I study her to make sure she really understands and her heated gaze pretty much tells me that sex is all she’s thinking about right now. Good enough. I caress her thighs as my hands find their way up her skirt. Before I can go any further, she leans forward and slides out of her panties. Instead of sitting back down, she turns so her body is facing out the window of the truck. She sits on my lap and grinds her hips back and forth. “Are you ready to come out and play?” she asks, her voice filled with want.

I lift her hips and pull myself out of my jeans. I grab a condom from my wallet and suit up. Taking ahold of her hips, I guide her back down and that’s all it takes. She’s riding me without a care in the world. This is actually perfect. I don’t have to avoid eye contact or kissing her. The intimacy is not a factor with this girl; she takes what she wants with no apologies. I relax against the seat and enjoy the ride. It doesn’t take long before I can feel my release. I slide my hand around her waist to help get her to where I am. It’s been way too long and I’m not going to last.

With a few more quick thrusts, we fall over the edge together. Blondie slides off me and back into the driver’s seat. She slides her panties into her purse. Flipping down the visor, she checks her make-up. Finally, she looks at me. “Thanks, that was great,” she says. The next thing I know, she has the door open and she’s sauntering back into the bar.

That is most definitely a first for me, and after the huge hit to my ego earlier, well, let’s just say the satisfaction the release gave me is now gone. I’m wound tight.

I quickly dispose of the condom in a napkin and tuck myself back in. I pull the truck back around to the front of the bar and park. I want to go back in. I need another drink, but I’ve had about all I can handle for one night. I decide to send Bright a text letting him know I’ll be in the truck when he’s ready to go. It’s already half past midnight and last call is in thirty minutes. I’ll just catch a quick nap until then. I’m over this night!

AFTER MAXTON LEFT with the blonde, the atmosphere at our table picked up. I enjoyed talking to both Lance and Brighton. I even let them both take me for another spin around the dance floor. Lance and I move well together, and Brighton… well, let me just say that I can see why Nicole is so smitten. They are both really nice, down-to-earth guys. I wonder how they became friends with Maxton.

The bartender announces last call. That’s when Nicole speaks up. “Do you have a ride home?” she asks Brighton.

He nods, taking a sip of his beer. “Yeah, Max is out in the parking lot in his truck. He said he was going to take a quick nap while he waited on me.”

“Really? That seems like an odd thing for him to do,” Nicole comments.

Brighton shrugs. “Not really. Max and I have been working our asses off the last several months on the remodel. It took a lot of convincing to get him to come out tonight. It’s been longer for him than it has for me. He’s running on fumes,” he explains.

I try to place that guy in my head. The one who puts his heart and soul into rebuilding his family’s legacy. I don’t see Maxton when I picture that person. It’s hard for me to reconcile the man I met tonight with the one Brighton is describing to us now.

The guys walk us to the car. Lance thanks me for a fun night. We really hit it off. We have a lot in common. He has a degree in business with a minor in finance as well. We exchanged numbers earlier. He said if I ever need any help with school to call him. He leans down and gives me a warm hug. There is nothing romantic about it. He’s a great guy, but I have no interest in taking things further. He’s fun to hang out with. I hop in the car while I wait for Nicole and Brighton to say goodbye. I figure this will give them a little privacy. Ten minutes later, she is finally strapped in her seat, and we are headed back to our apartment.

“You and Brighton seem to be hitting it off,” I say to Nicole. The smile has not left her face all night.

“Yeah. He’s nice. We’ve gotten to know each other slowly. I kept waiting for him to call and want to hook up, you know, but tonight he didn’t even try anything,” she replies, almost disappointed.

“Do you call that lip-lock nothing?” I’m sure if it wasn’t dark in the car, her face would be flushed.

“No, that’s not what I meant. I mean, look at him, look at all of them. At first glance, they don’t appear to be a group of guys who want more than a quick tangle in the sheets.”

“Pft. From what I can tell, both Brighton and Lance are great guys. Maxton on the other hand…” I trail of remembering how cocky he was. Like he just knew I would be falling at his feet. As if!

“Maxton is so damn hot. Did you see his arms? All that dark hair and the scruff on his face. Not just anyone can pull that look off. Maxton, well, he makes a day’s worth of stubble sexy as hell.”

“Oh, he’s sexy all right. That man is definite eye candy, until he opens his mouth. He’s cocky as hell and he was actually pissed off that I wouldn’t dance with him,” I scoff.

“What? Why in the hell would you turn him down? We are talking about the same guy, right? Brighton’s super-hot best friend, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Sexy. Not to mention, the badass vibes he throws off. I can’t believe you turned him down,” she scolds me.

“He’s cocky and so sure of himself. He just assumed I would fall to his charms and worship him. That’s not me. Then he seemed pissed off that I was dancing with Lance.”

“Is that why he stormed away from the table? Sounds to me like he was jealous.”

“Men like Maxton don’t get jealous. He was mad that he got turned down, nothing more, nothing less.”

Nicole doesn’t comment, and the remainder of the drive home is quiet. Once we pull into our complex, she grabs my arm before I can get out of the car. “I’m proud of you, Kens. You faced this day and kicked its ass. You’re living life just like she would want you to,” she says softly. Her eyes find mine. “I know if she was here, she would tell you how proud of you she is. Proud of the person you are.”

Taking in a shuddering breath, I try to stop the tears from flowing. “I hope you’re right.” I force the words, fighting against the tears. “Dad said the same thing today; he said she would want me to live each day to the fullest. He’s worried about me never letting myself fall in love. He and I don’t talk about those kinds of things; it was always Mom’s territory.”

“Smart man, your dad,” she says.

“He is, and today was a good day for us. I don’t know why he started opening up, or why I did, but I think it was good for us,” I tell her.

“For what it’s worth, I agree with your dad. She would want you to let yourself fall in love, have the forever kind of love that she had with your dad.”

“I want that, I do. It’s just not going to be an overnight thing for me.”

“As long as you are open to the idea, you never know what can happen.”

I am open to the idea. I’m scared as hell to trust someone that much, but I think if I had time, I could. Only time will tell.

I TRY TO take a nap, lay my head back against the seat and just chill. Even though that’s what I want to do, it doesn’t happen. Instead, I think about the last several months. Dad would be proud to see the renovation of Cooper’s—our legacy. I’ve put everything I am into making Cooper’s a success. When I took over, I knew absolutely nothing about running a business. Sure, I’d worked there for Dad when he needed help, but manning the bar is nothing compared to having it all on your shoulders. I refuse to fail. Refuse to let the blood, sweat, and tears of my grandfather and my father fade away into nothing.