Sweet, Bartender-Talk Me ♥ [Sam's Story] (Fifth Story in Frog Leaper's Series)

[♥]1

The band the Frog Leapers are back for a little bit. This story is from the point of view of Mr Samson Words, the very man who owns the bartender where the Frog Leapers play and their women like to hang.2

"Sweet, Bartender-Talk Me" - Second Set, First Story (Fifth In Series)3

( ♥ )4

I, being Samson Words – Sam to everyone but my mother – looked around my bar and grinned. I’d come a long way since college, and even though I am a disappointment to my parents, I was proud of himself. At twenty-nine, I was still surprised as I’d been on opening night when the bar filled up with tons of people.5

The band Frog Leapers, who admittedly needed a better name, was setting up on the stage. I smiled. They had come into my bar just under a year before and I had hired them up. At the time, the bar had been losing its touch because my mind had been focused on my father who had had a stroke around the time. When they came in to get a drink, pick up girls – well, not Ringo who had been in an on-and-off-again relationship with his current fiancée Rose or even shy-surfer-boy Clark – Ted, their keyboardist, had immediately started complaining about not getting any gigs.6

Dexter, lead singer and currently a father-to-be with his steady girlfriend Madison, had just asked me real casually if they could play a couple songs. He just wanted to ‘scratch an itch’ as he’d put it. I hadn’t minded, I’d been miserable worrying about how to pay my father’s hospital bills without either of my parents ever learning it was me.7

They’d gotten up on the stage and had completely blown the place away. I’d hired them on the spot. The band had been the reason Sam’s Bar was still up and running. They hadn’t just gotten my bar back up and running with success, but I had gotten a whole new family as well.8

I had admired how the boys – even if they were only about four or five years younger – had fallen in love with four incredible women. Dexter and Madison had been right for each other from the start, wrote the band’s first hit together Someone Like You and always sung the duet together. Now they had a baby on the way, and neither of them could’ve been happier.9

I smiled again, seeing Dexter wink and nod suggestively at Madison. I leaned back against the counter. My eyes moved from them to their lead guitarist, Ringo. Ringo was looking pretty dang happy, and I knew why. Rose, the on-and-off-again girlfriend now-turned-fiancée, sat at the booth with the rest of the women, a young boy in her arms. The boy was Rose’s, the result of a one-night stand, but anyone could see Ringo thought of Ben as his own. They would be married in a month.10

A chuckle rose from the women at the table, and I grinned to see Lily laughing. She held her cell phone in her hand, and the message she was reading no doubt belonged to the shy-surfer-boy Clark. They had just moved in together recently, and I couldn’t be happier for the two.11

I remembered how Lily had been going through a rough patch, but Clark had been there for her. Lily now worked as a waitress part-time, and was starting up her very own match-making business. She’d helped so many couples get together, even if only for one night, and gave out tons of dating advice when she was on her shift.12

Madison had also just started her own business as well, a wedding planning business. It was called Madison’s Weddings and her first customers were going to be Rose and Ringo. She had planned to do it all on her own, and Dexter was fretting that it’d be too hard for her to start her business while she was pregnant and kept bugging her to wait until after the baby came. Madison, being Madison, refused.13

I chuckled, and then heard the door open. Abby walked in, looking as frazzled and late as ever. She held a box of the famous Lulu’s cookies. Abby had a thing for cookies, I had realized not too long after I’d met her. Lately Abby was trying to pester me into putting cookies in the bar. I was considering it, though, because she loved them so much and I loved her.14

“Teddy!” Abby shouted, waving. It was pointless of her to wave at him because as always, Ted’s eyes were already on her. I laughed, amused, as she blew him a kiss. Ted blushed, and then blew on back. Just a week before, Abby had moved into Ted’s new house that they’d ended up buying together – which Abby had grew up in, but her sister had planned on selling.15

I sighed, amused and delighted. Before this crazy bunch had shown up, I’d been really hard and miserable. Now, I was happy. They were my family. Lily and Clark lived in the apartment upstairs, and the rest scattered near-by.16

The band was really good, and Abby’s sister, Brie, was going to record their first CD. I knew that even if the band went far, they would always come back to the bar. It was strange, but I just did.17

Amused as they warmed the crowd that they always brought with some jokes, I leaned back. My life was pretty good. Now, the only thing missing in the women of the band’s minds was a wife. A woman, someone to love, was missing. I closed his eyes for a brief moment. It was stupid, but I definitely agreed with them.18

I wanted what they’d found.19

“Yo! Bartender-man, get me some tequila now!” a sharp, feminine voice came, breaking him from his thoughts. I slowly turned his head to find a woman dressed in a crazy-ass animal costume sitting on the stool, the head of the costume on the stool beside her.20

