Larkin dropped his hand from my shoulder, turned and walked out. Slamming the door on his way.

Who did he think he was? I was fine. I didn’t need some shrink telling me I was fucked in the head. I already knew that.

Taking a few deep breaths I pulled my phone out to text my mom, I needed to see how Londyn was doing.

Me: How’s Londyn? How did she do getting a bath? Did she drink all her bottle before she fell asleep?

Slipping my phone back into my pocket I started toward the door when it came flying open and a highly pissed off Jenna came storming through. Normal Jenna didn’t scare me but pissed off Jenna, now that scared me shitless.

“Gage Michael Tucker, you fucking dick jockey! I love you and I will always be there for you but you are going too far. You need to take your depressed ass to therapy.”

Holy fuck! Why won’t people leave me the hell alone?

“Jenna, I am not fuckin’ depressed. I’m living the fuckin’ life,” I said sarcastically. I held my hands up, waving them around my office for show.

“Gage, why won’t you talk to me? We used to talk about everything.” Jenna’s voice was quiet, hurt. She started to reach for me until I opened my mouth.

“And then you left me, got married, and moved to the other side of the country. So, excuse the fuck outta me for not telling you everything,” I bit out.

She drew back. The look on her face told me I had just crushed her. Swallowing, she took a few deep breaths before releasing her rage. “You know what, fuck face, you’re not so perfect yourself. I’m not the one who ended up with a baby after a one night stand. I have a family and a life I love. Can you say that? Can you say you’re happy with your life?”

Jenna’s words felt like a slap in the face.

Clenching my jaw, I drew my hands into fists, slamming my left hand into the wall. Jenna never flinched. Instead I could see her anger only intensify and radiate in waves off of her.

“Aren’t you just so mature? Who goes around punching shit because they got put in their place? You need professional help. You have a daughter and you’re the only parent she has left. If you don’t do it for yourself, at least do it for her. She deserves the Gage Tucker I know. Not this angry, depressed fuck you’re being.”

Grinding my teeth I hissed, “Get out!

Jenna bit her bottom lip, her face red. She shot back, “You can’t throw me out Gage. Not now. Not after everything we have been through. Get mad at me all you want, but one day you will realize just how right I am. You can’t push me outta your life. My stubborn ass ain’t leavin’ so get used to seein’ my face.”

I could feel my jaw ticking. Jenna could piss me off like no one else could. “Fine, I’ll leave.” Walking passed Jenna I made sure to bump her with my shoulder.

“Go to hell, Gage. Do you worst but you won’t break me. Not when it comes to you and your happiness. I will always be there, even when you don’t want me to be.”

I paused at the door, letting out an empty laugh. I jerked the handle and said, “We’ll see about that.” I opened the door and walked out, letting it slam behind me.

Making my way through the crowd and to the bar I ignored person after person trying to talk to me. I didn’t want small talk, I wanted drunk.

Really, really drunk. Forget the world drunk.

Spotting an empty stool at the bar, I grabbed it and slid into the seat.

There she was.

Annie was leaning over grabbing bottles of alcohol. As she was leaning up she sweetly asked, “Can I help ya?”

Setting the bottles on the counter she brought her eyes to mine. Her sapphire blue eyes were soaking me in. Her tight ‘Wet Spot’ t-shirt hugged her large tits and stopped just below her belly button, showing off her athletic stomach and making me fight another hard-on.

Giving her a half smile I said, “Double shot of tequila with salt and lime, please.”

Annie stared for a few seconds before raking her bottom teeth over her upper lip. Jesus fuck that was hot. She sat a shot glass in front of me with a napkin beside it. Reaching under the bar she grabbed a salt shaker and lime wedge, setting them on the napkin. Turning around she stretched her arm up, reaching for the tequila. In doing so she gave me a perfect view of her tight ass and that tattoo on her lower back.

Alis Volat Propriis.

Seeing it earlier I had thought it was a tramp stamp, but up close I could see that it wasn’t in the usual tramp stamp location. It was offset to the right, almost wrapping around her hip.

Pouring the tequila she never took her eyes off the glass. She was nervous. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was her boss or if she felt what I felt. I wanted to know. She sat the bottle of tequila on the bar and finally looked at me again. Those eyes. Those eyes could make me do very bad things to her. There was something about them that pulled me in. Her eyes were mesmerizing.

