Page 4 of All I Know

"Will do. Drive safe. Or ride safe. Have fun clubbing. Oh, and I'll email you the graphics for your birthday party invite."

She points her finger at me and cocks her thumb like a pistol. "You're incredible."

The three strut out, and Damien releases his hand. He's probably great at massages with those strong fingers. Here's to finding out.

I narrow my gaze toward the palm tree-lined exit, and the buzz of the Harleys fills the bar. "I'm designing the invites to her birthday party. She wanted anEasy Ridertheme."

"Imagine that," Damien chuckles. "She seems to like motorcycle guys. I watched her flirt all night. When I wasn't watching you, of course."

There goes my face with the hot flush again, probably because the sound of his deep voice with the faint Southern accent tickles my senses. And other places. "I'd feel bad about leaving her alone with them, but she said she's known them for a while and trusts them, so..."

I meet Damien's cognac-colored eyes, and my voice falters. Moving quickly, I round the bar and pluck a bottle of Jack off the shelf.

"And you'd rather be here with me than on the back of a Harley."

Laughing, I come back around and realize we're going to need something to drink out of. My mind isn't working right tonight. I climb on a stool, lean over the bar, and grab two glasses. My feet ache, my skin is sparking from being touched by Damien, and I'm so ready to relax.

"Is a shot of Jack good with you?"

I look over my shoulder to find Damien openly checking out my butt. Perhaps the faded cutoff jean shorts weren't such a bad idea after all.

"More than good. It's perfect."

"When did you get so cocky?" I tease, plopping onto the barstool.

He shrugs and strokes his stubble. "It's true, isn't it?"

True as the blue of the Gulf of Mexico.

I pour us each two fingers of liquor, then slide one to him. It's too distracting to face him full-on. So I sit facing forward, looking straight at a rickety old rack filled with bagged peanuts. How long have those been there? No one ever orders them. Ugh, there's so much to do here.

And now, the very welcome distraction of Damien. I turn my head to glance at him every few seconds. I probably look like I have a spasm in my neck.

I flip my hair behind my shoulders and finally swivel to face him.

"We have a lot of catching up to do. A lot to say to each other." He holds his glass in the air, as do I. "Cheers."

"Cheers. Really? Like what?"

He takes a long sip. Mine is smaller, because despite working in a bar, I don't drink much at all because of my health issues. The liquid sends an inferno down my esophagus, and I stifle a cough.

"Unfinished business."

Emotion prickles through me. Damien and I will always have unfinished business. I shake my head at the taste of the booze.

"I owe you an apology, Kate."

I swallow, hoping the fiery feeling goes away soon. "Hunh? Why?"

"Because of what happened in high school."

I roll my eyes and take another sip in hopes of gaining some liquid courage. Ugh. I was hoping for a night of flirtation or more. Not a rehash of the worst year of my life. "Lord, Damien. You were suspended for three days because you stuck up for me. No apology necessary."

"I should've beat the stuffing out of every one of those little pricks."

I roll my eyes. "That's stupid kid stuff. We kissed at a party senior year, some pricks thought they saw us doing more, and I was labeled the island slut. So what?"

"That reputation followed you until graduation."

---