I stared at her, but got up and walked towards her. I really couldn’t help it; I grinned like a fool. She had really long brown hair, big brown eyes and was dressed in some sort of beaver costume. “How do you want your tequila?”21

“Don’t sweet, bartender-talk me. Just get me the damn tequila bottle and give it to me now,” she snapped, obviously unaware how the anger made her look absolutely adorable. I smothered another grin as I bent down to retrieve the bottle.22

I sat it on the counter, and then turned to get her a glass. When I looked back at her, I saw her drinking straight from the bottle. “Whoa, whoa, missy, what do you think you’re doing?”23

“Trying to get hammered,” she replied honestly. “It’s been a hell of a day and I’ve yet to get completely drunk. I’m twenty-six; don’t you think it’s time I woke up with a hang-over?”24

“Sure, but don’t kill yourself doing it,” I said, with a shrug. Gently, I took the bottle from her and poured her a small glass. “I don’t think a pretty woman like you should feel the need to drown her bad days in the bottle. What happened?”25

It seemed to surprise her, but then she shrugged and said, “What the hell? I don’t have anything to lose by talking to you.”26

“No, you don’t,” I murmured as she downed the glass. The crazy-ass woman in the beaver costume nodded for a refill. I definitely couldn’t refuse her. After all, it wasn’t really my business.27

I filled it up again and she started talking again. Her voice was soft, and I could almost barely hear it over the boys playing on stage, along with the crowd’s roars of approval.28

“Today, I came home from work and was going to change. On the side of me being unemployed as far as a steady job goes, I dress up as animals and such for kids’ birthdays. Actually, it was only a one-time deal, to be honest.”29

She shrugged again, and then waited for a refill. I refilled her glass, wondering how she could absorb it without getting a little bit tipsy or even simply sputter at how strong it was.30

“Whatever, it’s complicated. So, I get home and guess what I find? You’ll never believe me, because it’s so damn cliché it isn’t even funny.”31

I waited a beat, watched her drain her glass again, poured, and then asked, “Boyfriend cheating on you?”32

“Yep, but here’s the topper: he was with another man,” she shook her head and laughed. “I still can’t believe I didn’t notice the signs. When he saw me in the doorframe, he looks at me and says, ‘I swing both ways, babe’. I was furious, I mean, what girl wouldn’t be?”33

I didn’t act surprised, but secretly I really was. The woman was beautiful, so how could a man even think to look somewhere else? She smiled, and I realized she had a very nice smile.34

“So I told him he could do whatever he’d like, just not in my water bed. That’s when I did the stereotypical female thing. I lashed out,” she giggled at this and for some reason; I didn’t think it had anything to do with the now seven glasses of tequila she’d consumed.35

“What’d you do?” I asked, now very intrigued and curious.36

“I went calmly into the kitchen, grabbed a knife and walked slowly into the bedroom.” My eyes grew wide on purpose but she giggled again. “So I stabbed the water bed. Water went everywhere. It was so cool.”37

I laughed again. She seemed to appreciate the fact that I found it as funny as she did. I asked, now amused and a little more than curious, pulling up a chair to sit on so he could chat with her, “What’d him and his affair-man do?”38

It looked as if she pondered my nickname for the other man in the bed, but then she leaned forward, propping her chin on her elbows. Her brown eyes went really wide and innocent as she lowered her voice a bit more. I couldn’t even smell the alcohol that I knew should be there. She licked her lips.39

“They cursed and swore and got all tangled up in the sheets. Then,” she muffled another giggle, “they tumbled onto the floor and he hit his eye off the edge of his open dresser drawer. He got himself a black eye.”40

Laughing, I asked. “He deserved it, didn’t he?”41

“You bet,” she said, with a laugh. Then she shook her head and held out her glass.42

I rubbed his nose and mimicked her by propping my chin on my hand. With my free hand, I filled up her glass again. “So, that thought depressed you or something because you’re sitting here attempting to get drunk?”43

She shook her head. “No, my day gets so much better.”44

“Do tell,” I said, with a smile.45

The women with the beaver outfit smiled shyly and ducked her head. Her thick brown hair fell in front of her face, covering it and for some reason that she hid her face ticked me off. I leaned forward and pushed it away.46

She looked at me and a blush hit her cheeks. I grinned. “What do you know? Drinking makes the woman shy.”47

“Sara Mee,” she said, looking down at her tequila. “My name’s Sara. And I do not get shy, ever.”48

“Okay, crazy Sara, tell me about the rest of your day.” I played with a piece of her hair, something I noticed that Sara was fully aware of.49

