Page 37 of Waiting for Sunshine

“Happy New Year, brother,” he says before bringing me in for a hug. I clap his back and pull back.

“Almost there, man.” I look around the bar, which is packed in tight. There are people dancing and shooting pool, obnoxious laughter booming at the other end of the bar, and one couple in the corner booth by the door that is fighting.

I don’t think they’ll be making it into the New Year together.

I’ll keep my eye on that. I haven’t seen the place packed like this since the first week we opened. Whoever made this the hot spot tonight, did the job well.

“It’s wild in here tonight, my guy,” Tucker says as his head spins around taking in the place. “I know. I’m surprised you made it in unscathed.” I laughed.

“I’m gonna make the rounds. See if I can get into some trouble.” Tucker wags his brows. I give him a nod and watch as Taylor turns her gaze to Tucker. Interesting pair they would make.Damn troublemakers.I look up at the clock and it is ten minutes until midnight, and the only thing I can think of is getting Shane alone when that clock strikes.

I walk around the bar talking to customers for a few minutes. Some that I’ve known since the day we opened, and some are first-timers trying to figure out what exactly this place is. I’m starting to wonder that myself. This damn dance floor has to go. I send the couple that had been fighting outside, as they became more than I want to tolerate tonight. It is cold as shit out there but they are going at it and I have a no-bullshit policy here. So out to freeze their asses off they go. When I make it back behind the bar it is time for the ball to drop.

Ruby turns the TVs to the same channel so anyone who cares to watch the stupid thing, can. People start packing in at the center of what now acts as the dance floor for the final countdown. Noisemakers and confetti poppers are being passed out frantically. I’m not even sure where the hell those came from, but I am beyond glad I’m not the one that has to clean this shit off the floor later. I scan the room looking for Shane, and as luck would have it she is coming through the kitchen door, heading back behind the bar.

She starts to walk toward her friends, but I intercepted her before she makes it too far. I grab her arm and her head spins around to look at me. I leaned in, bringing my lips just to her ear. “Come with me,” I say firmly. She looks at me confused but gives me a nod in agreement. I walk her back to my office, where Riley lays curled up on the couch.

“Yeah, boss?” she asks, crossing her arms. She doesn’t look mad, just curious as to why I have brought her back here. People start counting down the ball drop.

“10…9…8…”

“Say you’re not meeting anyone at midnight.” I demand. She starts to turn my favorite shade of pink as I run my fingers up her arm. She pulls in a breath and looks up at me.

“Just you, ” her voice is barely a whisper. I look down just as she pulls in her bottom lip with her teeth.

Goddammit, she’s killing me.

“Good answer.” I smirk at her. I put both of my hands around her neck, pulling her closer to me, I graze her lips with mine and she lets out a little gasp. Not a second later my lips are crashing into hers.

“5…4…3…”people keep shouting.

She pulls away and scans my face briefly. I already miss having her soft lips on mine, but I don’t have to miss them for long. She pulls me back in, even harder this time. She wraps her arms around my neck and I bend to lift her. I wrap her legs around my middle and spin around to put her back against the wall.

“…1 — HAPPY NEW YEAR!”the crowd erupts in the other room.

She parts her lips and my tongue slips in. I explore her mouth with my tongue and my hands cup her ass to keep her secured against me. She bites down gently on my bottom lip and I let out a deep growl. This woman is going to make me lose my damn mind.

She smiles against my mouth and her fingers tangle in my hair. My lips leave hers to kiss her neck – the smell of lavender coming from her is intoxicating, and it is my new favorite scent. I nip at her ear and she lets out a soft moan, which has my dick springing to life against my zipper. He’ll have to calm the hell down, for now.

I kiss her lips once more before I place her feet back on the ground. She looks at me with satisfaction in her eyes. She bites her bottom lip again and the urge I have to move it with my own lips is strong. She stands so close to me that our bodies never lose contact.

“Was that just your way of saying Happy New Year, or…” she asks, making me laugh.

“No, Sunshine. That was me sayingthank you.” I reply, holding her body against mine.

“For what?” she furrows her brow in confusion.

“For the painting. For letting me into the hard parts of your world. For listening when I shared hard parts of mine. For showing me there’s a different way to view life with loss than to try and avoid it at all costs. Thank you, for just being you.” I kiss the tip of her nose, making the blush on her cheeks darken.

“You’re welcome.” She says gently, reaching up to kiss me again. It’s soft and sweet, just like everything else about her.

I run my fingers through her hair again when a banging sounds on the door.

“Yo, if you’re done giving evaluations in there, I could really use some help behind the bar. It’s fucking New Year's for christ's sake!” Ruby yells. Shane’s eyes go wide and her hand flies up to cover her mouth.

“Coming, Rubes.” I call out. Then I lean down bringing my lips to Shane’s ear.

“Soon you will be too,” I nip at her ear then lean back and wink at her. Her mouth drops open as I lean down to pet Riley.

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