Bliss York

“YOU SHOULD PROBABLY stop looking at your boss’s fiancé as if you want to eat him.” Saffron spoke then leaned into me, giggling and pinching my arm.

The guys shouldn’t let her drink. For starters, she was underage. Following that she was a terrible drunk. Annoying to say the least. Her twin Holland wasn’t with her tonight. Probably home studying or reading. They were identical in looks and height, but complete opposites in the way they lived.

“I’m not looking at him,” I lied.

She cackled loudly and snorted. Did I mention she was an annoying drunk? Her dad owned the place. He was in my parents’ circle of friends. Her dad was famous in a small town. Krit Corbin once played on that stage. But when he married Blythe he saved his money and bought the place outright. From then on he stayed off the road. The road wasn’t for married people. At least that was what dad had said.

If he walked in the door and saw Saffron drunk, there would be hell to pay. She stayed in trouble. So, the guys all watched her and kept her from doing anything additionally stupid. More so than she’d already done. I knew she wouldn’t make it five short steps in Nate’s direction before Eli blocked her. Micah would then carry her out on his shoulder like he was toting a sack of feed.

“I’m sorry Bliss, you’re ogling his ass. Is that a more accurate description?”

I had been looking at him. Acting like I wasn’t, was pointless. Besides, Saffron was obliviously drunk and wouldn’t remember this. I didn’t think she’d remember this. Saffron, PLEASE don’t remember this.

“Eli, let’s dance,” I said. I wasn’t having this conversation with ‘Saffron the drunk’ anymore. Though she wouldn’t give it a break. “Yeah! Eli go dance with her! Then she’ll stop staring at Mr. Sexy As Hell guy over there at the bar!” I winced as she yelled her words just as the music died down.

“Someone needs to cut her off.” I didn’t mumble. She didn’t care.

“Already have,” Micah assured me. “Dakota has been serving her straight club soda for the past hour and a half. Larissa isn’t working tonight but Dakota knows the rules when it comes to Saffron.”

Saffron frowned. “That’s not fair. I know you’re discussing me.”

“Life’s a bitch sweetheart,” Micah replied, which made Jimmy burst into laughter. Someone needed to serve him club soda. I didn’t care if he’d turn thirty on his birthday. It was past time Jimmy found a woman and settled into a pattern. Calmed down, stop living in bars. His older brother Brent had straightened up after marrying Chloe. Jimmy had no interest in that. Didn’t seem to be heading in that direction.

Eli was looking back at the bar toward Nate as he walked over to me. His forehead was drawn with concern. He still hadn’t met the adult Nate. He hadn’t seen him since that summer. It had been long enough for Nate to forget so I figured Eli had to.

I hoped Eli had forgotten. I knew the others hadn’t seen Nate but from a distance that summer. Micah was the only one other than Eli and Larissa that got a good look at the sixteen-year-old boy he had been. He was a man now and although I recognized him I felt fairly sure they wouldn’t.

“Who is that?” Eli asked.

He would remember. I knew him well enough to know Eli hadn’t forgotten.

“The fiancé of my boss.”

“Why does he look familiar?”

And there it was. Eli’s excellent memory.

“Because it’s Nate Finlay,” I admitted. I then waited for Eli’s response.

He paused and studied me a moment. When his eyes widened, they were big. “The guy from that summer,” he whispered, before looking back at Nate. “He’s Octavia’s fiancé?”

“Yes.” Now he was going to ask me why I didn’t tell him this at the store. I counted to ten in my head and I knew what was coming next.

“Why didn’t you tell me who he was?”

I shrugged. “He didn’t remember. I didn’t want him to hear me. You know I need that job.”

Again he looked back at Nate. “He remembers.”

I started to argue the point when Eli slipped his hand through mine. “Let’s go dance,” he said.

I wanted to ask him how he knew Nate remembered. To go beyond what he’d already said but I needed to let it go. Besides, I was doing my best to pretend that Nate wasn’t Nate. Not the Nate that I knew, just some other guy who happened to be known by that name, and was marrying the woman I worked for. That was all I knew how to do.

We danced two songs before Micah cut in and then I danced a few times with him. Eli came back and interrupted us. We needed to get Saffron home.

