Drink

Tucker wasn’t sure how keen he was on this drinking buddies thing. He had never been much of a social drinker, preferring to enjoy his liquor alone. But when Becky, a petite blonde waitress that worked with him at the pub, had asked him to go bar hopping with the gang after work, Tucker could hardly say no. Becky hadn’t left much room for argument. So now, while the others carried their drinks to the dance floor, thoroughly enjoying one another’s company; Tucker kept his distance , preferring to sit alone at the bar.

“Penny for your thoughts Music man?”

Tucker gave a small smile as Brick sat down next to him. The big man passed him another beer, his dark bulk a comforting presence at Tucker’s side.

“ It’s nothing,” Tucker mumbled, gazing into the amber surface of his beer, “I was just thinking that’s all”

“ Lots a things a man can think about while drinkin’ alone and not all of um are good, beau. Then again every man has his vices.”

Tucker snorted and took a deep swig of his Burbon.

“ You’re preaching to the choir, my friend.”

“Ya know Tucker West, I can’t quite figure you.”

Tucker turned to look Brick in the eye. The big man was leaning back against the bar and regarding Tucker with an unreadable smile.

“I’m not sure what you mean,” Tucker mumbled, turning away from the intense hazel eyes as a blush rose on his cheeks.

“ Well ya come off so fragile and light ta evrybody. But I can see ya got some steel under that milky skin a’ yours.”

Tucker gave a nervous laugh, trying to play it cool. The dark man’s ability to read other’s was unnerving, especially to those who tried to hide as hard as Tucker did.

“ Brick we’ve only been acquainted for a week. You don’t know anything about me.”

Brick smiled and turned, leaning against his elbows on the bar.

“ I’m a bar tender, beau, I make it my job to know all there is to know about a man in the first five minutes I meet him. But you, you’re somthin’ special. You’re a mystery to me Tucker West.”

Tucker stared into Brick’s hazel eyes, enthralled. He nearly jumped out of his skin when Brick’s big dark hand came up and brushed the fringy bangs from his eyes. He bent down so close to the Tucker’s ear

“And I always was a sucker for good mystery”

Tucker wasn’t sure if it was the warmth of the breath in the shell of his ear or the husky tone of the other man’s voice that sent a shiver down Tucker’s spine and cause a warm sensation in the pit of his stomach. Tucker felt the panic rise in his throat.

“ I-I have to get going,” he mumbled, ducking his head and pulling away from Brick’ s touch.

‘You gotta get the hell out of here Tuck. Don’t let yourself be pulled into this again…’ buzzed the voice in Tucker’s voice.

He was half way to the coat rack when Brick called out to him.

“Aww come on Music man, I meant no harm. Now come back here and let me by ya another drink,” he offered with an outstretched hand and an apologetic smile.

Tucker bit his lip. He knew he shouldn’t. It was best just to remove himself from the situation but…

“Alright, maybe just one more.”