Page 6 of A Love That Broke Us
OCTOBER
You only cometo Whiskey’s for a special occasion, or when you’ve got money to blow. It’s swanky—the kind of bar that says,I’ve made it in life.Brick walls, backlit shelves lined with overpriced bottles, and music just loud enough to make you lean closer. The lighting’s dim, and all the chairs and barstools are leather. Before tonight, I would’ve thought bringing a first date here was a flex. But so far, Jensen doesn’t seem like that kind of guy.
We’re at the bar top, chairs close, knees touching, angled toward each other. He’s grinning, dimples deep, blue eyes locked on mine.
“And that’s my family in a nutshell. Things get pretty wild when we’re all together, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Tell me about your family,” he says.
Damn—his eyes. They’re stupid pretty. The kind that make you forget what you were saying.
I thought he was cute at the hospital, and really cute at the coffee shop… But I don’t remember him being this hot.
“Well, I can’t really top that. My family isn’t nearly as interesting.It’s just me and my brother, Michael. He’s five years older than me.” I take a sip of my Guinness. “He lives in Chicago. That’s where I’m from. I only see him once or twice a year, but we’re close.”
“What about your mom and dad?”
There it is—the dreaded question.
I skip over it, flashing a flirty smile. “Do you think people can tell we’re on a first date?”
He chuckles. “What’s giving it away? The classictell me about your familyquestions? Or the fact that you’re not anywhere near close enough to me?”
He raises an eyebrow, a sly grin curving as he slides his stool a few inches closer, my legs now tucked between his. A warmth sweeps through me and settles in my chest, my pulse picking up speed.
“I mean, look around. You can spot every first date in this place.” He nods to my right, and I follow his gaze. “See that couple? First date for sure. She’s closed off, her arms are folded, and there’s way too much space between them.”
I turn back to Jensen. “Maybe she just doesn’t like him.”
He gestures toward the couple again. “Case in point. You wouldn’t go on a second date with someone you weren’t into. That girl can’t wait to get home.”
I roll my bottom lip between my teeth, but it doesn’t stop my smile from breaking through. “Okay. Let me find one.” I scan the bar, eyes landing on a couple in the corner, sitting close, but not too close. She laughs, touching his arm. “What about them?”
He watches for a beat before letting out a laugh. “Oh, that’s a first date for sure. And she is hoping to get laaaaid.”
I roll my eyes. “You don’t know that.”
“Sure I do.”
“Oh, you can just always tell when a woman wants to get laid?”
He cocks a brow. “Is it that hard?”
“Well, we’re sitting pretty close, Jensen. What do you think people are saying when they look at us? Do we look like a first date ready to jump ship—or jump into bed?”
His grin widens. He picks up his glass and takes a slow sip, eyesnever leaving mine. “I think people look at us and think,that guy is really into that girl… and he definitely wants to take her home.”
His hand drops to my leg, fingers brushing slowly over the fabric.
Holy shit.The contact is subtle, but my body reacts like he’s touching bare skin. Heat pools low in my core, a slow throb settling in as his fingers linger. I don’t move. My heart races, and my next breath is shaky.
“And she likes him too,” he adds, voice dipping low. “But she’s the kind of woman who makes a man work for it. And I’m not mad about that. Not one bit.”
He lifts his hand from my leg and reaches for his glass.
“Well then.” I drain the last sip of my beer, setting it down with a clink. “Guess you’ve got your work cut out for you.”
Jensen pushes the door open,and a rush of crisp night air greets us as we leave the bar, stepping onto a busy Chelsea sidewalk.
“You said you live in the same building as your best friend? What was his name again?”
