Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 47531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
“Two lemon drop shots, please,” Lizzy says to the bartender, and he gives her a look like really? What did she expect? The bar is worn, with old pool tables, dartboards, and a wooden floor that has seen better days. I like it, though. It goes with the town. The place feels homey, like everyone knows everyone else. Sadly, I don’t know anyone here, and I grew up in the town. Well, technically it was my home address, but I was never here. I was always away at school or some kind of summer program. When I did get to come home, I spent all my time with my grandmother at the family estate. My father now lives in the mayor’s mansion, and oddly enough, I’ve never even been inside it. Although I’m going to see it soon because I’m getting married there next week. I have to hold back the eye roll at my own thoughts.
“Two vodka shots will be fine,” I finally say, seeing that neither one of them is going to move. “Whatever kind of vodka you’ve got is fine.” The bartender fills two shot glasses and slides them across the bar to us.
“He didn’t even chill them.” Lizzy eyes the vodka like it might bite her. I don’t blame her, but at this point I just don’t care. I’d take a shot of anything. “Told you we should have gone to DeDe’s.” She pouts at not going to the nice bar in town, but I wanted to come here because it’s different to places I normally go to. I find myself wanting different a lot lately.
“Just do it fast.” I grab one of the shots and shoot it back. The burn of cheap vodka makes me cringe, but for some reason I smile.
Lizzy coughs, then grabs the man’s beer next to us to use as a chaser. She’s comical about it, and it gives the stranger an in to talk to us. “Can I buy you ladies another? It’s the least I could do for the bride-to-be.”
I adjust the stupid sash I’m wearing. Lizzy and Deb demanded I put on the pink band emblazoned with ‘Bride-To-Be’ in pink lettering. The guy is hot, but not Paine-hot. The thought pulls my mind back to Paine again. His thick, muscular body leaning close into mine. His huge hand on my waist as he holds me in place. His dark-blond, shaggy hair and scruffy beard made him look wild. His waist was trim, exaggerating his broad shoulders, and those arms looked like he could pick up ten of me. He looked like he’d run a motorcycle club on one of those TV shows. I bet he even drives one. God, what would it feel like to be on the back of his bike? I squeeze my thighs together as I remember his long thick cock. I think about the vibrations from a motorcycle and having him between me like that, and it’s enough to have me soaking my panties all over again. Just the thought of Paine has me hotter than I’ve ever been in my life, and all I can think about are his dirty hands on me.
“Shot! Shot! Shot! Shot!” I hear the other girls from our table start to chant, and it pulls my thoughts away from Paine. I really wish Lizzy hadn’t set up this little bachelorette party, but she has no idea I have no desire to get married. We are distant cousins, not super close, having really only spent some holidays together over the years. Between that and a few random emails, she doesn’t know what’s really happening.
I had no idea she had anything planned, but when she told me we were going out, after the day I’d had, I just went with it. Now I’m wearing this stupid sash and crown, and I don’t know how my night could get worse. At least I convinced them to come to Smokey’s tonight instead of somewhere else. I just need a dive bar with lots of alcohol, and this is the perfect place.
We take the next round of shots that the guy next to Lizzy bought us, and I have to promise to save him a dance when the music starts up. We all chat and drink for a while until the bar finally fills with music, and all of us girls jump up. We head for the small makeshift dance floor as the house band starts to play. I’m feeling good from the alcohol, and I sway my hips, closing my eyes and enjoying the music.
“Holy shit. Paine’s here.” At Lizzy’s words, my eyes pop open. “God, he’s so fucking hot.” She knows Paine? Of course she does. She grew up here and everyone knows everybody, it seems. It takes everything in me not to turn and look at him, so I hold my drink and focus on the stage. I look down at myself, and it makes it me curse. Shit. The sash. Lizzy stares unabashedly, not an ounce of shame. “Oh my God, he’s coming this way. Damn, Penelope, he looks pissed.”
Three
Paine
I walk into Smokey’s and head to the bar. It’s surprisingly busy considering this hole in the wall is usually half-empty. After the day I’ve had, I need a drink. I move over to my usual stool, and Jake, one of the bartenders, comes over with my usual beer. To say I’m a creature of habit is an understatement. I like my order, and I like things to be simple. But little Duchess came into the shop today and shook my whole world upside down. I need to have a drink and try to forget about her, something I haven’t been able to do since she strolled into my life.
Butch and Joey stand behind me, and Jake slides their usual to them. I grab mine and nod my thanks, but he stands in front of me, not going anywhere. When I raise an eyebrow in question, he leans over the bar like he’s got a secret for me. What the hell? Are we in sixth grade?