“Right, the rest of my day was pretty pathetic. I tripped over my beaver tail,” she bent down to hold the tip of it up. I chuckled. “And I did this somersault down the park hill. I rolled right into the little hot dog stand, nearly lost my head into the fountain. Someone cleaned that place up, by the way.”50

Dexter did, I knew, for Madison before they were going out. I didn’t say so, but smiled gently. Still twirling a piece of her hair around my finger, I asked, “What did you do?”51

“Well, I figured it couldn’t get much worse after that.” Sara shrugged and locked her eyes with mine. “But it did. It was like not even a minute after that someone mugged me … oh, shit.”52

“You were mugged?” I asked, blinking. How could anyone mug some poor woman in a beaver costume? Well, I supposed it would be easy to target her. But still, who’s that desperate?53

“Yeah, well, it wasn’t a big deal. Do you happen to run tabs?” Sara asked, blinking and this panicked look came across her face.54

“Nah, you’ve had a rough day, consider it on the house.” I knew that it wouldn’t be a big dent in my income flow, because the business was so good. I smiled again and could see she was relieved and surprised. “You look half starved. Want to come in the back? I’ll get my cook, Reese, to make us something to eat.”55

“Are you sure that’s okay?” she asked, sounding really nervous. I raised an eyebrow and she shook her head. “What am I saying? I can’t give you an out, because I’m starved.”56

I waited until she stood up before I reached across and picked up her beaver head. It was a lot heavier than it looked, so I groaned with surprise. Sara chuckled at the thought and then helped me get it over the bar counter. I muttered, unable to help myself, “Crazy-ass woman.”57

She seemed to overhear this, because she burst into laughter with a grin on her face. Sara moved, slowly, around to the back door. I tucked the beaver’s head under the bar and walked towards her.58

“Who’s the band? They’re pretty good,” Sara commented.59

“Oh, they’re the Frog Leapers and practically my family.” I shrugged, pushing the kitchen door opened. I had waitresses for ordering food, Reese to cook it, and a few more waitresses to serve it. Usually I just stayed out of their way and worked at the bar serving drinks.60

“You,’ Reese said, glaring at me, as he usually did. He held out a finger. “You don’t come back for food, not until you get a love life.”61

As if I didn’t know how to explain Reese’s sudden agreement with the women about me needing to get a woman, Sam glanced at Sara and shrugged. “What do you think this woman is?”62

Reese looked at her, up and down, inspecting her. “She’s too skinny.”63

“How can you tell?” Sara asked, looking surprised. “I’m wearing a beaver costume.”64

“I just know. Don’t question Reese, honey. Now, you two, sit. Enjoy yourselves while Reese cooks you up something to put meat on your bones,” Reese said, speaking in third person like usual.65

I grinned to myself and then pulled the chair out for Sara without thinking. As I found my own seat, I saw her watching Reese as he whizzed around the kitchen. “He does all the cooking by himself?”66

“Yeah, he won’t let me hire anyone else to help him either. Mind you, he’ll take some of the band from time to time,” I told her, shrugging again.67

“Tell me about how you started this.” Sara said, smiling thanks when Reese set a water bottle in front of her, “The bar, how you found the band, why you did it.”68

I grinned. I absolutely loved this story. So, carefully, quietly and in the privacy of the kitchen – Reese didn’t count as company, really – I told her about how Sam’s Bar started. She listened very carefully, and it wasn’t until Reese put the food in front of me that I remembered she hadn’t finished her story.69

“Wow, that’s amazing. I can’t believe it. It would be so cool to just … start something like this.” Sara smiled, leaning back in her chair. “It’s the most comfortable bar I’ve been into in a long time.”70

“I know, but thanks anyway.” I leaned forward and poked her nose. “Enough about me, you never finished talking about your horrible day.”71

“The beautiful woman has a bad day?” Reese asked, spinning around to face us. I nearly winced because I’d forgotten about him. Sara nodded and shrugged. She seemed to do that quite a bit.72

“Yeah, I guess. I mean, after the beaver tumbling, the gay boyfriend, I learned my best friend was putting the moves on my older brother, and my parents are splitting up.” Sara sighed loudly and looked at me. Her big brown eyes seemed to call out to me. “Can we not talk about that?”73

I wanted her to talk to me, to trust me, but heck, I just met her and I couldn’t ask her something like that. I nodded, and smiled gratefully as Reese gave us a piece of his amazing chocolate cake and two forks.74

“Eat, woman. Chocolate makes you feel better.” He glared at her, waiting until she dug in. She took a forkful and moaned.75

