Page 42 of The Encounter
Kayla nodded her head. “Let’s go talk to him if it means you’ll loosen up and have some fun with me.”
Maddie smiled and followed Kayla down the stairs. The closer she got to Jace the harder her heart pounded. It could have been the bass making her chest vibrate, but she convinced herself it was Jace. The man looked delicious with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows showing off his flexing sinewy arms as he moved around the bar, pouring drinks faster than she could count.
Maddie and Kayla pushed their way up to the bar just as Jace poured a line of shots. He handed them off to the customer and turned his attention to them. A smile immediately brightened his face.
“Hey beautiful! Are you having fun?” he shouted over the music.
Kayla jerked her thumb over at Maddie. “This one needs to loosen up and get on the dance floor with me. Tell her to stop making googly eyes at you.”
Maddie rolled her eyes as Jace smiled brighter. “Ignore her.”
“Have you had anything to drink yet?” Jace asked.
Before Maddie could respond, Kayla shouted, “No, she’s lame. Make her have fun.” Then she gave him her best pout.
Jace laughed and held a finger up as he mixed two drinks. He passed them over and waited as they each took a sip.
Kayla threw an arm in the air. “Yes! This is just what I needed. You need to tell your boy upstairs how to make this.”
Maddie laughed and leaned forward so Jace could hear her. “Are you okay with me dancing?”
“Of course I am. I’m going to be busy the rest of the night, and I want you to have fun.” He nodded his head toward Kayla who was now dancing in front of the bar while she curled her hand toward Maddie, beckoning her closer. “She needs you.”
Maddie smiled at Jace and reached out to squeeze his hand before walking over to Kayla.
“Yes! She’s ready to dance, ladies and gentlemen!” Kayla exclaimed, despite only Maddie and maybe only a few other people nearby actually being able to hear her.
Kayla’s drink sloshed as she danced toward the dance floor, keeping one hand gripped on her cup and the other in Maddie’s hand. Maddie tried her best not to spill, but Kayla made it damn near impossible.
The wall-to-wall people on the dance floor kept everyone pressed together in tight quarters. A man brushed up on Maddie’s backside and she did her best to step away from him, but they kept getting pushed together. She couldn’t tell if he was trying to grind up on her, or if the crowd forced it, but it made her skin prick with discomfort.
She looked to Kayla for help, but Kayla already found a dance partner in the man behind her.
Alcohol seeped off the man behind Maddie, who put his mouth right up to her ear. “You should just chug your drink so you can ditch the cup. Here, I’ll help you.”
Before Maddie could respond, he took the cup from her hand and held it up to her lips, pouring half of it down the front of her dress. Maddie sputtered on the liquid that made it into her mouth, but she swallowed most of it. The guy tossed the plastic cup off to the side.
“What the hell?” Maddie shouted. “You ruined my dress.”
The man Kayla was with took a similar stance with her and poured the drink down her throat as well, similarly sloshing it all over Kayla as well. Kayla pushed him away and wiped at her outfit.
Maddie grabbed Kayla’s hand. “Let’s go clean up.”
Kayla nodded, and the two of them pushed through the crowd. The two men stuck hot on their heels, and Maddie shot Kayla an annoyed look. They passed by the bar and Maddie caught Jace’s attention. She pointed at her outfit and frowned and nodded toward the bathroom. He shook his head and nodded toward the hallway down to his office where a private bathroom was located.
She gave him a smile of thanks, and they both made their way to the hallway. With Robert stationed in front of the area, Kayla walked up and greeted him immediately. She told him what happened. He let them pass but blocked the two men who tried to follow.
Maddie watched as they argued and pointed their way. Robert stood his ground and shook his head. Maddie and Kayla stepped into Jace’s office and shut the door behind them, the noise immediately cut in half.
“Is this where you blew him?” Kayla asked.
Maddie burst out laughing and nodded. “Yep.”
“Oh, look at you! That alcohol must be taking effect. No shame for this girl!” Kayla shouted, as if anyone could hear them.
“Why would I feel shame over such a life-changing event?” she joked. But she was half serious.
“Atta girl!” Kayla threw a fist in the air, and they both giggled.
