Page 28 of Promise Not To Fall

His dad walking in does nothing to deter Jake from his rock star performance. If anything, he has an audience now. He’s definitely a show-off.

Dropping to his knees, he belts out the chorus one more time, all the while, he’s making a drink. It’s like a scene out ofCocktail. Breathless, he stands up as the song ends and hands me another drink.

“Hey, Jake, lock up when you leave,” his dad says, waving over his shoulder and walking out.

Jake nods, still breathing heavy, and then turns back to me, motioning me forward. “Drink up. There’s plenty of drinks you haven’t tried.”

I glance around the bar. They’re definitely closed at that point, but here Jake is, still serving me. I’m almost positive there is no alcohol being put in them, because otherwise, I should have been dead. “You’re closed. Why are you still serving me?”

He winks but says nothing.

I clear my throat and stir the straw. “What’s this one?”

“Orgasm.” He gives me a narrowed look, scrutinizing my reactions.

Fuck me. I take a sip and then smile, licking my lips. “You serve good orgasms.”

Jake glances down at the bar, his hands on the edge, and then looks up at me, a smile playing at his lips, but not quite forming. His warm eyes hold mine. “You’d like to find out, wouldn’t you?” He raises his eyebrows in a playful manner. “You’re dying to let me get you off, aren’t you? I see it in those pretty blue eyes of yours. You want to find out.”

I give my own smirk, knowing how true his statement really is, but wanting to play hard to get. Slouching slightly, I’m not sure why, but careful not to fall back off the stool, I gaze up at Jake again. “You should drink too.”

“Why’s that?”

“If you’re drunk, there’s a better chance I’d get you to come home with me. Last time I took a guy home from a bar, he was drunk too. So I guess that’s how it works. But then again—” I take a sip from my drink. “—I wouldn’t betakingyou home. I would be taking you back to my hotel room.” I sigh, feeling lightheaded.

He pulls away, stepping back against the bar and watching me with an intensity I haven’t noticed until now. Maybe he’s been looking at me like this for a while. Not sure. He’s quiet, so naturally a wave of self-consciousness envelopes me. What’s he thinking? Am I talking to much? Does he not want to go back to my hotel? Is he hoping for someone else?

Clearing his throat, Jake motions me forward. I do as he asks and find myself hanging over the bar to look over the top. He has a half bottle of Jack down there that he’s been drinking.

My eyes widen in amusement. “Sneaky.”

He smiles, giving a small nod. “I’ll let you in on a little secret, though… City Girl.” I watch him, waiting for the secret. “If you want me to go back to your room… you could just ask me.”

My voice is lost in my throat. When I find it, I say, “Ha. That’s too easy, but to save myself further embarrassment, will you come back to my room with me?”

His cocky grin widens. “Was that so hard?”

“Kinda.” I roll my eyes. “Do you want to?”

“I’d be an idiot if I said no.” His gaze falls to my lips. “Wouldn’t I?”

I can’t have him thinking he’s in control. “Guess you’ll have to find out, now won’t you?” I push the last of my drink toward him, waiting for his response. I think I’m done for the night.

Jake turns around, placing a few bottles back on the shelf behind the bar, and then faces me. He gives me that look again, the one where I should be concerned about what he really has planned. “I think I’m just getting started.” He smiles. Leaning forward slightly, he grabs his keys off the bar. He then motions for me to follow him and locks up.

I wait for him on the beach.

Jogging to meet me, he shoves his hands in his pockets. Is Island Boy nervous? “Where you staying?”

“The Atlantis,” I tell him, motioning up the beach with a nod.

I lead the way, and he follows. Then I wonder how often he’s done this with women. He’s a bartender in the Bahamas. Surely he’s taken women home from the bar. I can almost guarantee he has.

I glance over at him. Moonlight shines on his face. “I bet you’ve done this a lot, huh?”

He doesn’t answer me. I’m given his signature shrug.

I should shut up, but drunk me can’t keep her goddamn mouth shut.

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