Longing for You (Touched by Magic Book 1) (7 page)

“Listen, I’d love to sit here and chat all night, but I really need to—”

“I know, I know.” He rose off the bar and waved his hands in surrender. “I’m not the man you want. Give me a sec to get Mike.”

Before she could object, Jimmy was moving away from the bar. He and Mike met at the counter near the vast collection of liquor bottles. It didn’t take Jimmy long to whisper in his ear or for Mike to look over his shoulder. He didn’t stare but a second or two, but it was long enough to reveal his confliction.

Jimmy whispered something else and then grabbed the beer bottle Mike held. He winked in her direction as he proceeded to another customer. Mike stood there, obviously wanting to avoid her.
 

Damn him. He was wasting time.

The Budweiser clock above him revealed the time. 9:01. Great. She’d already wasted a minute. Ally would be meeting her in four more, and the song playing in the background was halfway over.

She cleared her throat in preparation to call for Mike, but he turned in her direction before any sound escaped. He pushed off the counter he’d been leaning against and walked over to the spot Jimmy had occupied. His fingers curled around the edge of the bar top once he reached it.

“Hey,” he mumbled.

“Hey.”

The awkwardness that transpired earlier returned, leaving her at a loss for words. While she didn’t want to be a bitch, she wouldn’t submit to the same treatment he’d given her on the dance floor. They might sleep together on occasion, but she wasn’t his girlfriend and he didn’t need to react to situations as if she were.

She parted her lips to speak when she noticed the tension in his shoulder release. “What can I do for you, darlin’?”

“I’m here to pay my tab.”

Her answer wasn’t the one he was expecting. She knew it the moment the skin between his brows bunched and he cocked his head to the side. His reaction had her clenching her teeth. She didn’t want to argue. It wouldn’t get her out of the bar any quicker.

Mike shook his head and chuckled. “And I was starting to think I was wrong about my assumptions this evening.”
 

That was it.

“Think what you want, Mike. I can’t stop that. I’d explain what you actually witnessed this evening, but I don’t have time. May I please pay my tab so I can leave?”

Nodding as he averted his gaze, Mike walked over toward the register and grabbed a stack of papers lying beside it. He sorted through four before pulling one loose. Soon after, he walked back.

She waited for him to tell her the total, but he stood there staring at the slip of paper. It remained between his thumb and fingers when he finally lowered his hand back to his side. Remorse burned in his eyes as they locked with hers.
 

“If I’m in the wrong, I want to know. What exactly did I witness?”

Biting the inside of her jaw, she glanced behind her, making sure Ally wasn’t close by. Her friend wouldn’t want her talking about this, nor would Cassie if the roles were reversed. As angry as Mike had made her, she wasn’t sure if he deserved the truth.
 

Of course, not telling him would give him a reason to doubt her. He’d believe his assumptions were right. No way would she give him undue satisfaction. He needed to be set straight and she needed to be on her way. It wouldn’t get her an apology, but knowing his guilt was eating at him served the same purpose.

“What you witnessed was a six-year-old scar reopening. The guy my friend was flirting with is the man who broke her heart. She didn’t recognize him at first. Neither did I. He has changed quite a bit.”

As the final notes of the song rang through the air, Mike peered toward the stage, most likely at Jonah. He didn’t know the McCabes or the history Ally and Jonah shared. Still, something about the way he worked his lips said he was doing more than processing everything she’d told him. Exactly what, she didn’t know, nor would she find out until they spoke again in private.

“Listen, I need to get my friend home. She isn’t feeling well. What do I owe you for the drinks?”

“Nothing, sugar.” He refocused on her. “It’s on the house.”

“Mike—”

The crowd broke into applause, but Cassie’s plea wasn’t silenced by the noise. Mike pressed his finger to her lips and leaned closer. All the jealousy she’d sensed in him before had vanished. In fact, the desire he normally held for her showed in the way he trailed his finger across her lips. Then he did the one thing she wasn’t expecting.

He kissed her.

It wasn’t just a peck, either. It was a good kiss. A full on, lip sweeping, panty-drenching kiss that left her speechless when he eased away. He’d never been so bold to do such a thing. The owner frowned upon the bartenders fraternizing with customers while working. Mike would be reprimanded if his boss found out.

