Page 5 of Just A Kiss

“Damn.” After the lights come on, Catrina comes up to the bar with her tray and begins to count a handful of twenties.

“Nice night?” I ask.

She nods. “I got this guy in a suit who drinks like a fish. Handed me a twenty every time and said keep the change.”

Sounds like Asher.

She finishes counting out her tips and then puts her tray away. “Have a nice night,” she calls out, making her way to the front door. “Well, what’s left of it.”

I clean up behind the bar and start washing glasses when Duke, the other bartender, tosses some cash down in front of me. “Here’s your cut.”

“Thank you.”

He places his arms in his coat and shrugs it on, giving me a nod. “What all do you have left to do?”

“Not much. You can go ahead and leave.”

“You sure?” he asks, taking a quick look around the abandoned bar. Now that the lights are on, you can see the yellowed walls from all the smoking, but it’s as clean as it’s gonna get. As much as a dump can be.

I nod.

“Okay, I’ll see you later,” he calls, walking out himself. And I hear the lock click into place behind him. Securing my safety.

I place the last clean glass in its rack and pick up the cash. I begin to count it when the twenty-dollar bill the woman left me with her number pops up in the pile. I look it over, wondering why she gave it to me and what the hell move up in the world meant. I fold it with the rest of the cash and tuck it in my pocket. Christmas lights are still strung along the ceiling even though it’s already passed. At one point, they were probably pretty, but over time, the twinkling white lights have turned yellow from the smoke, matching everything else in this bar.

Once all the lights are off, I walk out the door and lock it back up.

“So how often do you work here?”

I jump and spin around to see Asher standing on the sidewalk, leaning up against the brick building. Even though he’s removed his tie, he’s still looks like he belongs in a courthouse and not on the dirty streets in South Chicago.

“Fuck. How often do you creep up on women?” I ask, holding my chest. My heart now beating wildly at his surprise.

He pushes off the wall, and I take a step back. He notices the exchange and comes to a stop. “Afraid of me?”

“No.” I square my shoulders. “I just don’t trust you.”

He smiles a slow and sexy smile that would make the strongest woman weak in her knees. His blue eyes sparkle under the moonlight, and he runs his hand over his chin while his eyes lower to my legs. When they reach mine again, he chuckles. It makes my already shaking legs tighten. “That wasn’t the case two weeks ago.”

“I was drunk.” It’s the only lame excuse I can come up with. I’ve wanted him for a long time but never made my move. He was off limits. When he just stands there staring at me, I cross my arms over my chest and shiver, pretending to be cold. But it has nothing to do with the chilly weather. “What do you want, Asher? It’s late, and I’m tired,”

“I just wanted to make sure that you made it to your car safely. That the guy I escorted out earlier didn’t come back and bother you.”

I roll my eyes. “How noble of you.”

“I have my moments.”

“And I have protection.” I pat my purse over my shoulder. I never leave home without my mace. This is Chicago, after all. Not only do I work on the south side of town, but I also live in it. After experiencing my fair share of catcalls and close encounters, a woman can never be too careful.

Instead of saying anything, he reaches his hand out, gesturing for me to walk, and I give him my back. Letting out a sigh, I walk over to my beat-up old Honda. It’s not the prettiest thing, but it’s reliable.

He takes my keys from me without asking and unlocks the door. When he opens my door, I watch him carefully as I fall into the driver’s seat. “Should I expect this kind of treatment every night?”

“Depends. What’s your schedule?”

I laugh uncomfortably but don’t answer. Instead, I say, “See you around.” It’s not a total lie. My best friend recently married his twin brother, so we’re bound to be around one another at some point. Even I can’t avoid that. But as he closes my door, I swear he mumbles, “Yes, you will.”

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