Shaken Not Stirred (Mixology) (13 page)

“We’ll see if you’re singing that tune when
you’re forty and bored out of your mind.”

“Nope. Not going to happen. And if someone
needs a drink, get me.”

“Why? I can serve them.”

“No, you can’t.”

“Fine. Ruin my fun.” He fake pouted.

“I wouldn’t worry. No one’s going to order
anything.” I headed outside to the empty patio.

I played with my broken pink phone case
before finally hitting the button for home.

“Maddy? Hi!” Mom answered with way too much
relief and enthusiasm in her voice. Her greeting meant she thought
I was calling to tell her I was coming home.

“Hi, Mom.”

“How are you doing? We’ve been worried about
you.”

“I’m doing fine.”

“Oh? Have you started packing? Dad’s got a
few research opportunities lined up for you. I know you’re
interested in medicine, but Dr. Anderson’s neurology lab could use
someone.”

“I’m not coming home.” The words flew out of
my mouth far faster than I imagined they would.

“Excuse me?”

“I’m not coming home. I like it here. I’m
staying.”

“You’re going to continue bartending at a
dive bar rather than taking a job with Dr. Anderson?”

“Yes.” I didn’t bother to correct her on the
whole dive bar thing. It sounded even more badass that way.

She sighed loudly. “You should talk to your
father.”

“Why? Is he going to say anything different
than you?”

“No. You know we’re always on the same side.”
She’d been saying the same thing since I was a kid. To their
credit, my parents had one of those equal relationships.

“I’m staying here.”

“Is it that
man
?”

“Macon was joking, Mom.”

“Oh, thank God. I refused to believe my
beautiful daughter would bother with someone like that.”

“Of course not. I’d pick a sugar daddy who
didn’t mix drugs in his basement.”

“Maddison!”

“Sorry.” I chuckled. “Couldn’t resist.”

“I think you’re spending too much time with
Macon. But his zany behavior aside, he’s a nice boy, and I still
think the two of you would make a good couple.”

“Not a chance, Mom. And if you thought that,
why are you letting me live with him? What happened to ‘no living
with a man before marriage?’” I rested my elbows on the railing and
watched the sound. I couldn’t resist baiting her.

“Because I know you two aren’t sleeping
together. Moving on from Macon, is there someone else? Someone
keeping you there?”

“No.” I briefly thought of Colin, but he had
nothing to do with me staying—or at least I wasn’t going to admit
to it yet.

“That was too fast of an answer. You’re
hiding something.”

“Hey, Maddy, Cinnamon Boy is here.”

I held my phone against my chest as I glared
at Macon. “I said no boy excuses.”

“This isn’t an excuse. Colin’s here.”

“What? He’s an hour early.”

Colin walked out onto the patio still dressed
for work in his shirt and tie. “Sorry. I got out of work early and
thought I’d come by and give you a ride home. I don’t mind waiting
at your place if you need a few minutes to finish packing.”

I put the phone back to my ear. “I have to
go. Tell Dad I said hi.”

“Packing? Where are you going? And with
whom?” Whom? Only Mom used proper grammar when she talked.

“Just to a wedding, and it’s with a friend. I
have to go, Mom.”

“I love you, Maddy. We miss you.” I could
hear the strain in her voice, she was hurting.

“Love you too.” I quickly hung up before I
could let guilt get me to make a promise about coming home I
couldn’t keep.

“Friend? I’m a friend?” Colin frowned. It
didn’t look good on him.

“My parents already think I’m staying here
for a guy. There is no reason to fuel that fire.”

“Why would it be bad if they thought so?
You’re twenty-two. They can’t mind that you date.”

Macon laughed. “They may think she’s dating a
middle-aged guy.”

Colin spun on him. “And why would they think
that?”

“I had to mess with them.” Macon smirked. “I
take it you don’t need me to give you a ride, Maddy?”

“Nope. See you at home.”

He walked inside casting a single glance back
at me.

Colin leaned against the railing next to me.
“Nice friends you have.”

“That’s just Macon.”

“Did you set them straight? I’d prefer your
parents didn’t think I was some creeper taking advantage of their
daughter.”