“Can’t take her home like that. Blythe will fucking shit.” Micah spoke and he was right. Her mother would not be happy. But then again, Saffron, who was a lunatic, rarely did something to please them.

“She can stay with me,” I told him.

Eli scoffed. “Not sure that’s a good idea. I don’t want Krit Corbin on my ass. If he finds out she’s drunk and being hidden . . .”

“Jimmy should take her. She’s his cousin,” Micah interrupted.

Seriously? When was Jimmy ever responsible for anyone but himself? “That’s a terrible idea,” I responded. “Might as well throw her in a ditch.”

Eli nodded in agreement. “Can we call Holland for help?” Poor Holland had to bail her twin out of trouble on an average of once a week. I hated to do this to her, but there wasn’t any other choice.

“Yeah, I’ll call her,” I said.

Both guys seemed happy about that. I left them to head back to the table where my phone was tucked away in my purse. I tried really hard not to look at Nate as I swerved across the floor. I finally compromised and let my gaze slide past where he was sitting, but he was gone. Although I felt disappointed, which was silly, I knew it was for the best. I didn’t need any more temptation.

I could’ve invited Nate to our table so he wouldn’t have been alone. But then everyone would talk and he could remember and my embarrassment would know no bounds. That he had forgotten me, forgotten our summer, was a thing I preferred to keep to myself.

“Your boy left!” Saffron yelled, before I was even close to the table.

I ignored her. What else could I do?

“He sauntered out of here looking like sex on a motherfuckin’ stick,” she added.

“Why is she calling him your boy? You didn’t tell her about that summer did you?”

I snapped back at Eli quickly. “Of course not. She wanted to go hit on him and so she asked me who he was. I said he was my boss’s fiancé and that the man was very taken.”

Eli nodded but didn’t look thrilled. I’d moved out of my parent’s house. I didn’t need Eli hovering, and worrying like they do. Surely, he knew that.

“Eli, stop it with the concerned frown. That was a long time ago. I’ve all but forgotten it. Besides for once in my life I want to be treated like I’m grown up and independent. Can you please let me?”

“Yeah, I know, B.C.” he said.

B.C. meant before cancer. It was the way we labeled my sickness. B.C., D.C. and A.C. Before, during and after.

“Exactly,” I responded. We both knew everything B.C. was from a different life and era. One where we didn’t know fear or pain, or if we did it was temporary. My cancer had ignited our perfect worlds and shown us that life was fragile.

 

Nate Finlay

I WAS HERE like I promised. I just hadn’t got out of my truck yet. I was giving myself a pep talk. Which was ridiculous considering our history. She was nothing but a childhood fling. One that I was pretending I didn’t remember, which explained me sitting in my vehicle.

“This is a higher level of coward,” I said to myself out loud.

Shaking my head with disgust I got out and headed for the door. The backdoor. Not the front. Bliss had a question about a shipment. I would answer then be on my way. The list that I had of “to do’s” at the place was a half mile long or better, but I couldn’t stay in there with Bliss. Alone, where I could see her and smell her.

Octavia wasn’t going to be happy if she got back and her shit wasn’t finished. I should stay today and get things done. Stop being a dick and hiding. She hadn’t said anything about that summer. Maybe she’d forgotten me too? Lies. I’m lying to myself. Like me, Bliss remembered. I’d seen it on her face the moment we locked eyes. It was as if we were still there. Younger, happier and knowing. Knowing we’d never forget this.

Opening the backdoor I walked inside and stopped short when I saw Bliss’s ass. Stuck up into the air being asslike. It was a nice one. No, scratch that. It was a stellar one and I thoroughly enjoyed the view. The shorts she was wearing rode up high and perfectly cupped her stellar ass. Damn.

She then began to shake that ass, as she remained bent at the waist. She must have heard me come in. Was that why she’d asked me to meet her here? To shake her ass at me? That wasn’t a horrible plan. Currently it was working for her.

“Shake it off, shake it off!” she sang rather loudly, and on key I might add. She then straightened and shook it some more. This time her hips joined in and she did this thing with her hands. It was cute. Blended well with her hips. Bliss York was dancing and I was almost positive she had no idea there was an audience.