“Yum, Reese.” She grinned at me, with a piece of whip cream on her upper lip. I had the urge to lick it off, but instead settled for handing her a napkin.76

We sat there for about another half hour, talking about Reese, Lulu, and the band. Reese didn’t like us talking about him too much, so he threatened us with a spatula and we moved onto Lulu and Abby’s obsession with her cookies. I liked seeing Sara’s face light up.77

“Hey, Reese, can I have another tequila shot?” Sara asked after a moment.78

I knew how Reese would react. He hated drinking, absolutely despised it in his kitchen, but loved the bar enough to deal with everything it brought. I waited for the explosion, but Reese turned to her and calmly asked, “You want to get drunk?”79

“Actually, yes, I do,” Sara said, nodding eagerly.80

Reese turned to me, just like I knew he would, and pointed his knife at me. “You will take her home now, yes?”81

I nearly laughed, and would’ve if he hadn’t had the steak knife pointed at me. I nodded and said, “Sure thing, Reese-y-boy.”82

“You will do no such thing,” Sara snapped, glaring at me.83

“Actually, honey, I’m going to do just that. You’ve already had nine shots,” I paused, and when she didn’t say anything, continued, “and you barely blinked an eyelash. That can’t be good for you. I’m going to take you home, tuck you in and hope that you don’t get sick.”84

Sara’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t argue. “I never get drunk or have hangovers. My body seems to be pretty much immune to it. But I can call a cab and head to a hotel.”85

“Hot – oh, the boyfriend, right,” I said and then I did something I’ve never done before. I asked her, probably looking as hopeful as I felt, “Well, why don’t you save money and come back to my place?”86

She laughed outright at that, her eyes wide with amusement. Reese chuckled from the oven. “Boy, you must learn better words than that. Now, ask her to crash in back.”87

I shrugged. It was better than nothing, I guess. “Yeah, or you could crash in the back. There’s a bed and everything. I used to live there, and then I gave it up to the Frog Leapers for their rehearsals. They aren’t rehearsing anyway, because of Ringo and Rose’s wedding. What do you say?”88

“I say …” she grinned, “that sounds perfect. I’m exhausted, stuffed and definitely not up to a night alone in a hotel.”89

I looked up at Reese to see him wink. Well, what do you know; the man has a sense of humor. Then I heard her groan. “I can’t stay here. I’m dressed in a beaver’s costume for cripes sake!”90

At the same time, Reese and I said, “Lily.”91

Sara raised an eyebrow, but didn’t care that we didn’t explain it.92

I promised her I’d be right back, then I got up to go find Lily with her eyes glued on her boyfriend, Clark, who was playing the drums better than most drummers I’ve met. I grinned and tapped her shoulder.93

“Hey, baby, can you do me a favor?” I asked, sliding in the booth beside her. She looked at me, and I saw the pure love and glow on her face.94

Since my parents and I didn’t talk at all, and me being an only child, it was nice to know I had a family. Sure, we weren’t blood related, or marriage related for the matter of fact, but she was like my little sister and best friend all rolled into one. I know it’s not fair to have favourites, but I had a soft spot for Lily.95

“You know I’d fly to the moon and the back for you,” Lily teased, swinging an arm around my shoulder. She leaned her head against my shoulder and sighed. “Isn’t he amazing?”96

“Yes, he is and I was wondering if you could pull some clothes out for a girl – well, woman, really – to borrow until tomorrow,” I asked, kissing the top of her head. I closed my eyes. God, I really did love Lily.97

“Oh-h, does Sammy have a girlfriend?” Madison asked, obviously overhearing. Apparently even a pregnant woman in love didn’t mind ease-dropping, even if she was sitting right across from us.98

“Sammy’s got a girlfriend?” Rose and Abby exclaimed at the same time.99

“No, no, she’s not a girlfriend.” Yet, my heart whispered. “But she’s had a rough day and no where else to go. And … she’s in a beaver costume.”100

With nothing underneath, I was assuming. My mind immediately wondered what her body looked like. Reese had determined her to be skinny. I wondered how right he was. I already knew that I wanted to kiss her, just to experiment, but why don’t I admit I wanted to do a lot more than that?101

“No way, the woman in the beaver costume?” Abby asked, smiling. “She was hot Sam. What are you going to do about it?”102

“Come on, you all know I haven’t done anything about that for ages.” It was the truth, which sucked. “And I’m not going to start by jumping Miss Beaver, no matter how much I want to.”103

“Yum,” a voice came from behind me. I spun around to see Sara, still in the beaver costume, standing there. She placed a hand on my shoulder. “So the attraction’s mutual. Thank God.”104

