Page 38 of No One Wants That (Blitzen Bay)

BUTCH

“Damn, you look like you had a harder day than I did.”

When we got done with the barbecue, all of the couples started disappearing to their rooms. I wasn’t tired, so I decided to hit up the only watering hole in town. As I sat down at the bar, a beautiful woman approached and threw a coaster in front of me.

“I had a harder day than everyone,” I say, giving her cleavage a quick peek as she leans on the bar in front of me. “May I please have a beer?”

“Sure. Do you want to try one from our local brewer? They’ve got a strawberry blonde ale out for the summer that’s popular.”

“What about me makes you think I’d want strawberries in my beer?” I say, shaking my head.

“Yeah, I think it might be a little too exciting for your taste buds. How about a Bud?”

“Now you’re talking.”

I watch her as she leans over to grab a bottle out of the cooler. Her ass is just as nice as her chest. This town might not be so bad after all.

“I’m guessing you don’t want a glass,” she says, popping off the cap and handing the bottle to me.

“You guess correctly.”

“You want to talk about your day? You know bartenders are great counselors.”

“There are many things I’d like to talk to you about,” I say, taking a long drink, “but my day is not one of them.”

“Okay,” she says as a mischievous smile comes to her face. “What should we talk about?”

“Ladies’ choice.”

She points to the tats on my arms. “I like your ink.”

“Thank you,” I say, searching her eyes for a go sign. I think it’s there, but just barely. She’s a tough one to read. “Do you have any tats?”

“None that you can see.”

“I think you mean none that I can see right now.”

“Wow. Okay. You’re quick off the mark.” She touches my forearm. “You pretty much have full sleeves. Do the tats extend onto your chest and back?”

“Maybe you can find out when you get off tonight.” I drain my beer and push the empty bottle to her. “And then I can hunt for yours, too.”

Her eyebrows shoot up. “I could tell you had a wicked streak the second you walked in the door.”

“Right back at you,” I say, grinning. “I know how to pick my women.”

“Oh, friend,” she says, patting my arm. “You definitely don’t. And I think your day’s about to get a lot worse.”

“Whose day is going to get worse?” The kitchen door flies open and another beautiful woman rushes out.

“Our new patron. I didn’t get your name.”

“Butch.”

“Hi, Butch. I’m Gabi. And this is my wife, Izzy.”

I slam my hands onto the bar. “Well son of a bitch. You really are wicked. How are you going to let me waste my best ammunition like that when you’re not even on my team?”

“If that’s your best ammunition, I think you need to stop shooting,” Gabi says, laughing as she slides another beer over to me. “And who knows? You were trying to get me. Maybe you’ll get both of us now.”

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