“Why would they think it was you?” I realized
how bad my words sounded as soon as they left my mouth. “I mean,
they wouldn’t just assume that.”

“I get that you aren’t ready to tell your
parents we’re dating. It’s new.” His expression didn’t quite match
his words, but I appreciated his attempt to make me feel
better.

I pretended to believe him. “Okay, good.” We
walked inside so I could grab my stuff and clock out. I stopped by
Max’s office to say goodbye before we left.

Max looked up from his cluttered desk. “I’m
glad you’re giving it another shot. He seems like a nice boy.”

“I think so too, but I’m taking it slow.
Hopefully it will be a good weekend.”

“If nothing else the weather is supposed to
be nice.”

“You checked the Raleigh weather?” I rested a
hand on the door frame.

He shrugged. “I’m a big fan of The Weather
Channel.”

I laughed. “By the way, thanks again. I know
this was supposed to be seasonal employment.”

“Of course. You’re a hard worker.”

I smiled before meeting up with Colin at his
car.

“What kind of attire do I need for the
wedding? Is a sundress enough, or is it more formal?”

“You haven’t even started packing yet?”

“No. I thought I’d have some time after
work.”

An unreadable expression crossed his face. “A
sundress for the rehearsal dinner is probably good. Maybe something
a bit dressier for the wedding, but only if you have it. I gave you
no warning.” He pulled in next to Macon’s car outside of my place.
“We could stop somewhere if you need to shop. My treat.”

“Gee, Colin. I’d love to have you buy me
clothes because I don’t have anything acceptable to wear.” I rolled
my eyes as I got out of the car.

“I didn’t mean it that way.” He came up
behind me, resting his chin on my shoulder. “I only mean I’d be
happy to get you something new. It’s harder for girls. Guys can get
away with a blazer for almost any occasion.”

“Sure, sure.”

A few minutes later Colin sat on my bed while
I searched through the dresses in my closet. It was funny having
him in my room, like I was letting him into a more personal side of
my life. I’d imagined his first time in my room would involve him
in my bed, not just on it, but hopefully his second visit would
involve the former.

“How’s this?” I pulled out a simple,
strapless, navy blue dress that cut up a little on one leg. It was
classic yet a little sexy. I’d worn it to my sorority formal.

“Looks great to me. But I know you’d look
good in anything.”

“Does it meet your standards?” I said with
exaggerated sarcasm.

“Come on. Does a guy offering to buy you a
dress upset you that much?”

“No.” I quickly selected a simple pink
spaghetti strap sundress to put on for the rehearsal dinner. “It
bothers me when it’s done for the reason it was offered.”

“I didn’t mean anything by it.” He looked so
pitiful I decided to let him off the hook. My insecurities and my
nerves about the wedding weekend were just as much to blame.

“I know.” I sat back down next to him.

“Good.” He cupped my face with his hand and
left a light kiss on my lips. “Have I told how glad I am that
you’re coming with me?”

“Only every night this week.”

He’d called every night before bed. I liked
the sweet gesture.

“Well, I am.”

“I get that, but I need to change.”

“Oh. Do you want me to wait outside?” He
started to get up.

“That’s probably best.” It felt weird to
worry about changing in front of a guy I was dating. Usually, he’d
have already seen me naked.

“All right.” He kissed my cheek before
leaving.

I quickly changed into a strapless bra—the
black one that made me look like I had cleavage. I pulled out some
casual clothes and hesitated when it came time for the pajamas. My
initial thought was to pick out a cute cami and shorts set, but I
was going to be spending the weekend in a hotel room with Colin. He
wasn’t moving fast, but wearing something sexy to move him in the
right direction couldn’t hurt. On the surface, he wanted it too,
what with pulling me on his lap one night, and nearly removing my
panties the next. I just wished I knew what was holding him back.
The whole point of a fling was to have lots of sex. If we didn’t
start having it, I was going to have to begin classifying our
relationship as something else entirely. I shook off the thought. I
wasn’t getting serious with Colin.