“Oh, uh, um,” and I froze. I didn’t know what to say to that. She had pulled her hair back out of her face and man, she was beautiful.105

Sara laughed lightly and stuck out a hand … or paw, I should say. “I’m Sara Mee, nice to meet you. I’m assuming you’re the women of the band?”106

“You’d assume correctly,” Lily said, laughing. “I like her, Sammy, I like her a lot.”107

Sara smiled. “Okay, you’re Lily – the one who’s never off her cell phone.” She scanned the rest of them and nodded to Madison. “You’re Maddy, because you got that pregnant glow.”108

“She’s good,” Madison murmured, and then caught my eyes. “You were talking about us?”109

“Damn straight he was, we’re family,” Abby said, nodding.110

Sara laughed, and I relaxed. She looked at Rose. “You’ve got the rock … ohmigod! Let me see that.”111

Rose held out her hand, her eyes sparkling with pride as she showed off her engagement ring. Sara stared in shock and said, “God, this thing has to way a ton. How do you keep your hand up?”112

Rose burst out laughing, and nodded approval. “Yup, I do like you too.”113

“Thank you, Rose. That means you, little Miss Cookie Monster, are Abby.” Sara laughed at Abby’s round eyes, then asked, “May I pull up a chair?”114

“Yeah, yeah, you have to,” Madison said, nodding.115

“But,” Lily interrupted, “not until we get you out of that horrible – no offense – beaver outfit. Come on, we’ll go upstairs and get you something … prettier.”116

Sara said her thanks and then turned to look at me. She mouthed, “Thank you.” Then she leaned forward and murmured into my ear, “You’re a lucky guy to have friends – family like this. I like them all.”117

When she sauntered off with Lily at her arm, I sighed and leaned back into my booth. Three sets of eyes stared at me. Finally Madison broke the silence. “When did you meet her?”118

I glanced over at the huge clock that hung above the bar. I was surprised and admitted, “Two hours ago.”119

“Can you, please, please keep her?” Abby said in a childlike voice. I laughed. “I love how she was looking at you like she could devour you and then spit you out and do it all over again.”120

I couldn’t help but grin as Madison and Rose nodded in agreement. Rose’s face lit up. “She can be your date for the wedding!”121

“But that’s not for another two weeks,” I complained.122

“Ah-ah, but she’ll love it,” Madison said, poking me in the shoulder. “Ask her. She’s got spunk.”123

I nodded, but didn’t make any promises. What I did or didn’t say, ask or do with Sara would be my business, not that I was going to complain with the women poking around. I loved them, there was nothing more than that.124

I listened to the band go through another one of their hits, “Dusty Boxes”, a song that Ted had helped write with Abby in mind. They moved onto the next and then I felt it.125

The air had changed from light teasing to dead serious. It had gotten heavier. I sat up straight and glanced over my shoulder. My eyes stopped on a beautiful woman. She had long brown hair, big brown eyes, and was dressed in tight jeans and a silver top that looked like scattered moon dust.126

My throat went dry and it felt like I couldn’t stop myself. I just got up, my body moving on its own accord, and moved towards her. Her eyes were locked on mine, a small smile reaching her red lips. It was like she was nervous. Hey, if I was making her nervous, she was just as aware of me as I was of her.127

My hands slipped around her waist, hers around my neck, and without words, we started dancing. Very, very slowly and it was a fast song. I dipped my head towards her, just to breathe her in.128

“Sara,” I finally whispered. I closed my eyes for a moment, just to memorize her body against mine. It was a perfect fit. She tugged me a bit closer and hell, I couldn’t think.129

“Mmm, you never told me your name you know,” she whispered. I went back through our conversation really quickly in my head and realized I hadn’t.130

“Samson. Samson Words, but everyone calls me Sam.” I could barely speak, and I wasn’t sure if she’d even heard me.131

She had, I knew that for sure when she smiled and asked, “Bartender and owner? Man after my heart.”132

I nearly slumped with relief, but instead pulled her just a bit closer and rested my chin on her head. She nuzzled her face into my chest.133

For that moment, we weren’t strangers, we were something so much more than that. The song ended, the band’s show was over, but they kept playing a soft, slow beat just for us.134

“I think you should definitely spend the night here,” I whispered, my voice gone deep and hoarse. “Definitely.”135

“Couldn’t change my mind if you wanted to,” Sara said softly. She was smiling. I couldn’t see her face, but I knew she was smiling. It was weird. I didn’t want to describe it.136

“And maybe … I could spend the night too?”137

It was the first time I’d ever asked a customer out, or in this case, to bed. I had made a rule to myself not to get mixed up in that, but I didn’t care tonight. I was doing it anyway.138

