Encore Worthy: a Mountains & Men prequel novella (12 page)

“Beautiful?” he asks, pulling me from my thoughts.

“I’ll think about it,” I reply, for what feels like the tenth time today.

“I hope you do,” he says with a wink.

As I watch him leave, I think about my Saturday night plans and any attempts to shove Sage into the recesses of my mind are eradicated. It seems as if I can’t escape him. I increase the speed on my machine one more time, running for another fifteen minutes before I get off to head home.

THE NEXT TWO DAY
s fly by and without a word from Sage. Much to my chagrin, I find myself checking my phone repeatedly, only to realize that I’ve missed not a single call or text. Friday night, when I go to sleep, I rest my head on the pillow that holds the remnants of his scent, and I admit that I miss him. Not just the way he owns my body and the pleasure he all but demands, but the way he pulls me into his arms and holds me before we fall asleep. I miss his smirk and the confidence that shines in his icy blue eyes.

I’m a fucking man who knows exactly what he wants.

I’ve told him
no
so many times that I can’t be surprised by his silence. Nevertheless, I can’t help but wonder if he’s given up already. His sudden disappearing act has my entire body wondering if I’ll ever feel his touch again. He wanted me and I said I didn’t want the same thing. I’m beginning to see that that was a lie. In spite of all the reasons that tell me he’s a bad idea, I have to admit that he was right. I want him, too.

KEEPING MY COOL
and avoiding my phone has me going fucking insane. I haven’t stopped thinking about Millicent since the moment I hung up on her Wednesday afternoon. It was then that I decided that the only way to prove to her stubborn ass that she wants me was to pull away. I remember the look in her eyes when she opened the door and saw me Tuesday night. ‘
Shit. I can’t
stop,’ she said after she threw herself into my arms. I made her come again and again and again. And when I was done, she let me pull her into my arms and hold her all night.

Chasing after her is a fucking shit show. It’s so damn obvious that she wants me and yet she won’t give in. So, I decided to change my tactics. I sure as hell hope it works. One more night, I just need one more night to convince her to go out with me. I know it. If she doesn’t come to The Wash tonight, I don’t know what will stop me from showing up at her doorstep as soon as our set is over. I miss her and I want her too much to deny it.

Saturday afternoon. Two o’clock. As soon as I get off work. That’s when my silence ends. I’ve been waiting all damn day for this.

Me:
Hey, gorgeous. Tonight. We go on at 10. I’ll see you?

I stare at my phone as I walk from Little Bird to my car. I wait as I put the top down and then decide that a few more minutes of silence won’t kill me. I need to take my fucking tampon out and get home. When I arrive, I see Rosy’s car in the drive. She’s sitting out on the front porch playing with Maestro. JJ and Maddox are on the lawn, throwing a frisbee back and forth.

“‘Sup, Sage?” Maddox asks with a nod. JJ waves and Rosy giggles as Maestro sprints towards me.

“Hey,” I mutter as a blanket greeting. I scoop up my dog and kiss the top of his head, arching my neck back when he tries to lick my face. “I love you, too, buddy, but you know how I feel about your tongue on my face. I’ve seen where it’s been. I like my junk, too, but damn.” When I sit beside Rosy, he wiggles out of my arms and I let him go.

“How was work?” Rosy asks, bumping her shoulder against mine. I shrug, trying hard not to think about my phone. It feels like it’s burning a hole in my pocket. “Did you do what you said you were going to do?”

“Yeah.”

“And? Has she replied? Is she coming?”

“I don’t know.”

She frowns and then throws her arm around me. My baby sis is pretty small in comparison to me, so her fingers barely reach across the width of my back.

“She won’t be the last girl to knock my big bro on his ass. You just need to keep your eyes open for the next—”

“I’m not going hunting tonight, sis.”

She opens her mouth to speak and then closes her lips as she stares at me contemplatively. A couple seconds go by and then she sucks in a breath and tries again. “I don’t get it, Sage. Don’t get
you.
We know how often
that
happens, so explain it to me. You’ve known her for a week. And I use the term
known
loosely. What is it about her that has you acting . . .”