He didn’t appear the least bit concerned. His mouth lingered close enough that the scent of his cinnamon gum filled her nose. “No arguing, doll. I’m not charging you for the drinks. It’s the least I can do for being an ass. Go get your friend. I’ll call for a cab.”

Cassie didn’t respond. She couldn’t. Her mind continued spinning with confusion. Mike had flipped a one-eighty, going from a testosterone-fueled jerk that thought the worst, to a guy who’d risked his job just to kiss her. The craziest part of it all—she’d seen neither side of him before.

What had changed?

“You okay?” Mike’s voice cut through the questions tumbling in her mind, but she didn’t answer, only nodded. He smiled at her response as his eyes lowered to her lips. “If your plans end up changing, you know where to find me.”

She held her breath when Mike moved in for another kiss, this one being rougher than the last. It filled her with a rush of excitement. While she didn’t approve of his jealous behavior, she didn’t mind the part of him that wanted to control her body.

As much as the thought made her heat with desire, reality came flooding back. She turned toward the once crowded dance floor and blinked in disbelief. The music had come to an end, and the band, as well as Jonah, were nowhere in sight.

* * *

Cassie scurried across the bar, in the direction of the restrooms. Of all the idiotic things she could do, getting sidetracked shouldn’t have been one of them. She knew what was at stake, yet the feel of Mike’s lips on hers took her by surprise.
 

Damn her body, and damn the way he made her forget things…

With each step she took, she worked her way through the crowd, scanning the many faces for Jonah’s. None proved to be a match, nor did she notice his bandmates anywhere. Of course, spotting one of them would be like spotting a blind date. She had no clue what to look for.

Aside from a quick view of the singer’s back, and the bass guitarist’s profile, she hadn’t paid much attention. They could have been sitting beside her at the bar and she wouldn’t have known the difference.

She rounded the corner of the bar and entered the hall. A few people huddled near the front but cleared a path as she proceeded toward them. At least there wasn’t a line to the ladies’ room, nor were there any signs of Jonah.

Perhaps he and his bandmates had gone to the other side of the club, where the pool tables were located. She could only hope for as much at this point because if he were somewhere lurking, she’d never give Ally the drama-free escape route she promised.

Stopping in front of the door, she gazed past the men’s room to the back door twenty feet away. It was possible that her friend had snuck outside to get some air. If she weren’t in the restroom, it would be the next place Cassie checked.

The hinges squeaked when she pushed open the door and went inside. Powder-scented air freshener mixed with what smelled like sweet pea body spray. She’d know the latter scent anywhere. It’s what her sister wore, as did one of the girls at the studio. And if she wasn’t mistaken, both had given her sweet pea candles for Christmas gifts.

As the door brushed closed, the noise in the hall faded. Voices continued to hum from the stalls, as did a few giggles. Judging by the familiarity of the sound, it was the same girls who’d entered just before she went to pay the tab.
 

She ignored what they were saying and listened to her heels clicking against the tile. Each step brought her closer to the vanity where Ally would be waiting. She had to be there. It’s the last place Cassie saw her, and she hadn’t noticed her anywhere else in the club.

When nothing but mirrors and sinks filled her vision, her heart began pounding. Where could Ally be? She specifically told her to wait five minutes before she came to the bar. Perhaps her friend had gotten sick and ran into a stall.

A quick spin brought her back to the entrance room—and smack dab into another woman.

“Oh! Pardon me.”

She grabbed for the woman’s arm in an attempt to steady her, but it didn’t stop either of them from stumbling into the wall near the first stall. Heat rose in Cassie’s cheeks over her carelessness. She owed the woman an apology, even met the stranger’s eyes to offer one. Then she noticed the face staring back at her.
 

“Cori?”

“Cassie?” Her little sister scrunched her brows as tightly as Cassie’s felt. “Hey there. Why are you in such a hurry? You nearly took me out.”

“Sorry. I was looking for Ally. You haven’t seen her, have you?” She watched Cori shake her head and did her best not to reveal her disappointment. “What the hell are you doing here?”
 

“Same as you. Drinking. Dancing. Flirting…”

Cassie shifted her attention to the girl beside her sister, half expecting to see her best friend, Mariah. They were a lot like she and Ally—friends since childhood. But it wasn’t Mariah or anyone else she recognized.

