Scorned Read Free

She could still have her fun, but she was not to let her guard down.
                  This was her first time coming to Whiskey J’s. A friend of Rebecca’s recommended the place to them and said they would have a time they’d never forget. Claire was skeptical from the moment she heard of the place. All she could think of was the old west with cowboys smoking cigars, playing cards while the women waited on them hand and foot. Then the guys would slap their waitress’s asses as they handed them another beer. She was pleasantly surprised to see it was nothing like that.
                  The Saloon had been divided up into two sections. One part of the bar still had that old west type of feel, while the other looked more modern and up to date. Claire passed one man with a wolfish grin.
                  “Hey baby, let’s dance.”
                  Claire held back her laughter as the man drunkenly gyrated in front of her with his hands tucked behind his head. She didn’t exactly know how to get out of it without using one of her girlfriend’s as an excuse. She was on her own with no one to bail her out. Claire let a smile slip. She couldn’t contain her laughter anymore.
                  “Sorry, maybe later.”
                  Claire pushed passed the drunken fool and made her way to the bar. There were a lot more men there than women, but most of the bartenders were men too. One in particular caught her eye. He was tall and ruggedly handsome. His muscles bulged out of his tight black t-shirt as he poured the drinks.
                  Claire bit her bottom lip and sashayed up to the bar. The bartender couldn’t tear his eyes away from Claire’s toned body and low cut neckline.
                  “What’ll it be?”
                  “Pomegranate martini.”
                  The bartender’s attention was firmly on Claire. He lost focus while checking her out. His eyes never strayed far from her face or the top of her dress.
                  “Hey buddy,” one of the patrons from the other end of the bar shouted as his arm waved in the air. “I’ve been waiting five minutes. Can you fucking come take our order?”
                  The bartender slid the martini towards Claire. His dark eyes exuded warmth as they stared at her. She took a sip and nervously smiled. Another shout emanated behind her. She turned and saw the annoyed patron standing next to her.
                  “Excuse me sweetie,” he said as he edged his way between Claire and the man sitting next to her. “Look buddy, I know she’s hot, but I need a Bud Light, strawberry martini, a lime and two shots of tequila.”
                  The bartender slammed the shaker on the counter and poured the liquor into the silver cylinder. He forcefully shook it, no doubt wishing it was the asshole’s head, and drained the contents into a martini glass. He slid them along with the two beers to the man barking orders.
                  A twenty dollar bill was slammed on the bar in front of Claire. There was something about the man collecting his drinks that sent a chill down her spine. Her eyes gravitated towards him involuntarily.
                  “So, what’s a beautiful lady like you doing in a dump like this,” the bartender asked. Claire ignored him. Her eyes remained locked on the man carrying the beer and shot glasses.
                  “What? Oh, sorry,” she replied. Claire peeled her attention away from the man long enough to see the bartender was checking her out. The attention sent a warm sensation throughout her body. It was nice to feel wanted, but she was not ready for a hook-up, even if he was a gorgeous bartender.
                  Claire took a sip from her drink and glanced back at the man with the drinks. He rested everything on a