Love Me ~ Without Regret (7 page)

“You know I will.”

“Take Denise for this break and buy her a drink or talk her up or something. Just get her away from me for a while.”

“Sure, man. I can do that, but I’m not into all that bubbly shit. She’s too perky for me. Next time, though, someone else will have to do your shit work.”

We bump fists, hop off stage, and head on over to their table.  They see us coming and stop their conversation. That tells me, it could have been about me.

“Denise sweetheart, can I buy you a drink?”  Kane asks as he reaches the group. 

Denise looks at him awkwardly, “Yeah, I guess so. I’ll have an Appletini.”

“Ah, come with me to the bar, so we can talk.”

Thank you,
Kane! 

Aubrey gets up from the table and tells us she will be right back. 

She and Ryder make a beeline for the office. He better clean up his shit this time.  I have no problem with them using the office to get a little ass, but tidy up afterward. I don’t want to be the one having to sterilize the makeshift brothel.

“I’m going to the ladies’ room while the band is on break.” Lizzie slides out of her chair.

I move over and help her with her chair, “I was headed that way myself.”

I can’t help but notice that Cash and Bailey give each other a knowing look.

“Hey, we have a private restroom behind the bar, I’m sure it’s a shorter line.” I give Lizzie a smile.

“Oh, and what will your girlfriend think when she sees us going somewhere secluded? I won’t have to be watching my back the whole time, will I?”

“She’s not my girlfriend. We are co-workers.” I suspect a little green-eyed monster working its way into Lizzie. I can’t say that doesn’t make me feel good. I like it, a lot.

“Does she know that?”

Yep, she is a little-miffed thinking I like Denise. This could work in my favor splendidly. Lizzie merely needs the right kind of pressure to make her succumb to my urges. That sounds kinky, but I like thinking about making her succumb to my urges. I know how I’d like to make her come with some kinky pressure in places.

We reach the private hallway that leads to the bathroom. Lizzie goes to open the bathroom door and I put out a hand to stop her. I turn her to face me and push her into the door, my body pressing against hers. I take her hands and hold them over her head.

“I didn’t want to have to do this, Lizzie, but you gave me no choice. Let me explain to you exactly how this is going to work.” I kiss her like a beggar getting his first meal in days.

She’s kissing me back just as intensely. Twirling her tongue around mine, trying to procure control.

I lean back a tad, I see the heat in her eyes, “You’re not going to see any of the guys in my band. Got it?”

Her lazy smile becomes a tight, straight line.

“What the hell did you just say to me?”

“If I can’t have you, they can’t either.” I cup her through her jean shorts, making her take a sharp breath. I feel a slight tremble in her legs, I like the way this is affecting her.

Her eyes darken to almost a navy color and are full of desire that matches my own feelings. Then, they flash with anger. Man, girls can turn on you in a heartbeat.

She yanks her hands from my grasp and pushes me away. “Did you just have the audacity to tell me who I can’t date? You have some big balls, Clay, I’ll give you that.”

Lizzie gets in my face, looking up fiercely.

“But it will be a cold day in Hell before I let a man tell me what to do. Have you got it?” She pokes her index finger against my chest. “Don’t mess with me, Clay, I will knock that smirk right off of your face!”

She doesn’t know it, but her going all spunk is a huge turn on for me. “What? I’m not smirking.” I slowly lift my hand back up to her cheek and run my thumb across her cheekbone.

She leans into my caress.

“You don’t want me to smile at you anymore, Tink?” I say softly.

“Don’t call me that, ugh!” She pushes my hand away and stomps off like a little kid that didn’t get her way, her hands balled up against her side.

I can’t help but laugh. Clearly, she’s riled by me. She is so jealous of Denise, I'm surprised she’s not neon green, and she’s pissed that I can turn her on with a little kiss. My break is almost over so I stride back to our table. Lizzie isn’t anywhere to be found and neither is Kane. This just chaps my ass. I take the seat by Denise, “Did you run Kane off?” I elbow her in the side, giving her a wink.