“Maybe,” she replied, “and just maybe we could have a little fun tonight.”139

♥140

Something stabbed my side. I groaned and poked an eye open. A woman was rushing out of my arms, out of the bed, and was definitely trying to pull a bra on.141

“You’re putting it on backwards,” I muttered, as I realized this. She gasped, jumped and then glared.142

“What are you doing up? You’re supposed to be sleeping! Go back to sleep, now.” I smiled, shook my head and sat up. Sara Mee was trying to leave me so that this … whatever ‘this’ was … would be a one-night stand. Damn, I hated one-night stands.143

“Nah, I’m up anyway. What time is it?” I asked, glancing around. I found the clock and swore. “It’s six A.M. What the hell do you think you’re doing?”144

“I’m leaving Sam. Isn’t that obvious?” She repeated the curse and asked me, “Do you know where my panties are?”145

I thought about the little black lace that used to be her panties and winced. “Honey, I think those were ripped.”146

“Oh, here they are!” She held them up and groaned. “Oh. Well, so much for them. It doesn’t matter.”147

I shifted and caught her wrist as she reached for her shoes. She looked back at me, surprise and confusion mixed in her expression. “I’m going to ask this again, and hopefully you’ll give me the right answer this time. What the hell are you doing?”148

“I’m leaving –” she started to repeat.149

“You’re wrong, baby, and need to do a one-eighty.” I smiled and pulled her towards me. Surprise flickered across her face again and I pressed my lips o hers.150

Last night, I learned that she was addicting. I couldn’t get enough of her. I pulled her closer and found myself snapping off the bra she’d just put on. “Now, let me ask you one last time. What the hell are you doing?”151

She muffled a giggle, kissing my lips again and then something flashed in her eyes. “I’m going for round six.”152

I laughed and pulled her on top of me. I wouldn’t let this one get away. I was sure of it.153

♥154

Sara made me laugh.155

It was the one thing I couldn’t get out of my mind over the next few days. I would wait and stare at the door, waiting and beckoning the woman in the beaver costume to show up. She didn’t.156

Not until a week and a few days after that one amazing night … and pretty wicked morning-after, did she come through the doors.157

The band had been on stage, playing as they usually did – amazingly well – and I’d been in a very sour mood. I guess I just felt something for a woman – which hadn’t happened in a long, long time – and I expected her to feel the same way or something.158

I probably shouldn’t have expected more than a night from Sara, but I had. In fact, I’d liked her a lot. I wasn’t in love or anything, but I enjoyed her company and I think part of me fell for her. She’d been beautiful and interested in me.159

“Oh, come on, Sammy. Cheer up, please.” This was coming from Abby who had been in a sour mood lately. Her boss didn’t like how she had moved in with a client and was threatening to fire her. I think Abby was half-hoping she would.160

“What? I’m not in a bad mood,” I lied. Then I gave her a fake smile as if that’d prove my point.161

“Stop it. You’re freaking me out,” Madison complained.162

“You’ve been in a bad mood ever since Sara left without a word.” And this came from Lily. She glared at me. “I know you liked her, but two people can connect and move on.”163

I hated to do it, but I agreed with her. I closed my eyes and listened to the band play. Within a flash, the air shifted and changed. It was like I was waiting for a storm or something.164

I opened my eyes and craned my head towards the door.165

“Sam!” she said, smiling. I watched her stick her tongue out. “Guess what!”166

All I could do was gape at her. Her long brown hair had been layered, but it was still long thank God, and it now had blonde streaks in it. Her eyes were still as brown as ever, the freckles still dashed across her nose.167

Sara’s lips were red and in the form of a very big smile. She swayed her hips as she moved towards me.168

“Sam?”169

I blinked, long and hard, and then I reached out for her. As soon as my hands were on her shoulders, I dragged her to me and pressed my lips against hers. Hard.170

When I pulled back for air, I saw her panting. God, I wanted her again. I wanted to take her over and over and over again. I didn’t want to stop.171

“Whoa, what was that for?” she asked, frowning.172

My first thought was that I hadn’t kissed her enough, then my second was I was going to drag her into the backroom and my third thought was I probably should talk to her about everything first.173

I shrugged. “I just wanted to be sure the magic was still there.”174

Sara laughed and shook her head in disbelief. “Get me a beer. We’re celebrating tonight.”175

“You got a job!” I said, grinning.176

“You bet. You’ll never guess where,” she added, looking as cute and sexy as ever.177

“Where did you get a job?” I asked, moving around the counter. I grabbed a beer for us as she started to talk.178

