From Opposites Ignite, Bangers Tavern Romance Book 2, coming March 15, 2021.
This scene takes place during trivia night at Bangers Tavern, where aspiring tattoo artist Rosie works as a server and aspiring bar owner Eddie works as a bar-back. Jojo, the bouncer, is unaware that Eddie and Rosie are only fake-dating. Dawn, their boss, is the owner of Bangers Tavern.
Rosie caught Eddie’s eye and beckoned.
He pushed through the crowd to the stage. “Something wrong?”
She extended her hand and tugged him up beside her. “Help me score these? We’re running late, and I need to start the next round.”
“Umm, I…” If there was anything he hated more than needles, it was public speaking.
Rosie spoke into the mic. “My lovely assistant Eddie will help score the answers.”
“We love you, Eddie,” squawked some drunk chick from the far end of the bar.
“Eddie’s taken,” Jojo called. “By Rosie.”
His stomach tilted as he and Rosie exchanged frozen, wide-eyed smiles. So much for keeping their pretend-dating scheme on the downlow.
“Awww,” a woman squealed, “Rosie’s got a little pocket boyfriend.”
Jaw clenched, Eddie scanned the stage floor. Just his luck, no trap door.
Rosie switched off the mic, turned her back to the audience and hiss-whispered, “What the f*ck, Eddie? I agreed to pretend to your family, not to the whole damn world.”
He whispered back, “Jojo saw us with the moms.”
Squeezing her eyes shut, she blew out a breath. “Let’s just ignore him. Five minutes from now, people will find something more interesting to talk about.” She faced the audience with a phony smile. “Eddie will verify the answers, and—”
Ting, ting, ting. Someone tapped a glass with a fork. Others joined in, and soon the bar rang with tinkly din.
“Question one,” Rosie shouted into the mic.
“Kiss!” Someone called. Tipsy customers picked up the refrain. “Kiss, kiss, kiss.”
Rosie’s panicked gaze darted from him to the chanting mob. “Make them stop.”
Only one way to do that. Eddie faced the crowd and raised his forefinger. Like a prizefighter warming up, he rolled his head and shoulders, blew out a breath, then raked his fingers into her hair and mashed his lips to hers.
She squeaked. “Damn, Eddie.”
“Hang on.” He crooked his leg behind her knees and dipped her in a kitschy movie clinch.
Giggling, she kissed him back.
What the hell, this may be my last chance. When she parted her lips to draw a breath, he swept his tongue inside.
For a long, sweet moment, the crowd dissolved, the noise faded, and the whole world contracted to the circle of their arms around each other, their mingled breath, the slide of her velvet tongue over his. Then something hard and cold pinged off his head.
“Jesus H. Christ on a pogo stick. Can’t leave you two alone for two seconds.” Dawn fished another ice cube from her glass and chucked it at them. It hit Rosie’s chest and slid into her cleavage.
Eyes bugging out, she popped upright, nearly dumping Eddie on his ass.
“Steady now.” He held her elbow while she fished the ice out of her bra.
Dawn was right, there must be something in the water—or something about touching Rosie that knocked him off center and released his fearless evil twin—because he snatched the ice from her hand and popped it into his mouth. The crowd roared with laughter.
“Go on, get back to work.” Dawn gave his shoulder a shove. Was she smiling or grimacing? Hard to tell.
“My lady?” He extended his hand. When Rosie just gaped at him, he clasped her clenched fist and pulled her off the stage.
They made it as far as the bar before she smacked him upside his buzzing head. “What the hell were you thinking?”
His giddy mood popped like a soap bubble. “You said to make them stop.”
Rosie stomped in a circle, muttering some very creative curses—which only made him want her more—so hot and fiery, with her heaving chest and blazing eyes.
You can find Sadira Stone at https://sadirastone.com
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Sadira Stone
3 years agoThanks so much for hosting me today, Coffeetime Team!