“No. When Lizzie came back, she grabbed him by the hand and they took off.”

She has the biggest doe eyes. I swear she looks like Bambi or a puppy.

She smiles flirtatiously. “I wouldn’t mind you grabbing me, anytime you want, Clay.”

“Now, Denise, if you get any sweeter, you’re gonna give me a toothache.”

“Oh, Clay, you stop that.” She bows her head like she’s bashful.

“Girl, you know we can only be friends, right? With you being an employee, it wouldn’t be right for us to date.”

Her face falls, “It’s Lizzie, isn’t it? You like her?” She barely speaks above a whisper now. She brings one hand up to her mouth.  She’s not really even looking at me anymore. She’s looking through me with watery eyes.

“Denise, you’re a great girl. It’s not that I like someone else, it’s that this isn’t the right time for us. If we didn’t work together and we met at a different time and place things could have possibly worked. You’re beautiful, sweet, and you care so much about everyone’s feelings.” I can’t stand to see girls cry, or even tears in their eyes. I pull her into my arms and give her a hug, “Don’t cry, sweetheart. I’m not worth one single tear, trust me. There is someone out there who will treat you like the queen you are meant to be.”

Denise nods. “Okay, Clay. Thanks for always being so thoughtful and sweet. Don’t sell yourself short, though. You’re the kind of guy dreams are made of, stars are wished on for, and you’re worth a whole box of tissues.”

Lizzie approaches with Kane, and not waiting for them to reach us, I head toward the stage. I still hear their conversation, though. Damn my bat ears. Sometimes, you don’t want to hear everything.

“Are you sure you don’t mind taking me home, Kane?” Lizzie asks.

Her voice is high-pitched like she’s having the time of her life.

“You don’t have to ask me twice because I never mind taking a beautiful woman home.”

Kane sounds all too eager to please.

I take my iPhone out of my pocket and ask Siri, “How can you get away with murder?”

She says, “I don’t know what you mean by ‘How can you get away with murder?’ How about a web search for it?”

She is never any help. I don’t know why I bother asking her things anyway. I shove the completely worthless piece of shit iPhone back in my pocket. I hop onto the stage and face the crowd with my game face. All smiles and winks. Glad to be here. I turn to the crew to start us on the next set and give Kane a death glare. He looks confused, but I know that’s an act. He has to know. What. The. Hell. Ever. Man. It’s on now, MOFU! Realization crosses his face, his eyes roll upward, and he just shakes his head.

Lizzie makes her presence known. She’s not missing any opportunities to dance. But she doesn’t just dance with people. What she does shouldn’t be allowed in public. It should be illegal. What is most disturbing is while she never makes eye contact with me, I can’t seem to take my eyes off her. She has men buying her drinks and lets them paw her. She downs shot after shot. I want to be the one touching her. I don’t want Kane taking her home. I don’t want him anywhere near her, dammit to hell.

“That’s all for tonight, guys. Have a safe trip home. Live without regrets, and make the most out of every opportunity because you only regret the one you don’t take.” I walk to the back of the stage, and the guys are looking at each other because I cut the show thirty minutes early. As I’m putting away my guitar, I hear them murmuring and shuffling back with their gear, too.

“What’s up with that, Clay? Why did we quit early?” Ryder asks.

“Why does it matter? You get off earlier so Aubs can blow you sooner.”

Kane lets out a declining whistle.

I pick up my case to take it to be locked up.

“What has crawled up your ass and died, man? You never act like this, Clay.” Ryder catches my arm as I walk by.

“Why don’t you ask Kane?” I glare at the mother fucking backstabber. “I asked you to leave her alone.”

“Whatever, dude, you’re out of your fuc—”

I drop my guitar case and lunge at Kane. Before he knows what hits him, I knock him backward. He stumbles and comes up swinging. He gets in a lick, but I land two more before Ryder grabs Kane and Michael takes a hold of me.