“At Madison’s Weddings, of course,” Sara told me, smiling. She sat down on the stool and sighed. “It was just by chance I ran into Madison as she was having a huge freak-out. The right flowers had died for Rose’s wedding, so she was on hormonal overdrive. Apparently I’m a natural.”179

Madison had known where she was and hadn’t told me. My eyes flickered to her and I saw her meet my eyes for a fraction of a second, then duck her head.180

“Dexter’s going to want to kiss you,” I teased. She laughed. “You know he’s been bugging her to get an assistant since she’s so focused on starting her business before the baby comes.”181

“Yep, and I’m going shopping with Abby and Rose later. We’ve been hanging out lately. Lily and I went to a baby shower together yesterday. Those women are freaking amazing.”182

Yeah, I thought, at keeping secrets. They were so dead. All of them. I shot them a glare and this time none of them met my eyes.183

“Yeah, they’re pretty amazing all right.” I muttered this, but Sara seemed to be in a too-good of mood to notice my annoyance.184

“Then Abby suggested she’d help me out with finding a new apartment. I’m moving in down the street from here. It’s an apartment building. Thirty-six Washburn Avenue, apartment twenty-seven. Isn’t that cool?”185

Sara smiled and took a swig out of her beer. I just glared at her, and then her words sunk in. She was moving to thirty-six Washburn Ave. I lived there. Her apartment was twenty-seven. Mine was twenty-six. That meant … that meant that Abby had gotten her an apartment right across the hall.186

I knocked my beer over when I realized this. I swore and picked up the bottle, yanking some napkins from under the counter. I dabbed at the spilled beer, but didn’t hear a peep from Sara. I glanced up.187

“Oh, God, you don’t want me living across from you, do you?” she asked softly. It was like a broken whisper.188

And it broke my heart.189

“I wouldn’t like anything more,” I murmured softly. “It just surprised me, that’s all.”190

“I know it’ll probably be weird. You know, the whole us having a one-night stand and then living across from each other thing.” Sara shrugged. “I was hoping we could be friends though.”191

“Dammit, it wouldn’t have been a one-night stand if you had stayed.” The words were out before I could take them back.192

She blinked in surprise. I waited until my words sunk in. Then she gasped. “Oh! But I thought it was … I thought that as a bartender you were … oh, boy.”193

Without warning, Sara stood up and ran to the door. “Sara!”194

It was pointless, she was already gone. I cursed loudly, and pressed my face into my hands. I swore again and then looked up to see four women standing in front of me.195

“What the hell did you say to her?” Abby demanded, her eyes narrowing on me.196

“Why the hell didn’t you tell me you’d all been seeing her? Madison’s working with her, Lily going to the baby shower, Abby and Rose going shopping with her tomorrow.” I spat the words out a little harshly.197

“We kept some secrets, big whoop. She was miserable and you just made it worse!” Lily said.198

Before I knew it, her hand was against my cheek. It stung for a moment and then I leaned back in shock. She’d just slapped me.199

“What did you say?” Madison demanded.200

“I just told her that it wouldn’t have been a one-night stand if she’d stayed!” I finally said.201

For a moment the five of us just stood around glaring at each other. No one spoke. Then Rose reacted first. “Oh, no, no, no, why did you say that?”202

“What are you talking about?” I asked, this time my voice softer.203

“Sara doesn’t ‘do’ one-night stands, but had prided herself on you being her first one. She refused to act all clingy or whatever. Sara just wanted some fun.” This was coming from Abby.204

I stared. Didn’t they realize the torture I’d gone through?205

I cursed and left the bar.206

♥207

Standing in for Rose’s father at her wedding was an incredible feeling. I was all pumped up for it and completely proud of her. We were standing outside the doors we were going to walk through just in a few minutes, and Rose laughed at me.208

“You look more nervous than I feel.”209

All of us had been pretty rocky since our big fight. It was nice to hear her laugh. I wrapped my arms around her. “You’re beautiful Rose. Ringo’s a lucky guy.”210

“You don’t have to tell me once,” she said, smiling. “Thanks for this, Sammy.”211

“It’s Sam and I love you,” I whispered, pulling away. I could feel the tears in my eyes and glanced at the doors so she wouldn’t see. “I’m proud of you, Rose.”212

She laughed again, obviously in a very good mood, “Thanks, Sam. Come on, let’s get in line.”213

We moved towards the end of the line of the women waiting to enter. I watched Lily hug Rose, then Madison, then Abby and then Sara.214

My heart froze. Sara stood there, draped in a silver dress identical to the ones Madison, Lily and Abby wore. My throat went dry. She had definitely made an impact on me, oh yeah. I shifted awkwardly for a moment, then realized I was being stupid and stood up straight.215

