Page 50 of Undone, Love Times Three

Stuart and I share a laugh as Jen lectures her kids, ushering them to the street.

I guess we’re going to see Blue.

As expected, the place is busy, but it’s not rowdy. The Cubs winning has people in a jovial mood. It’s hot inside and the fans are going, the door and windows open. The bar staff are rushed off their feet but we’re shown to a table. It’s close to the bar. The tiny bartender who served me the first time I came in spots me and grins.

“Hey, good to see you,” she looks behind me at Jen and the kids. Her smile falls, and she glares.

“This is my sister and her kids. That’s her husband.”

Not that I need to explain myself. Blue knows I’m divorced. I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t expect me to walk in here with my kids, if I had them, either.

Stuart waves holding Deirdre’s hand.

“Ah, okay. Why don’t you all take a seat. Menus are on the table. You can use the QR code to order or give one of us a shout. We have a kid’s menu too for you little guys. Can I get you some drinks?”

We put in our order, all the adults go for the beer, and she heads away. Jen eyeballs me suspiciously but can’t say anything she wants to. I ignore her anyway and look around for Blue. I don’t see her.

Our drinks are delivered amidst the chaos of getting food ordered via the QR code for the kids. Stuart tastes the beer and lifts his brows as he looks at me.

“Whoa, everything they say is true. This is good, right?”

I’m no longer looking at my brother-in-law. Blue is standing by the bar, on the patron side. She’s just passed empty glassesover to the other bartender when she sees me sitting on the outer edge of the booth.

“Yeah,” I say to Stuart without taking my eyes off her. “It’s really good.”

Fighting Giants

Adele

Watching him, laughing and joking with his family, tickling the little girl and having a debate with the older boy, is doing things to my chest that I don’t know how to articulate.

He’s good with them but he talks to the couple with him too. Brie kindly pointed out that it is his sister and brother-in-law.

I didn’t believe it was the wife he just divorced, and he hasn’t mentioned kids. Not that we talked a lot about our personal lives. It was physical chemistry, not getting in too deep.

I’m busy washing glasses when I hear my name called. Well, notmyname. My stomach swoops and I press my hand against it before turning to face him, taking a deep breath.

The booth he was at with his family is now occupied by a group of men. Curtis is dropping off bottles of 312 to them.

At this rate, we’re going to run out. I’ve already called Jay about upping the delivery tomorrow.

Daniel is resting one palm flat on the bar. This is the first time I’ve seen him in casual clothes. Funny how I’ve only seen him in a suit, or naked.

I walk around Sharlene who is at the register, and saunter to the end of the bar, maybe putting a little extra sway in my hips. His bare forearms draw my eye, then up to the biceps peeking out from his T-shirt sleeves. It’s dark blue and tight against his chest. He has a knowing smile across his gorgeous mouth when I finish my perusal.

“What can I get you?” I ask.

He chuckles at me, dipping his head. The way his eyes stay on me as he does it, makes my knees weak. “What I want you can’t give me right now.”

“Is that so?”

He’s the definition of confidence, relaxed and at ease in his own skin. The lighthearted teasing, bordering on being flirty with a touch of sexual innuendo, all works. Women around us are looking over at him.

He leans in a little closer, tilting his head and I sway towards him, like he’s caught me on a line. A growing, fluttery sensation starts in my chest and an ache floods between my legs, warmth spreading out through my body. I’ve only just gotten over the soreness from our night together, but I so desperately want a repeat.

I ache to reach out and touch his skin. I’m hyperaware of his scent, the closer he gets. But I can’t. Not here. And I need to seriously have more chill.

The only saving grace is he’s as affected as me. We can’t discuss what happened, not here.

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