His Pickle Her Jam (Cherry On Top Tales #4)

Chapter Thirteen-Buck

Still Day 5 of Block Party Prepping (5 to go)

“So, how is it going?” Sonny asked as I grabbed a case of longnecks and started shoving them into the cooler behind the bar.

It was Friday night and although I’d started slowly taking myself off of rotation at the Whiskey Bar, Sonny had asked me to come in.

One of the newer staff members came down with a stomach thing, and I figured I could use the time to think about things.

Fine.

When I said things. I meant her.

My Pretty Girl.

My Jan Baby.

“Um, fine. Everything’s fine, bro,” I replied, trying for a nonchalance I didn’t feel.

Last night was amazing. Jan didn’t know it, but she was the first woman I’d ever taken home with me. It was the first time in my adult life I’d ever wanted to cook for a woman.

My woman.

She’d asked me if we were a couple. Well, she said the word boyfriend, and the second I heard it my heart went wild in my chest.

Only now, it didn’t feel like quite enough. Incredible, really.

Commitment and me, well we weren’t exactly old friends. Not that I was phobic, I just never had cause to align myself with just one person.

We were definitely something to each other. I mean, nothing else could explain how I felt about the woman, or how much headspace she was taking up in my brain.

I needed to figure it out. But that wasn’t the easiest thing to do. How would I even start?

Did I just walk up to her and say something like, hey I know we only just started being more than, uh, frenemies, since we weren’t exactly friends before this, but I was thinking we should move in together? Or I don’t know, possibly get married?

I mean, I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you—fuck, was I in love with her?

I stood there frozen like a fucking moron as I contemplated the very real possibility that I’d gone and fallen in love.

How the hell had that happened?

Was that what months of arguing had led to? Oh my God, was all that just foreplay?

“Earth to Buck, I need a bottle of the gold label,” Irene said, waving her hands in front of my face.

“They’re in this cabinet,” I said, bending down behind the bar and grabbing one for her.

She nodded, and I went back to panicking.

Love? Really?

But then I thought of Jan. Her bouncy walk, that sweet smile, her amber eyes, and sassy little mouth.

Yeah. I loved her.

Shit.

I loved her a lot.

Elation filled me and I felt dizzy with it. I had to steady myself with two hands on the bar. I never thought that would happen for me. I never wanted to open myself up to that kind of thing.

It suggested a permanence I’d never been inclined to desire. But with Jan, I was inclined. More than that, I was determined.

Iwanted her so damn much. Needed to keep her with me. Always.

There was just something so right about having her inside my home, in my bed. Images of last night flitted through my mind, and with each one that warm feeling inside my chest grew bigger and bigger.

We’d started out grilling on the patio. Jan had stripped down to her panties and bra and went for a dip, while I slapped the steaks on.

We both wanted them rare, so even though I jumped in the pool after her, I had no time for what I’d really wanted to do.

But I also couldn’t leave her in there untouched, so I stole a kiss and hopped out to tend to dinner, allowing her to cool off and backstroke across the water.

Fuck, she’d looked divine.

Her white cotton underthings did nothing to hide her gorgeous body from me, and really, I was so damn proud of her for not being shy anymore.

My woman was gorgeous, and I wanted her like I never wanted anyone else in my entire life.

And it was equal parts terrifying, and more freeing than anything I’d experienced.

So, yeah, when Sonny asked me to come in, I jumped on it.

“Glad to hear it. Del’s coming by in a little while with Jan. They’re gonna grab some appetizers and chill while I finish up some paperwork,” he said, and I froze.

When the fuck had that happened? I didn’t know Jan was coming to the bar.

I frowned, glancing around at the usual crowd. Suddenly uneasy.

The Whiskey Bar was popular with people thirty and older, which was good, because I rarely had to give anyone a hard time about carding them.

Sonny allowed local talent to play occasionally, but he was more a rock and roll kind of guy, and the clientele didn’t seem to mind. That meant no twenty-somethings drinking and starting shit, which was also good.