She began singing another line, interpreting moves as she unpacked the box. The polite thing to do would be to let her know I was here “not” enjoying myself. Which would be another fucking lie. My guess was she had in ear buds, and couldn’t hear a thing but the music. I wasn’t polite. I let the door close behind me with a thud. That didn’t make her jump so I leaned against the wall crossing my arms to watch. Eventually she’d spin around and here I would be. Bliss would become embarrassed. A nice guy would feel bad about that. As for myself I owed her one. She’d crushed my young heart seven years ago. I might as well make her blush and cringe. Besides, she was giving me a very fond memory, one I would never forget.

The “shake it off” song must’ve ended. Suddenly she belted out “baby, this is what you came for!” I recognized that song. I was impressed with her Rihanna rendition.

Though she didn’t get very far into the song. It was then she threw up her hands, turning in a circle that became a squeal when she saw me standing there. I didn’t move. I just grinned. Then slowly clapped my hands.

She jerked the white cord of her ear buds. As expected her face turned bright red and I felt a little guilty for that. But damn, this was fun to watch. I could get over being a dick. I liked seeing Bliss this way.

For a moment, she was the girl I remembered. The one that made that summer. Now the woman, the Bliss of now, the thing she’d grown into, stammered for something to say.

“I was hoping you’d get to the good part. I think you’d do it better than her. Definitely give her a run for her money.”

I was trying to tease so she’d laugh. It worked, she pressed her lips together, and released a loud giggle. “How long were you standing there?”

“Long enough to see your repertoire of ass wiggling, hip jerking and impressive shimmies I had no idea existed.”

Again, she laughed and covered her face with both hands hiding her embarrassment. “Oh God!”

“I was entertained as hell.”

She shook her head. I waited until she finally dropped her hands and smiled Bliss York’s huge grin. It was like a punch in the gut. As if time hadn’t happened and she was still fifteen, the smile the same, genuine, full of life. Back then that’s what I loved the most, Bliss enjoying everything. She found the good in everyone without any jealousy or any of the negative shit I was accustomed to hearing from girls my age. She didn’t do that, had no interest in anger or spite.

I once thought her smile the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen because she meant it. Nothing fake in its delivery or meaning. Seeing it again I knew it was the same, no matter what happened after that summer, she was still Bliss York. Now she was just older, more mature and more beautiful.

“I didn’t expect you until later.” She appeared to be explaining herself.

“Clearly,” I agreed.

She let out a sigh and another small giggle. Bliss nodded her chin to the left. Towards the boxes stacked on the side. “I need to know what to do with those. Three boxes, the exact same order. I know Octavia loves the Jimmy Choo scarves. The ones she found in Italy were shipped here then these others arrived. I don’t think she wanted that many in stock. She means to keep smaller quantities, to make them more exclusive, and these seem to be overkill. I believe there’s been a mistake.”

The way Bliss spoke with so much knowledge of Octavia’s vision for the store impressed the hell out of me. They’d only met once in the interview. Bliss paid attention and remembered. Octavia had been smart in hiring her.

“I agree. She wouldn’t order that many. It’s about to be hot as hell for the next few months. Few people will be buying scarves.”

Bliss nodded. “That’s what I was thinking. Could she have ordered for her father’s stores?”

That was a possibility. I could call her and ask but this was something Bliss had caught for Octavia. And Octavia needed to know that. My fiancé wasn’t easy to impress and she was hard where Bliss was soft. I wanted Bliss to do well and succeed. Nothing had been handed to her, whereas Octavia, well, had been given the moon and then asked if she’d like condos on its surface. I admit the same goes for me, but I’d learned to appreciate drive, in those who had to make it by themselves.

“Call her, tell her and see what she says.”

Bliss frowned. “You want me to call?”

She sounded terrified, which was good. Octavia could be a mean bitch. Bliss just had to impress her.

“Yeah, Octavia hired you, she needs to hear it from you.”

Bliss chewed on her bottom lip and I wanted to chew on it to. Jerking my gaze off her mouth I silently cursed myself.

“When?”

“Now.”

“Now now?”

“Yep, right this second.”

She inhaled deeply, squared her shoulders and simply replied “okay.” That one word sounded like she was going into battle. It was fucking adorable.

“Thank you for stopping by.”

I shrugged. “I was coming in anyway. I’ve got a shit ton of things to work on. I’ll be here most of the day.”

She looked as surprised as me.