and Lauren walk in the gate to the patio and Colton waves them over. Lauren goes to join the girls at the stage and Brad sits next to me.

“Speaking of locking it down.” Preston eyes Brad.

“What?” Brad asks.

“Please, don’t act stupid. When are you going to lock Lauren down?”

“She doesn’t want to be locked down. Not by me anyways.” He looks like he regrets that fact more than he lets on.

I laugh now. “Sure, man. You’re losing it if you think she doesn’t want you. I hear more than anyone thinks I do during girls’ nights.”

“What do you know?” Colton leans forward, becoming more of a gossip than his future mother in law.

“Enough to know that our boy here, better make a move.” I wink at Brad, and get up, pushing my chair in.

“I doubt it. Trust me, there isn't anything she wants with me."

“Guess you better grow a pair and find out if I’m telling the truth.” I slap his shoulder and walk away to chat with some other customers.

The next few hours pass by in a busy blur. Willow only gets to sing a few songs with the band, but people are dancing and drinking, not fighting. Every bar owner’s dream is to have a busy night without a drunken fight. It might be that Brad is out there, people tend to behave more when he is here.

Even though the night was an easy, but busy one, I’m glad it’s over. People are leaving since last call was twenty minutes ago and the band is already packed up and loading their van.

“See ya, man! Let us know when you’re free for golf!” Colton yells in from the patio door.

“See ya! I’ll definitely let you know!” I wave to each of them as they pass by the open door, and Willow follows behind them before coming inside.

“Everything is all set out there and cleaned up.” She sets her tray on the end of the bar, and takes off her apron.

Walking over to me, she wraps her arms around me. I place my large hands on each side of her hips as she presses herself into me, and I lean down to take her mouth with mine.

“Bossman, no fucking the employees.” Bennett walks by us, laughing at me on his way to drop dishes in the kitchen.

“That was only a rule for you! I know how to keep my dick in my pants!” I yell back.

“No he doesn’t!” Willow calls out.

I glare at her.

“What? You can’t.”

She wiggles out of my grip and leaves me, giggling, and heads into the kitchen to help Mack clean up.

I am sweating by the time we get back upstairs. People might have been happy and drinking, but I swear they spilled half of what they ordered tonight. I will have to pressure wash the patio tomorrow morning.

I find Willow talking to Mack in the kitchen. “Alright, everything is done, everyone ready to go home?”

“Ugh, yes, please.” Willow drapes herself dramatically in my arms. “I’m so tired.”

We say goodnight to Mack and Bennett, and I lock up behind them. I meet Willow back in the kitchen and she’s standing at the door with our food, leaning on the door frame with her eyes at half mast.

I scoop her up and whisk her away upstairs. I place her on the couch, and set our to go containers on the table.

“So, can I ask you something?” I ask, desperate to find out why she lied to the band.

“Sure,” she answers around a mouth full of food.

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