“I don’t know what’s going on between the two of you, but it has to stop right now,” Ryder yells. 

We all hear the shuffling of feet. The curtains part and all of our friends pop backstage. The curious faces clue me into how disruptive we must have been.

“What’s all the commotion? We can hear you guys over everything else in the bar,” Cash says.

He has his arm snugly around Bailey’s waist. Lizzie is standing with her hands on her hips, ready for a fight herself.

“Nothing. We’re just joking around. Right, Clay?” Kane rubs his hand across his chin.

I think he’ll have a black eye in the morning. I hope to God he does.

“Yeah, sure.” I pick up my guitar case and head off stage. When I reach the office, I sense someone behind me. I glance backward, and I see feisty britches. I sigh, knowing this probably isn’t going to be pretty. I take my cell phone out and fire off a quick text. I open the door and let her go in first.

“Are you going to let me in on what happened, or am I going to have to beat it out of you?”

What does she have to be pissed about? “What’s got your panties in your crack, Tink?” I laugh.

“Don’t call me Tink. That makes me sound like some little twit who can’t take care of herself.”

“I think you can take care of yourself, but why should you when I can take care of you?” I take one of her hands.

“Stop, Clay. Stop all the smooth talk, caresses, and—”

I pull her in and kiss her.

“Kisses that set me on fire are not working,” she says.

I smirk. “They set you on fire, do they? How can they set you on fire and not work?” I grip her ass and pull her up against me. I kiss her harder then move down to her neck. I lick her collarbone and whisper in her ear, “If my kisses set you on fire, imagine what my tongue could do for your southern regions.”  I move back to her mouth and give her lips a little flick of my tongue.

“You are twisting my words, Clay. Besides, you are changing the subject. What was going on back there between you and Kane?” She pushes away, but she’s still only inches away. I can feel her breath, and it’s making me hard. I want her here and now.

“Like Kane said, we were joking around. You know how guys are. Always pulling jokes on each other.” I smile at her.

“I don’t believe that crap for one second, but I’ll let it go for now. Do you promise not to let it continue between y’all?”

She stands tapping her foot with her hands on her hips. She lifts both eyebrows high, pursing her lips then sighs, “I guess I need to find Kane, he’s giving me a lift home.” She adjusts her purse on her arm.

I’m not sure how she’s going to take this. I cross my arms and bring one hand up to rub my chin. “I told him he could go ahead and leave, I’d take you home.”

“What? Did you set this all up? Was all of that over Kane taking me home?”

She has her hands back on those perfect hips.

“No, Lizzie, I offered to do it since I didn’t know how long we’d be talking.”

“You’re trying to control who I see, Clay.”

“Wrong again. I was just trying to be nice. What’s wrong with a guy being nice these days?” I throw up my hands. “Man, I can’t figure out why girls always go for the guys that treat them like shit. If you’re ready to leave, I’ll take you home. ”

She walks past me to the door. “Are you coming?”

Lizzie doesn’t even turn around, but keeps walking.

four

Lizzie

I walk out of the office and the only person in our group still around is Levi.  I head over to the bar to say my goodbyes. He is such a sweetheart, a cuddly teddy bear. I just want to squeeze him. He is the perfect bartender, a great listener.

“Levi, I’m leaving and I came to give you a good-bye hug! When will you volunteer again?” I stand on the footrest of the bar stool then lean over and give him a big squeeze.

He plops some peanuts in front of me. I take a few of them and pop them in my mouth.

“Not until next Saturday, what about you?” He leans on the bar in front of me.

“Tomorrow, if I don’t kick Clay’s ass first.” I shake my head. I’m not sure what I’m going to do about him.

“What’s he done to you, Doll?” Levi gives me a caring smile, reaches over, and gives my hand a gentle rub with his thumb.

“Nothing really. We want different things from each other. Well, there’s that and he doesn’t want any of the guys in the band to be my friend. Or I guess any of his friends. You better watch out, Levi. He will be warning you off next.”