I didn’t own much sexy lingerie that could
double as nighttime attire, but I had a little satin nightie I’d
never had the excuse to wear. It was black and really, really
short. I may not have been blessed in the bust department, but I
was given a nice set of legs. I learned early on that they were my
best weapon—I mean, asset, when it came to getting a guy’s
attention.

I tossed the tiny piece of fabric into my
suitcase along with my other clothes. I kept my navy dress on its
hanger. I wanted to throw in a less revealing PJ option, but I
didn’t let myself. When push came to shove, I’d chicken out that
way.

“You ready?” Colin stood up from the love
seat he was sitting on when I walked out of my room. He took my
dress and the handle of my suitcase from me.

“Yeah. I think so.”

He checked out my outfit and smiled. “You
look great.”

“Thanks.” I glanced down at my dress. The bra
was doing its job.

“Bye, guys!” I called out as I walked to the
door.

“Have fun,” Brody called from his room.

Macon walked out of his. “Be good kids. And
Colin?”

“Yes?” Colin asked with an annoyed sigh.

“Treat her well.”

“I plan on it.” He turned to the door.

I gave Macon a hug. “Way to threaten
him.”

“I told him to treat you well. There was no
threat.”

“It was implicit.”

“If a guy is threatened at the thought of
treating you well, you shouldn’t be dating him.”

“I’m not threatened by it.”

Oops. I’d thought Colin was already out of
earshot.

“Let’s go.” I walked out, shooting Macon a
glare on our way out the door.

Colin stowed my bags in the back, and we got
on the road.

“I’m sorry about Macon.”

“I get that the guy cares about you, but what
does he have against me?”

“Nothing. He’s rooting for you.”

“Really? He doesn’t act that way.”

“He is. He set me up on a blind date from
hell just to make his point.”

“Wait, he’s the one who set you up with that
married couple?”

“No. God no. That was all me being stupid. He
just told a guy at the shop I liked everything I can’t stand.”

“Two bad dates? I guess it made me look good
in comparison.”

Didn’t I know it. “Maybe a little.”

He laughed. “I’m okay with it since it worked
in my favor, but I hope you won’t need to go on any more disaster
dates to realize I’m worth your time.”

“To realize it? You make it sound like a
fact.”

“It is. I am completely worth your time.” His
hand settled on my leg again. He kept it on top of the fabric of my
dress, but if he moved it at all, it would be inching up my bare
thigh.

Did he have any idea what that did to me? How
much I wanted him to move his hand higher? “How many hours is this
drive?”

“About three.”

“Oh, that’s not too bad.”

“Not at all. Especially not with good
company.”

“I wish I had some then.” I don’t know why he
brought out such a snide side of me, but the teasing insults rolled
off my tongue. Maybe it was my sexual frustration rising to the
surface, or spending too much time around Macon. I tended to blame
a lot on the later.

“I’m going to let that one go.”

“Sorry. You just make me say things like
that.”

“I guess we can twist this and say I bring
out your sense of humor.”

“Absolutely.” I shifted in my seat to get
comfortable. His hand moved slightly up my dress. He didn’t move.
“So what can I expect tonight?” I assumed he’d know I was talking
about the rehearsal, but what I really wanted to know about
involved our hotel room.

“The rehearsal itself should be pretty short.
Dinner should be casual, but it’s going to be big—way more than the
wedding party.”

“A lot of your friends from home?”

“And my family.”

“Your family?”

“Yeah. It’s my cousin’s wedding.”

“You never told me that.” My chest clenched
slightly as a thought hit me. “Your parents aren’t going to be
there, are they?”

“They will be. And unlike yours, they are not
under the impression that we’re just friends.”

“Oh. Great.” What the hell had I gotten
myself into?

Going as the date of someone in a wedding is
never fun. It’s especially bad when you don’t know anyone else. I
waited in the pleasant seventy degree weather as Colin went through
the rehearsal.

Although technically in the Raleigh area, the
wedding was in the countryside. The venue was beautiful, and though
the gardens would have been even prettier in the spring, there was
something simple and romantic about the carefully manicured
grounds. After a few minutes of checking out the gardens, I
gratefully found a stone bench to sit on. I’d settled on a pair of
two-inch heels that looked cute, but left me begging for
flip-flops.