As if she noticed the newly cleared area, her eyes widen. “Oh wow. That’s gonna be a huge change.”
“We’re going for a modern update. Fingers crossed this will do the trick.”
• • •
Hours later, maybe two, maybe ten, who knows at this point, I sign off on the delivery of the new furniture, thanking the guys who hauled it all in.
I can’t believe how different this place looks already. It’s better than I imagined it would be. With most of the stage and the odd railing gone, we were able to move the dance floor over by several feet. Even with the new furniture that includes a few booths, it already feels more open.
The black paint on the face of the bar makes the wood of the countertop pop. And the black trim gives the back bar some sprucing up and brings out it of the 70s.
We also added some dark tint to the windows. We still get a lot of light during the day, but at night, it’ll hopefully give the inside a little more privacy. The only things left to do now is a quick coat of paint on the main walls, a good floor cleaning, and changing out the light fixtures. But first, nourishment. Jaxon and Annika walk in, right on time.
“Who’s hungry?” he yells and drops a dozen pizza boxes on the counter.
What can only be described as a roar breaks out among the guys and they barrel toward the food. Kiersten and I slip behind the counter and begin making drinks behind the bar as everyone places their orders.
“Thanks for the food,” Annika says kindly before taking a huge bite and groaning in delight.
A few more people grumble their thanks around their food.
“It’s the least I could do. There is no way I would have accomplished this much on my own in a day.”
“It really looks great in here,” Kiersten remarks as she slides Lauren an Apple Pie ale. “Is this the vibe you were looking for?”
“Pretty close, yeah.”
At first, I was nervous about doing black paint in a room with so much wood. But after Kiersten showed me some pictures she found on the internet, I decided to go for it. It makes the room a little more updated without losing some of the country feel.
“Yo, this place is looking hot.” I hand Alex a bottle of Dos Equis. “As soon as we get back from training camp, we need to bring the team here for some downtime.” Frankie and Heath nod in agreement, still concentrating on their food. Pretty sure they’ve already inhaled three large pizzas.
“Just so you know, I’m staking my claim on that booth right there. You might as well put my name on it, Paul.” Frankie points at the black high back booth facing what’s left of the stage. I sprung for a slightly more expensive design, specifically so it would be comfortable. I want the guests here to want to hang around.
Once the pizza is gone, we hang out for a long while, relaxing our sore muscles and enjoying the company and cold beverages. Through all the chatter, I hear someone decide we need to test out the dance floor in its new location. Before I know it, music is piping through the speakers. Judging by the song choice, my guess is Tammy is the one itching to dance. She’s the only one I know who would pick a song this old.
“Come on young pup.” She holds a hand out to Alex. “Let this old dog show you some new tricks.” He quickly humors her and in a matter of seconds, they’re laughing like old friends as she teaches him to two-step. He’s terrible at it.
“For someone who practically dances across that field, he sure is a shitty dancer,” Lauren says with a laugh.
“I doubt you’d be much better at country dancing, short stuff.” Heath grabs her by the hand. “Let’s go find out.” With their height difference, it doesn’t go well and pretty soon they give up the traditional way of dancing, Heath picking up Lauren who wraps her legs around his waist. It looks funny, but at least he’s not bent in half anymore.
Jaxon and Annika aren’t far behind them and soon several couples are laughing and swaying, partially dancing and partially stumbling around from too much beer. Except for Frankie. He’s already made himself comfortable in the booth as promised, bobbing his head to the music.
Turning to Kiersten, I lift one eyebrow. “Feel like dancing?”
A smile slowly creeps up her face. “I thought you’d never ask.”
I take her hand in mine, trying hard to ignore the tingle on my skin. After so many weeks of wanting to touch her, of having to hold myself back, my awareness of this little bit of contact is heightened.
Unwilling to make a fool of myself by trying to two-step, I just pull her close, our clasped hands pressed between us, and we begin to sway.
“Are you glad to have this finally done?” she asks quietly as we ignore the others around us.
“There’s still a few more things to do, but I didn’t expect us to get this far in one day. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have told Dwayne not to come back until Monday.”
Kiersten giggles. “He’s not going to recognize the place. But I kind of hope he takes to the pool table. The more he drinks, the more nervous I get about stray darts.”
“Yeah, that may not have been my best idea.”
She laughs again and lays her head on my chest. I try to resist, but I can’t help it and rest my own head on hers. She smells like whatever vanilla hair product she uses and lightly of some perfumed scent, but I can’t put a finger on what it is.
Regardless, the feel of her body being so close practically makes me hard. That’s a problem. This attraction is problematic in general. She’s my employee. She’s a single mom. She’s eleven years younger than me even if she does act older and wiser than her years.
But no matter how much my head tries to justify staying far away from her, neither my body nor my heart will listen.
Pulling back, Kiersten looks up at me, her bright brown eyes practically boring into my heart.
“Thank you, Paul.”
“For what?”
“Everything really. But mostly for trusting me with this job. I know I was a long shot since I didn’t have any experience, but it turns out this is my favorite place to be.”
“Unless it’s with Carson, of course.” I smile as I say it. I love watching her face light up at the thought of her son.
“Of course. But being here is a really great thing, too. I miss teaching dance. That’s my passion. But I love the customers and I like working with Tammy. And I like working with you.”
She bites her lip and I know she thinks she’s said too much. She probably has. This chemistry we feel can never be anymore more than that—a feeling. Acting on it would create so many problems for both of us. She needs a man who can provide for her and Carson without her having to pull the night shift at a bar. Carson needs a man who can step into the role of father and have the time and schedule to coach little league and take him camping. Neither of those are things I can provide them.
And yet, I can’t stop staring at that bottom lip she’s biting. Or her tongue when it peeks out to smooth over the indented skin.
Mesmerized by this amazing woman, I feel myself leaning in closer. I should stop myself. I should. But I don’t. I keep inching toward her, our faces mere centimeters apart. My nose brushes hers, our breath intermingling. Just a little closer…
“AHEM,” a loud voice calls and I immediately break out of my daze, pulling away from the one person I want to keep holding.