Keeping my eyes locked with hers, I brought my right hand to my mouth licking a small spot on the back of my hand. I grabbed the salt and shook it onto my hand. Picking up the shot glass, I licked the back of my salt covered hand, downed the shot, replacing the glass with the lime wedge.

Annie’s eyelids were getting heavier with each passing second. If I kept this up I could have her in my bed within an hour. I could fuck her until I forgot all the shit. That is exactly what I plan on doing. Forget.

“Another one, beautiful. This time I want you to do one with me,” I ordered in a gruff voice.

Annie looked torn. She was quiet for a minute before a smile crept across her face and she nodded. “Sure.” She poured two more shots and grabbed two more lime wedges.

“Ladies first.”

Annie brought her hand to her lips. Her tongue darted out of her mouth to quickly to lick the back of her hand. She took the salt shaker and covered the spot she just licked. Setting the salt back on the bar, Annie said, “Your turn, ball boy.”

Raising an eyebrow I smirked. “Sweetheart, I am in no way a ball boy. I could show you just how anti-ball I am.”

Annie slowly shook her head and smiled. “I’m sure you could, but I’ll take your word for it. I already have a guy who keeps me very happy. He’s very over protective and could probably whoop your ass if he found out you’re hitting on me.” Her mouth raised on one side and she tried to hide her smile

Fuck me. I should have known that guy from earlier was Dropping the subject I lick my hand and shake some salt onto the spot.

Both reaching for our glasses I held mine up. “Here’s to wild nights and single parents.”

Annie’s smile faded as she clinked her glass to mine. “Cheers.”

We tossed our shots back and sucked on the lime. Seeing Annie suck the lime made me picture her full lips wrapped around my dick.

And my boner was back.

This girl was going to occupy my dreams. She would be in my bed before I left to start my season. I had to have her.

“One more?” I asked, hopeful.

“Not for me. Some of us have to work around here. We can’t all be gazillionaires and sit on our asses, hitting on bartenders, and getting drunk.” Annie said.

“I’m not a gazillionaire and I am not hitting on you. Trying to get you into my bed, yes. Trying to ask you on a date,” I paused and slowly shook my head. “No.”

Annie’s cheeks turned a light pink before she said, “With an attitude like that, I can see why you’re a single parent.”

Drawing back, I let my gaze fall to the gold band on my finger. I felt like I was cheating on Cobie in some sick and twisted way.

“My wife died from cancer five months ago. We found out when she was pregnant that she had Osteosarcoma. She couldn’t take treatments while pregnant.” Pushing my tears back, I ran my finger around the brim of the glass. “Three months after our daughter was born she died. Nothing to do with my attitude.”

Annie covered her mouth. “Shit. I didn’t know. I’m so sorry.”

Shrugging to play it off I smiled and said, “So, how about that other shot?”

Annie filled our two glasses up again, grabbing two more lime wedges.

Eight shots for me and five shots for Annie later we were both getting sloppy. I needed to walk away. She was my employee, but she was also gorgeous and funny.

“I think your shift is over, Barker can handle the bar for another hour. Let’s get outta here.”

Annie rested her elbows and forearms on the bar, leaning forward just enough that I could see down her shirt. Biggest ‘all natural’ tits I had ever seen. I wanted to rip her shirt off just so I could suck her nipples into my mouth as I let my hands wonder down her curvy body and into her little shorts. I could just imagine sliding my fingers into her tight, wet pussy. The noises she would make, the way her body would shake as she came in my hands.

“We need to get outta here, now. I need to get you in my bed and underneath me,” I gruffed.

Annie’s tongue darted out and wet her bottom lip. “I’m not that easy Mr. Tucker. You’re going to have to try harder than that.” Annie grabbed the towel she had tucked in her back pocket and tossed it on the bar. “I’m out Barker. See you tomorrow.”

Without giving me a second glance she was gone. Shit.

And then I had an idea……. 

16

Annie

Did I just walk away from the hottest man I have ever laid eyes on? Yes, yes I did. And for a damn good reason. It wasn’t like he was interested in getting to know me. He wanted me for one reason and I wasn’t going to fall into his bed like most women would. I have respect for myself. I have respect for him, even if he is kinda an ass. Besides, I don’t want to risk getting who knows what kind of disease or more importantly getting pregnant from a one night stand gone wrong.