Her sister must have noticed her ogling her friend because she cleared her voice and pointed in the girl’s direction. “I don’t think you’ve met my friend, Laura, have you?” Cori waited until she shook her head before she continued. “We met last year. Her dorm room is across from Mariah’s and mine.

“Nice to meet you.” Cassie offered her a smile and turned back to her sister. “Where’s Mariah? I thought you two were going out?”

“She couldn’t make it. Boyfriend drama.”

There was a natural instinct to follow her sister and ask more questions. Maybe it was the fact that she wasn’t used to Cori hanging out in the same places she did. Or maybe she was just being a typical big sister. Whatever the reason, it left her with an urge to protect her baby sister from all the terrible things in the world. Yet there was still Ally to find, hopefully before Jonah did.

“Hey, Cor, I gotta go. I need to find Ally and head out.”

Her sister backed away from the sink. Beads of water dripped from her hands as she grabbed a few towels from the dispenser. “Okay. I’ll be by your house sometime this weekend.”

“Sounds good. See you then.” Cassie turned toward the door, but the pit in her stomach wouldn’t let her leave without saying one more thing. “Hey Cor. Please be careful tonight. Make sure you and Laura watch your drinks. I know you’re tough as nails, but it doesn’t take long for someone to slip you something.”

Rolling her eyes at the suggestion, Cori looked as though she wanted to beg Cassie to quit acting like their mother. They’d received similar speeches from both their parents on several occasions.
 

Instead, Cori wadded the hand towels, threw them into the trash, and refaced the door where Cassie stood. “Cass, I love you babe, but this isn’t my first time out. You don’t have to worry about me. I won’t do anything you wouldn’t do.”

The response did little to ease Cassie’s mind. She didn’t doubt it was intentional on her sister’s part. Cori knew a few of her dirty secrets. In truth, both had info on the other. Nothing damaging, but certain things they preferred not to share with anyone else.

As if she’d read Cassie’s very thoughts, laughter erupted from Cori’s direction. “Would you go already? Seriously, sis, relax. I’ll be safe.”

“Okay fine. I won’t preach.” Cassie gripped the door handle but gazed back at her sister one more time. “But if you can’t be safe, use a rain jacket. I’m not ready to be an aunt.”
 

CHAPTER SIX

Theo worked his way through the crowd of people standing in the side room that housed the pool tables. Nearly half the crowd came in search of him not long after he announced the band was breaking. He couldn’t count how many people offered to buy him a drink, but most wanted nothing more than to praise him for the performance.

As egotistical as it sounded, he enjoyed the attention. Saying otherwise would be a lie, but he knew it wasn’t his sole purpose for pursuing his dream. Who cared what anyone else thought.

He passed the pool tables, moved across the dance floor, and submerged into a new crowd of people near the bar. Like the others, they said nice things that inflated his ego, but all he wanted was to grab a beer, maybe a shot of tequila, and then bullshit with Jesse at the bar.

Thirty-minute breaks flew by when he spent half the time chatting with people. After the show, it was game on, but breaks were coveted time slots. He regretted not following Jesse when he left the stage. His bass guitarist headed straight for the bar. Had he done the same, he would have saved time and avoided the first mob of well-wishers.

Instead, he’d taken his guitar to its stand along with Jonah’s. He wasn’t sure what caused his brother to shove the other guitar in his direction or rush off stage. With the way he sprinted toward the restrooms, Theo didn’t want to know.

Forcing himself to grin once more, the last person to pat his back turned back to what Theo assumed were his friends. It provided him with the space he wanted, as well as a direct path to the bar where Jesse waited. His friend had a beer in one hand, a shot in the other, and being the awesome friend that he was, he had the same drinks waiting atop the bar for Theo.

“Damn, man. Have I ever told you how fucking awesome you are?”

Jesse chuckled and lifted his shot glass in the air. “Yeah, but I’ll still drink to that.”

He tilted his head toward Theo’s shot and waited for him to raise his as well. Theo didn’t hesitate. He pinched the glass between his fingers before raising it in the same fashion as his friend. “To awesome friends and chasing dreams.”