“Sara,” I said softly.216

“Sam.” The sound of her saying my name … it was so perfect. I glanced down the aisle, where Ringo was waiting and Rose would be marrying him. Madison was now walking down there, holding onto Rose’s son, Ben’s hand.217

I turned back to Sara. She was beautiful and breath-taking. “Can I have my heart back?”218

I blinked. She asked it as if I’d really held her heart. I took a step back, nearly bumping into Clark, and then held my breath. She didn’t say anything more.219

Abby and Ted walked down the aisle next, Lily and Clark not far following them. Then Dexter came and tapped Sara’s shoulder. Since Madison had gone with Ben, it only made sense that Dexter would take Sara.220

I watched her move down the aisle with him. Then I turned to Rose and held out my arm.221

She took it, stepping into the doorframe. She really was beautiful. I smiled and she muffled a giggle. Under her breath, I heard her say, “I’m getting married, Sam. Like married-married.”222

I replied softly, “Is there any other kind?”223

She laughed and suddenly, just as quick as that, we were at the end. I turned to her and kissed her cheek. I smiled. “You’re amazing, Rose.”224

“You’re pretty awesome yourself, Sammy boy.” She was chuckling when she kissed my cheek and whispered, “I think she regrets not staying, Sam.”225

I didn’t need to be told twice. I went to stand beside the men instead of sitting down like most ‘fathers’ would.226

They got married within minutes and all I wanted was to pull Sara by the hand, run down the aisle and talk to her.227

Suddenly I was cheering as Rose and Ringo ran down the aisle, with Ben hot on their tails. Since Dexter and Madison were planning on taking care of Ben while they were on their honey moon, I think they figured they might as well get a head start on babysitting because they were chasing Ben.228

I watched Lily and Clark walk slowly and respectfully down the aisle, Ted and Abby following them. I was just standing there and so was Sara.229

“Shall we?” I asked, holding out my hand. I saw something flicker in her eyes.230

She nodded. “Yeah, let’s hit the party.”231

♥232

I danced with her twice. Dexter danced with her one, Ted and Clark twice and Ringo zero times since he hadn’t danced with anyone but his new wife. It wasn’t strange to see them all close and kissing, and it definitely wasn’t strange to hear Rose shout out, “Husband! Come cut the cake with me!”233

Or Ringo to reply with, “I’m coming, my lovely wife!”234

I watched as Sara danced with some old smoozer that Rose called a cousin and glared. “Honey, just get it over with already.”235

I glanced over at the seat beside me to see Ben curled up and sound asleep in Madison’s arms. Man, she was going to make a great mother. I nodded and got up.236

I didn’t care that I was short and rude. “Sorry, Kenny, but get your own woman. This one’s taken.”237

The man backed off and went to sulk to his sister. I didn’t care. I slipped Sara into my arms and held onto her. She didn’t get me in trouble, but simply said, “Thank you. He kept stepping on my feet.”238

I chuckled. “So … where do we stand? I haven’t seen you move in yet.”239

“I did. Just at night, when you were at the bar. And yes, some may say that was avoiding you, but hell, what did you expect?” she asked, but I heard the pain in her voice.240

Good, at least I wasn’t the only one going through this. I laughed softly. “Ah, Sara, my sweet, sweet, Sara. We screwed up big time.”241

“We should’ve gone slowly. You know, not jumping into bed together. I never do that. Ever. Damn, I felt like a whore. Mind you, a well satisfied whore, but a whore nonetheless.” She smiled at me. “So, want to try again?”242

“Yeah, yeah, I do.” I stepped back and held out my hand. “Don’t I know you from somewhere? You look familiar.”243

She laughed. “Yeah, I believe I stopped by your bar one night not too long ago. I was the women in the beaver suit.”244

“Ah,” I said, nodding. “Well, that explains it then. I’m Sam Words.”245

“Sara Mee,” she introduced herself. By the look in her eyes, I knew she loved it.246

“Well, Sara, may I have this dance?” I asked, keeping in character.247

“Yeah, sure, why not?” she asked, and then added with a laugh. “I’ve done worse.”248

I thought about that night we had spent together and grinned. “I’m sure you have, I’m sure you have.”249

“So, Sam, do you happen to know any available men?” she asked, all too innocently.250

“Keep it up, missy, and I just might be available.” I winked just to hear her burst into laughter.251

“You’re so full of yourself,” she said.252

“Yeah?” I grinned and used the best, cheesy line I knew, “Well I could be full of you …”253

“Oh, shut up.” But she kissed me anyway.254