I wasn’t knocking younger dudes. Hell, I used to be them.

I loved going out, partying with my friends, picking up girls, and dancing till dawn.

But I was older now, and I appreciated a more staid group of people. Especially when I was working. And most especially when my woman was going to be around them.

“Irene, you remember how to use the smoker?” I asked one of the new bartenders.

A customer just ordered a smoked old fashioned, and her face had blanched. She looked at me and shook her head.

“Don’t worry. I’ll show you.”

“Thanks, Buck!” Irene shouted over the din of people and music.

She was a nice enough woman. In her early forties, married with three kids, just trying to make ends meet by picking up bartending shifts on the weekends.

We found our rhythm after thirty minutes or so. The bar was getting kind of crowded, lots of businessmen looking to unwind after their work week.

I saved a table right by my section of the bar for Del and Jan. Call me a possessive prick, but I needed her close.

I felt tingles on the back of my neck, and I knew she’d arrived. Turning around, I watched her walk behind Del, her lower lip caught between her teeth as she stole glances at me.

“Irene, cover for me a second,” I said, and vaulted over the bar, heading towards my woman.

I couldn’t say what drove me for certain, only that there was far too much space between us. Also, I’d seen the way that group of businessmen, the ones who came in determined to blow off steam, were checking out my woman’s fine as fuck ass in her painted on jeans.

Apparently, I was a possessive dick.

Whatever.

Jan melted into me as I cupped her face between my hands and savored her lips, drinking her in like the fine wine she was.

“Hot dayum, Buck! I had no idea you had it in you,” Del said, wolf whistling while I slowed mine and Jan’s kiss.

“Hi Del,” I said, not taking my eyes off Jan’s pretty lust glazed amber ones.

“Hello, David,” Jan said to me, and shivers raced up my spine like they did whenever she said my name.

“Hi yourself, Pretty Girl.”

I kissed her one more time, wrapping my arm around her shoulders before lifting my head. Next, I herded the two of them to the table I’d placed a reserved plaque on.

“Sonny told me you were coming, so I saved you a table. Now, what can I get you?”

“Ooh, can I have a cherry pineapple seltzer, please?” Delani asked, and I nodded.

Ever since she found out she was expecting, I’d started making her every flavor of seltzer imaginable.

Mixing them myself meant I knew exactly what went in them, seeing how she could no longer have caffeine and too much sugar wasn’t advisable for expectant mothers.

Basically, I muddled fresh fruit and went crazy with the soda pump.

“And for you?” I turned to Jan.

“Can I please have a mint julep?”

“Ooh, that sounds nice. What about food? Want me to handle it?” I asked.

“Yes, but can you make sure I get pretzels with melted butter?” Delani asked.

“You got it. What about you, Jan Baby? Something special you want?”

“Surprise me,” she said.

“On it,” I replied and winked.

Damn, she was cute.

I kissed her lips one more time before heading back to the bar.

Okay, so maybe I didn’t need space to think anything through.

Maybe I just needed Jan.

The night passed quickly. Irene was competent enough for me to leave her at the bar alone, stepping in when she got backed up.

Summertime was unpredictable for establishments in Northern New Jersey simply because many locals went down the shore when it got too hot. I owned a house in Cape May myself, so I understood the inclination.

“You guys ready for Wednesday?” Sonny asked, looking pointedly at where my hand was resting on top of Jan’s.

“Everything is coming along great. I mean the produce order got messed up at first, but so far, we’ve been able to divvy up the goods without it coming to blows,” Jan teased, looking at me with mock innocence.

“Keep it up, Pretty Girl, and I’ll have to teach you a lesson later.”

“Yeah? Like what?” she asked, and I could practically feel her anticipation.

“You’re earning yourself a spanking, Jan Baby. I’m gonna like making those cheeks pink, putting my handprints on that fine ass,” I whispered for her ears only.

She looked up at me, her bright amber eyes trusting, and she leaned against me, a soft hum leaving her lips.

My girlfriend seemed to like it when I talked dirty, which was good, cause I fucking liked it, too.