Shaken Not Stirred (Mixology #1)(45)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

“What if I don’t?”

“Isn’t this backward? Isn’t the bartender supposed to be the good listener doling out advice?”

I let go of his hand and went back to work on the senseless organization. “We both know I’m not your typical bartender.”

“Nothing about you is typical, and that’s one part of why I can’t get enough of you.”

“Glad to know you like my weirdness.”

“Not weirdness, uniqueness. That’s a different thing.”

“I’m not giving you an answer.” I crossed my arms.

“Wait, but that means you aren’t saying no either.” He smiled.

“So?”

“So, Paris aside, do you forgive me enough to continue our movie nights again tomorrow?”

“Can I pick the movie?”

“Don’t you always?” he teased.

“All right. Pick me up at seven.”

***

“If you’re going to fall asleep during the movie, at least let me pick something I like.” Colin kissed my forehead.

I opened my eyes, taking a moment to remember that we were in his theater room. “Did I fall asleep?”

“Yes. You did.”

“Sorry,” I said sheepishly.

“It’s fine. I’m glad you’re here. You scared me.”

“Scared you?”

“Yeah. I didn’t know if I could get you back.” He put an arm around me. “That’s a scary thought for me.”

I put my hands on either side of his face. “You mean that?”

“Of course I do.”

“I’m going to stay tonight.” I’d made up my mind about it before I left my place.

Colin grinned. “I kind of assumed that considering you brought a tote bag full of clothes.”

“How’d you know there were clothes in there?”

“I may have snooped.”

“Hey!” I swatted at his arm.

“What? At least I don’t go through your drawers.” He gave me a meaningful yet teasing look.

“How’d you know?” I’d thought my snooping had gone undetected. Besides, I’d been respectful.

“I could tell.”

“I’ll have to be more discreet next time.”

“Next time?” He pulled me onto his lap so that I was straddling him. “Is there going to be a next time?”

“I don’t know. Are you planning on leaving me waiting again like that?”

“Never.”

“Care to prove yourself?”

“I’d love to, but I don’t want to wait until we’re upstairs.” He pulled my long-sleeve t-shirt over my head.

“How do you know I’m awake enough yet?”

He grinned. “Because I’m an expert on waking you up.”

“I can say the same thing about waking you up.”

“Yeah? Well, I’m guessing you know I’m already up.”

I adjusted myself on his lap. “Yeah, you are, but you’re wearing entirely too much clothing.”

“So are you.” He unclasped my bra, and I knew I’d never look at that theater room the same way.

Chapter Seventeen

Lame romantic gestures come more naturally to me than I expected. I checked the white paper bag one last time before slipping it into the basket of my bike. I’d ordered Colin’s favorite sandwich—turkey and ham on a hoagie roll, but I wasn’t sure the cook hadn’t put pickles on by mistake. Colin hated pickles. He’d been working nonstop all week, and taking a break for lunch wasn’t his thing. After another text about how he missed me, I decided to take things into my own hands. His office was right in town, so it wasn’t a long ride. I opted for an easy sandwich joint instead of anything fancy. It was the thought that counted, right?

The weather was a little cold for a dress in November, but I wanted to look cute. If this was my only chance to see Colin all week, I wasn’t wasting it on old jeans. I was long due for a shopping trip, but the way my checking account looked, it wasn’t in the cards. I’d settled on a retro shift dress, the kind with all the buttons down the front.

I stopped in front of his building and searched for the bike rack. Of course there wasn’t one out in the open. Businesses that didn’t want people without cars didn’t put a rack out in public view. I followed instinct and walked around to the back of the building. There was a small rack with only two shiny new bikes on it—employees’ bikes I’m sure. I slid mine in and locked it before walking around to the front.

I smoothed out my dress, hoping the wind hadn’t messed up my hair too much. My plan to visit the bathroom first was thwarted when someone I vaguely recognized as a friend of Colin’s who had come into the bar with him once called out to me. He was older than us, probably in his late thirties, with that slightly graying hair that made a guy look good and a girl look old. “Hey, Maddy.”

“Hi.” I smiled politely.

“I don’t think we’ve officially met, but Colin talks about you all the time. I’m Martin.”

“Oh. Hi, Martin. Nice to meet you.” I checked out the simplistic lobby. It’s neutral tones seemed the appropriate fit for a beach town.

“Does Colin know you’re here?” he asked.

“How do you know I’m here to see Colin?”

“Why would you be here to see anyone else?”

Evidently, he didn’t get the joke. “No. He doesn’t know yet.”

“Let me walk you up then.”

“Thanks.” I followed him up the flight of stairs and down a hallway. He gave a running narration of everything we passed, but I was too nervous to concentrate on a word he said.

He stopped in front of a door and knocked. I assumed it was Colin’s office.

“Look who I found in the lobby?”

Colin glanced at the doorway. As soon as he saw me, his face lit up. He came around his desk to meet me. “Maddy? What are you doing here?”

“Is this a bad time? I just thought I’d drop something off for you.”

“Colin was about to take his lunch break, weren’t you?” Martin waved before leaving and closing the door behind him.

“There’s never a bad time for you to visit.” He backed me up to his desk.

“I brought you lunch.”

“Thanks, I’ll get to that later.” He placed a hand on either side of me.

“Later? What are you doing now?”