And Then There Was Collection Read Online Jenika Snow

Categories Genre: Alpha Male Tags Authors: Jenika Snow Advertisement

Advertisement

I pulled out one of the bar stools and sat down, sliding the menu closer and repeating the specials tonight—something that the bar did food-wise on the weekends. It was mainly appetizers and snacks, finger foods that people could consume while they got drunk.

I sat like that for the next five minutes, but then there was this distinct feeling on the back of my neck, this tingling that had the hairs on my arms rising.

I was being watched.

I glanced up and looked around, not seeing anyone at first, but then I saw the object that had raised my awareness. Bishop stood against the doorframe that led to his office, his focus trained on me. He wore a baseball cap, the bill pulled down low so it partially obscured his eyes, a shadow casting over his dark-brown irises with those thick, long lashes that would make the entire female population green with envy.

He wore a light-gray T-shirt, the material stretched across his chest, light enough in color that I could make out the ridges of his six-pack. God… he’s a work of art. His arms were crossed, the muscles in his biceps bulging. I felt a rush of heat instantly consume me, and I shifted on the stool uncomfortably, this arousal not something I’d ever experienced before.

I hadn’t been in any kind of relationship with a man in years, something that wasn’t a priority in my life. My focus had been on going to school at first. And then once my father had gotten sick, that had been the only thing I focused on. Everything else had faded to the background.

So dating and anything that had to do with the opposite sex or my love life were put on hold.

And I couldn’t say I missed it. It wasn’t like I had a lot of experience in that department either—one moment in time, to be precise, so many, many years ago, when I was a teenager. I vowed after that to only give my heart and my body over to someone I cared deeply about. And it hadn’t been hard in the least to keep that vow.

Until I met Bishop.

My arousal and attraction for him stole my breath and made my heart jump into my throat. That’s what I felt with Bishop, which complicated everything, given my position and his.

I looked away quickly, focusing back on the menu. But I couldn’t pay attention, didn’t even know what I was reading, didn’t even care. I could still feel him watching me, an awareness that was almost like a sixth sense. It had tingles racing up and down my arms, and I felt my nipples harden painfully against my top.

I glanced down at my T-shirt, the one that had Lyrics embroidered in dark-green thread stitched in the upper left-hand corner. And sure enough, the peaks stabbed through the material. My face felt hot, and I quickly looked up, glancing around to make sure no one saw me looking at my breasts.

I felt that feeling of being watched subside and took a chance to look over at where Bishop had been standing. He was no longer there, and I exhaled, not feeling relief but still as if this weight had been dispersed. It was strange that he had this effect on me, but powerful nonetheless.

“I wonder why he bartends when he owns the place,” I murmured idly to myself.

“Because he’s a hands-on guy. I’m pretty sure he thinks no one can make the drinks as well as he can.”

I snapped my focus to where Pyper stood, cutting up limes and lemons.

“I hadn’t meant to say that out loud.” I gave her what I was pretty sure was the most awkward smile she’d ever seen, but she chuckled softly and shook her head in that way people did that meant it really was no big deal.

“I wondered the same thing when I started working here. Heck, if I owned a bar, working the floor would be the last thing I’d do. Although he works hard behind the scenes too.” She pointed to a sheet of paper that read in bold letters Nightly Drink Specials that was tacked to a corkboard behind the bar. “Every week he changes these. They are drinks he creates, and I swear that’s why half the customers come here—well, also for the kick-ass music and atmosphere.” She shrugged again and put the cut-up limes in a plastic container. “Everyone loves him. He’s real down to earth.”

I felt my face once again get hot as I remembered our last one-on-one interaction. He had been so easy to talk to, easy enough that I’d been totally honest on why I needed the job. Some places would have scoffed at my candor. I mean, they wanted to know you applied to their place because you just had to work there, right? But I felt so comfortable around Bishop that I’d just been honest. And he’d liked that. He looked so damn pleased with what I’d said, in fact.

Advertisement