Page 14 of Scoring a Sweet Thing

The bartender chuckles and turns to fetch two beers from the fridge. He slides them over the bar top, and I finally let go of Bailey’s hand to pay. After, I pick up the cold bottles and hand one over to him.

“Kind sir?” He snickers under his breath. “Did we teleport to the nineteenth century or something?”

I swallow a swig of beer and grin. “I dunno, but it sounds right for these kinds of places, don’t you think? Like, they remind me of George Darling from Peter Pan. It’s all very… pompous.” I bring my beer to my lips and stick my pinky out as I take a small sip. “Mhm, what a splendid alcoholic beverage. It moistens my palate wonderfully.”

Bailey splutters, and some of his beer dribbles down his chin, but then he starts coughing. He covers his mouth with his hand, and his cheeks turn a deep shade of pink. Worried, I reach around and slap his back.

“Ohmigod! Don’t die on me, Bailey! What will I do if you kick it before warding off the senior citizens of Seattle?”

He chokes out another laugh, which only causes him to cough more.

“This tushy isn’t gonna protect itself!” I shriek.

He waves me off, his face red and eyes glistening with tears.

Oh, yikes. I run a panicked hand through my hair and wave down the bartender again.

“Barkeep! A glass of your finest still water. Super cold!”

“Remi,” Bailey says between coughs. His voice has gone all raspy and sexy.

When I turn back to face him, he’s wiping his eyes with the heel of his palm, but there’s a wide smile on his face as his shoulders tremble with silent laughter. “You are amazing, you know that?”

I sag as relief washes through me. “You’re not dying on me?”

“No, I’m not dying. I just…” He shakes his head slightly. His eyes shine with such fondness I can feel it like a physical thing in my chest. “I know we barely know each other, but I think you’re fucking incredible, so don’t ever change, okay?”

A lump forms in the back of my throat, but I swallow it down. I don’t think Bailey truly understands what his words mean to me.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been told I’m too much. Too loud. Too childish. Too aloof. Too unserious. That I need to change myself to fit in with other people’s expectations, or what society considers “normal.”

That me just trying to find the joyous things in life, no matter how big or small, and having fun while I’m at it, is weird.

So to have someone who has only known me for less than a week look at me with such awe? And to have them tell me to never change and that I’m incredible just the way I am?

It’s everything.

Feeling all up in my feels, I place my beer down onto the bar top next to the glass of water that’s appeared and wrap my arms around Bailey. His grunt in my ear only makes me squeeze him tighter, and when he wraps his arms around me, I melt like a marshmallow.

He’s a few inches shorter than me. Smaller in build too. But our bodies just… fit. My arms wrap perfectly around his body, and he feels good beneath my hands. My face slots into the crook of his neck, like it’s always meant to be there. I revel in his palms smoothing up my back, and the sensation makes me never want to let him go.

Sooo, what if I didn’t?

Who’s to say that we can’t see each other after tonight? Maybe we could hang out again, or I could ask him on a date? I haven’t been on a date in a long time because it’s hard to date during the season, but I’d try for Bailey. There’s this pull between us, and I want to explore it.

Only if he does too.

The goal for tonight was to get out of doing the bachelor auction, but now there’s a new goal.

Show Bailey that I’m fun and irresistible, and then we can have more cute moments like this after tonight. And maybe some sexy fun moments too.

But our current little cute moment ends abruptly, thanks to Smitty.

“Remington McRae! You sneaky bastard! Did you really think you could sneak in here and not introduce us to your beau?”

Reluctantly, I let go of Bailey and aim a glare Smitty’s way. “Maybe I was just avoiding you.”

“You wouldn’t!” He gasps and clutches his chest, but he soon drops the playful act and holds his hand out to Bailey. “Hey, you must be Bailey. I’m Smitty, this one’s teammate and roomie.” He smiles, hooking his thumb toward me.