“Like a fucking pussy?” I finish for her. “Go ahead, say it.”

“Okay, I will,” she says mockingly. “What is it about her that has you acting like a
fucking pussy?
”

“Don’t talk like that,” I state with a smirk.

“Ugh! Come on!” She moves her arm from around me and elbows me in the ribs. “I will not have you chasing after some snobby, stuck up, wench who doesn’t appreciate you and your awesomeness. You’ve bagged some pretty questionable girls in your day, all of which I overlook—with the exception of that Chelsea chick. I still have no idea what you were thinking when you took her home. I mean—gross. But this Millie woman? Just give me one reason why I should allow you to spend another night pining over her.”

“She’s like a song, Rosy. I’m just not done listening.”

I look over and watch as her expression softens. She then kisses my cheek and rests her head on my shoulder, hugging my arm. “That’s it. I’ve got to meet her. She’s turning my brother into a big ole sap and I
love
it. She better come tonight. That’s all I’m saying.”

Just then, my phone buzzes in my pocket. We both jump before I reach to pull it out. When Rosy squeals and squeezes my arm, I know she’s peeked and read my new message. I don’t mind, though. It’s good news.

Millie:
I’ll see you.

Game on, baby doll.

I CHANGE MY OUTFIT
three times. It’s stupid, I know, but I feel like wearing something bold and sexy and it takes me three attempts before I’m satisfied. I decide on a plunging neck, navy blue, drawstring dress. The material is light and drapes comfortably over my body, the hem cut high on my thigh. The spaghetti straps criss-cross over my back and the drawstring around the middle is pulled tight, accentuating my waist. With my back and my shoulders bare, my lack of bra is what makes this dress daring, my minimal cleavage on full display. My hair is pulled into a loosely knotted bun at the nape of my neck, drawing even more attention to the crazy amount of skin I’m showing. I finish the ensemble with a pair of yellow stiletto pumps and my hot pink envelop clutch.

I arrive at The Wash Bar a little after nine. There’s a crazy line to get in and I know that inside will be packed. Sage told me earlier that there was going to be a cover charge but that he would make sure my name was on some list. His text instructed me to bypass the line and give the bouncer my name. It’s exactly what I do and I’m allowed in with no fuss.

This place is at least twice the size of The Brew Cycle and buzzing with energy and activity. It’s quite apparent that school is back in session and the students that fill this college town are back and ready to party. There’s a band on stage, in the middle of their set, and a mob of people on the dance floor. The bar is busy, filled with patrons waiting to put in their drink order, and I wonder how I’ll ever find Sage. With less than forty minutes before Mountains & Men take the stage, I decide to wait in line for a drink and worry about finding him after he’s performed.

Fifteen minutes later, my gin and tonic in hand, I’m standing on the outskirts of the dance floor, watching the performing band. I’m startled when a pair of hands take hold of my waist and pull me back against the body behind me.

“You made it,” he whispers in my ear. I jump, spinning around to find
Hercules, the selfie guy
from the gym, smiling at me. “I think I was supposed to buy you that drink, though.”

“Don’t mention it, it’s fine,” I say, lifting my glass before taking a sip.

“You look hot as shit, beautiful,” he says, taking a step toward me, his hands finding my waist once more. I can tell that he’s already had a few drinks and I wonder how hard it’ll be to shake him. I totally forgot he was going to be here.

“Look, I’m kind of—”

“Hey, I can’t stay, I go on in a few minutes and the guys’ll bitch if I don’t meet up with them soon. But don’t leave, sexy. I’m buying you that drink, later.”

Before I can register all that he’s saying, he leans in and kisses my neck. I recoil, but he doesn’t notice; then I watch him wade through the crowd until I lose him in the darkness.

OUR NINETY MINUTE
set is sick as shit. By the time we take the stage, the venue is
packed.
Knowing Millie is somewhere out there, lost in the crowd, only fuels the adrenaline coursing through my veins. Quite a few of our local fans are in the audience and we have them singing their asses off during our crowd favorites. The guys and I are tight, our sound even better than our last rehearsal. I swear, I don’t remember the last time I had so much fun performing.