Pots boiled around me, the aroma of the garlic and wine sauce, awaiting the mussels, filled the air, and glancing at my phone, I noted the time. Picking up the plates, silverware, and the two wine glasses I’d balanced on the plates, I carried them over to the table I’d set up in the bar area.
Setting out the plates and silverware, I eyeballed the table, then shifting the candles I'd purchased, I stepped back, judging my handy-work. Satisfied at last, with the way everything looked, I returned to the pots and pulled the lobsters out. As they cooled, I prepared citrus butter to brush on them, and then placed the lobsters in the broiler.
When the tails were finally broiling, I washed and pulled the beards off the mussels, then dumped the lot in the prepared pot, setting the timer for five minutes.
An
Three days after the disastrous birthday dinner, I’d moved out of the compound amid loud protestations from Ginger, Rook and Burdock, but I’d heard nothing from Torin. And, as one day had passed into two, I continued shutting Torin out of my life. By the end of the week, I’d gotten my old job back with Jess at the bar and was moving forward with my life.The night of the eighth day after leaving Torin behind me, my phone buzzed with a text message, and picking it up, I read the message.Torin: When I Was Your Man by Bruno MarsInsanely, I gave a sniff with the sudden moisture that sprang to my eyes. Ridiculous that something so simple as a song could bring me to tears. Torin never did anything without purpose though, so I knew there was a message within the song he wanted me to hear. After bringing the song up on my phone, I closed my eyes, and listened.A few days later, checking my mailbox after I got home from work, I found a plain white envelope inside with nothing on it but my f
Come the next morning, I stared at my roommate, Brian Remington, my eyes wide with desperation. "Please let go of my toaster!" I begged.Brian wore a mischievous grin, my beloved toaster in his hand, a look of triumph on his face. "Oh come on, it's not like I'm never going to give it back," he said, his voice filled with laughter, seemingly taking great pleasure in my distress."I need it for breakfast," I pleaded, my stomach growling with hunger. "I can't start my day without an Eggo, you know that," I protested.Giving another chuckle, he took a bite of his own Eggo, the crispy waffle dripping with syrup. "You're such a weirdo," he said, his voice laced with amusement. "You and your Eggo obsession."I gritted my teeth and tried again. "Please, just give it back. I'll do anything."Brian raised an eyebrow. "Anything?" he repeated, his voice filled with intrigue.I nodded eagerly, my desperation getting the better of me. "Yes, anything. Just give me back my toaster."Brian grinned. "A
Later that evening, I parked LadyBug in the bar's parking lot. As I put the transmission in park, I took a moment to glance around. The parking lot was filled with a mix of luxury cars like Mercedes and Jaguars, alongside the usual pickup trucks and beat-up old cars. It was clear that tonight was not a typical night for the bar's patrons. Adjusting my ponytail and wiping away a smudge of lipstick under my lip in the rearview mirror, I opened the car door and stepped out.The moment I did, the intense heat instantly erased the coolness the car's air-conditioner had provided, and caused me to grimace at the muggy, oppressive feeling of the evening air. Within minutes, I'd made my way through the employee's entrance. The scent of cigars, cologne, and a hint of perfume filled my nostrils, blending with the slow jazz music that drifted from the open doors of the bar into the employee's lounge. A burly bouncer, dressed in a sleek black suit and sporting a small earpiece, acknowledged me wit
As I noticed the bouncers near the VIP room eyeing the dancers, red flags went up. One of them, a heavily built man with a shaved head and a neck tattoo, whispered something into a small earpiece. With my curiosity piqued, I glanced over at Tannin, but she was busy shaking a cocktail and didn't notice the men's actions.As I watched the men, the music switched back to a fast-paced tempo, and the bar's rhythm picked up again. Shrugging off the men, I turned to the row of taps behind me, pouring beers with the precision of a seasoned pro. As I was topping off the glasses, a hand slammed down onto the counter, interrupting my flow. I looked up to see a tall, well-dressed man with a sharp jawline and piercing blue eyes, and two penguins' flanking him, peering in my direction."That was quite a display," he stated, his voice a low rumble. His cologne circled around me, a heady mix of something intoxicating.I nodded, placing the freshly poured beers down on the bartop, my smile never waver
As I watched, the three of them clinked their glasses together, the sound echoing through the bar. They threw back the shots, their faces contorting in a dance of pain and pleasure.The bouncers' faces turned red, sweat beading on their foreheads, but Lucien remained unfazed, his eyes locked on me. As he set the glass down and licked his lips, a smug look came into his eyes. "Your turn, Marlowe."With a dramatic flourish, I grabbed a glass and filled it with the potent liquid. The room fell silent, the music fading into the background. I took a deep breath, feeling the heat from the peppers sting my nose, and downed the shot. The burn was intense, a fiery serpent coiling in my stomach.Lucien's eyes never left mine, the challenge in them unmistakable. As he leaned in closer, his breath was hot against my ear. "I knew you had fire in you," he whispered. "Now, let's see if you can keep up."The dance of power between us had started, and I had a feeling it would only get more intense as
The next morning as I came down the stairs smothering a yawn, Brian was flipping through channels on the TV, the volume blasting. With a shake of my head, I made my way toward the kitchen, then uttered a groan as I stepped into the room. Pots, pans, dishes and the makings of God only knew what, were everywhere; they overflowed the sink, the counters, and spilled over onto the floor. As I gazed at the sight before me, I couldn’t help thinking, damn Brian, what the hell did you make that could have possibly made this big of a mess*? Jesus, I mean, I loved having Brian as a roommate, but the guy had no respect for cleanliness.With a shake of my head, I gave one last look at the disaster, then turned on my heel and exited the room. Nope, not dealing with it today!As I was passing the front door, my steps were abruptly stilled by the knocking that came from the outside of it.~~Moments later, the last thing I expected to see when I swung the door open was the sight of a man in a sharp su
The following days at the bar were a whirlwind of emotions. The regulars noticed a shift in my demeanor, a newfound confidence that even the most stoic of patrons couldn't ignore. The whispers of my inheritance spread like wildfire, casting me in a new light—part fascination, part envy. Yet, I remained steadfast in my resolve to use the money for the bar and the people who had become my family.One evening, as the final chords of "Burning Down the House" played out, and the last of the patrons stumbled out into the night, Tannin and I sat in the empty bar, the echoes of laughter and clinking glasses slowly fading away. She looked at me with a knowing smile, her eyes reflecting the neon lights that danced across her face."You're going to be fine," she said, her voice a gentle reassurance in the quiet. "Torin knew what he was doing."I nodded, staring into my whiskey, the amber liquid swirling like the thoughts in my head. "But what if this changes everything?"Tannin reached across th
As I moved across the floor toward Lucien, his eyes never left mine. A slow smile spread across his lips, and when I came to stop before him, he greeted, “Marlowe.” Then, voice a caress, he continued, “You’re looking...different.”A small smile gracing my lips, I teased, “That so? Different is good, right?” After receiving a nod in response, I asked, “The usual?”His gaze traveled over me, a look of appreciation in his eyes. “Perhaps something a little extra, as well?” He teased, his voice silky and smooth: like warm whiskey.His words were and obvious innuendo, and I held little doubt he was referring to the dance we had shared. His boldness didn’t surprise me, as his personality was strong and somewhat forceful. Without removing my gaze from his, I brazenly replied, “Only if you can handle it.”Offering me a smile that hit me in the gut, for it was a slow, sexy quirk, he breathed, “Oh, I can handle it.”Sexual tension sparked between us, a live wire ready to catch fire at any momen