Page 32 of Decoded
Panic begins to set in as I think about another drunken night with Keaton. “Maybe it’s not such a good idea to go out tonight,” I try to think of an excuse. “I don’t have anything to wear.”
Amanda snorts, “Just wear you a pair of jeans and a sexy top to show off those huge knockers you have. Since your boss can’t help but stare at them, you may as well flaunt them in his face.”
“Amanda!” I hiss, but my new friend just shrugs and takes another bite of her sandwich.
Dressed in the sexiest pair of jeans I own and a scoop neck black top that does flatter my chest quite nicely, I throw on my black kitten heels and look at myself in the mirror. My first thought is whether Keaton will like the way I look or not. Even when furious with him, my heart flutters every time that man crosses my mind. These days that’s an awful lot.
On our way home this afternoon, I mentioned that Amanda and I planned on being there tonight and he offered me a ride. There was nothing I wanted more, but I decided some space between us was much needed, so I opted to have Amanda pick me up.
Anxiety has a firm grip on me as I consider for the first time that he may be there with another woman. Even if he isn’t, the man is a fucking catch and there’s no way someone won’t come up and hit on him. Jealousy boils my blood at the thought of another woman talking to him. What if it’s even more than that and she touches him?
My freak out is interrupted with Amanda letting herself in and calling out, “Knock, knock!”
“Most people knock before they let themselves in, ya know?” I say with a laugh.
Amanda ignores me as her eyes dart around the guest house. “Dang girl, this place is nice! I knew Keaton had money, but you’re living in luxury.”
I must admit that I was equally enamored with it when I had moved in, noting the quartz counter tops and high-end appliances that filled the spacious kitchen and opened up into the living room adorned with high ceilings. Everything was neutral except for the pops of color I had added with throw pillows and blankets. It looked like a place out of a magazine.
“It’s just temporary,” I remind her, and myself. “I’ll have a much less impressive place of my own soon enough.”
“A place like this and a neighbor like Keaton Fisher? I’d be doing everything possible to stay if I were you, girl. Now speaking of our boss, let’s go see if we can catch him getting drunk. I bet he’s a giggly one.”
I don’t tell my new bestie that I know exactly what Keaton is like when he’s drunk. Giggly? No. Charming and sexy enough to end up in a chapel with him? Abso-fucking-lutely.
Walking into Kalli’s Corral, I need a moment to adjust to a sensory overload. Live music pumps throughout the place that features a dance floor among several high tops with stools. The smell of beer and peanuts waft through the air and while the overhead lights are off, there’s track lighting at the bar and several spotlights in the place. I can already tell tonight is going to be fun.
As I take everything in, Amanda leads us to a large table where several people from work are already seated. “Fancy meeting you here,” Keaton says, that dimple popping and making me weak in the knees. “I saved you a seat.” He pulls out the stool right beside him. Sitting down, he leans over and whispers so only I can hear him, his hand placed on the small of my back. “You look fucking stunning tonight, Baby.”
That damn nickname has me melting as electricity shoots through my body at his touch. I don’t hide my gaze as I allow myself to drink him in. He changed out his slacks for a pair of jeans, but he’s still wearing his daily button-up with the rolled sleeves giving me delicious access to eye fuck his arms. There are a lot of places on a man to love, but the arms get me every time. And Keaton’s are the very best. “Back at ya,” I say with a grin, appreciating how natural it feels to flirt with him.
Did I just fucking flirt with my boss? Yes. Yes, I did. And it felt amazing. It felt right. My mind pulls out a projector and shows me stills from our time together in Vegas. Being with Keaton is so easy and I’m really tired of life being hard. Maybe a night of flirting and fun is what the two of us need.
Our table fills up quickly and we are easily the loudest and rowdiest in the place. As I glance around, I see Camden but notice Lincoln’s absence. “Linc didn’t want to join?”
Camden answers on behalf of his brother. “He’s staying in with Charlie to watch a new movie. She’s been really big into My Little Pony lately.”
“That sounds like so much fun for Lincoln,” I smile cheekily. “Does he miss out on nights like this a lot?”
This time Keaton answers. “We include him the best we can, but it’s the life of a single dad. Mama watches Charlie pretty often but here lately she’s not, um, been feeling well.” I note the sadness in Keaton’s expression as he mentions his mom. I’m eager to learn more about that, but I won’t push the subject tonight.
“Let’s dance!” Amanda shouts and most of the table gets up to head to the dance floor, including myself and Keaton.
The bluegrass band on the stage has been playing popular hits with their touch of twang and I laugh as I dance to renditions of Genie in a Bottle and I Want it That Way featuring mandolins, banjos, and fiddles. We’ve been out here for close to an hour andalthough I’m having the time of my life, I can feel sweat beading at my forehead and rolling down my spine, so I excuse myself to go back to the table for a break.
Drinking down my hard cider, others come back to the table for some rest, and I notice Keaton in the mix. He smiles at me, and I can’t help but return it.
“You looked like you were having a lot of fun out there.”
“Were you watching me?” I ask, my eyebrows raised in curiosity.
He takes a drink before giving me a smirk that just barely conceals that left cheek dimple. “May have been.”
My heart and pussy flutter with desire. I love knowing his eyes were on me as my body rocked to the beat, writhing around the way it would as though he and I were a tangled heap of passion.
“I haven’t danced like that in years,” I confess. “The atmosphere here is amazing.”
“The company is even better,” he replies, leaning in so I can feel his breath brush against my face. His lips look so damn good and if I’m being honest with myself, working with him has completely thawed my icy heart. We both lean into each other, but are interrupted before things can get too far.
