1. And I'll do exactly that

“You either keep your hands to yourself or find a knife driven through your flesh.” Emma gritted through her teeth as Alex gave her a crooked smile. 

It had been too long since the man was bothering her with flirtatious comments. And now, he crossed the line by placing his hand on her butt. Emma was not going to ignore his advances this time. She might be an employee here, but that didn’t mean she would go above and beyond to cater to her clients.

As she filled the tray with emptied glasses, he leaned toward her ear. “You wouldn’t dare, darling.”

She glared over her shoulder. “Keep talking and you’ll find out.” she said, and before she could round the corner and get behind the bar, she felt him yank her by her arm. 

Whirling her around, his fingers tightened on her skin, towering over her with menacing eyes. “Careful woman. You don’t want to push it.” 

“Let go of me, you brute!” 

“Give me a kiss and I will.” He said, leaning closer to her. 

Before his lips could reach hers, she felt a body come in between the both of them, standing so tall and muscular that he completely obstructed her view of Alex. He noticed that the stranger had managed to push him away, forcing him to let go of her arm at once. 

“You’d do well to keep your hands off of her.” A deep, masculine voice spoke. 

She watched as a stunned expression seized Alex’s face before fury arose within his eyes. “And who the hell do you think you are to interrupt us?” 

“Her boyfriend.” The stranger said, making her freeze.

Her eyes widened in surprise as she heard his words. Boyfriend? Who the hell was this man? 

As if answering her question, the stranger turned around, meeting her eyes with his own. A silent message relayed through his icy, brown eyes that instantly made her swallow whatever she was going to utter. He had a face she couldn’t recognise, but that didn’t keep her from staring at him. Despite the circumstance, she found herself appreciating his features, for she didn’t think she had seen a more handsome man in her life. Right then, she felt the weight of Alex’s eyes shift on her, expecting a response. 

“Y-yes.” She nodded, and watched instant relief in the stranger’s features. “Thank god you’re here. This man just wouldn’t leave me alone.”

To make their act more believable, she entwined her fingers with his, and Alex hadn’t failed to notice that. Groaning, he threw her an angry look. “Fuck this. You should’ve told me you were taken, woman.” 

“I doubt that would have stopped you.” The man spoke again, pulling her to stand beside him. “Now, get the fuck out of here.” 

She could only imagine how tiny she must have looked beside his mountain of a figure. He could easily be over six feet, being no match to her 5 foot 4 inch body. Needless to say, she felt safe by his side. As Alex stormed past them, she watched him take the exit behind her to get out of the club. It was only after he was out of her sight that she managed to release a sigh of relief, eyes flickering back to the man that saved the day. 

“Thank you so much for doing that.. Um.. ” She said as he came to stand before her. 

“Jamie.” He muttered, offering her his hand. 

As she placed her own hand in his, she couldn’t help but notice how his curious eyes ran over her face as though he was trying to solve a puzzle. 

“Jamie,” She echoed his name, “Thank you for your help.”

“I didn’t catch your name.” He said before he dropped his hand to his side, and she instantly found herself missing the warmth his palm offered. 

“Oh, I’m sorry.” She said, “I’m Emma.” 

“Emma.” He tried the sound of her name on his own lips. “Well, Emma, can I buy you a drink?” 

Emma found herself frowning at the man. Did she hear him right? Was he truly offering to buy her a drink? 

“Er.. I work here.” 

“Alright,” He nodded, before resting his forearms on the wooden table, leaning in. “Get me four shots of vodka.” 

She couldn’t help but give him a confused look. When he continued to regard her with nonchalance, she moved around the table and got behind the bar. Fully aware of his unwavering gaze on her, she quickly typed his order into the computer screen. “That will be 36 dollars.” 

Fishing out some notes from his wallet, he slid them across the bar toward her. “Keep the change.” 

She couldn’t help but scoff at his generosity. “Thank you, but no.”

Returning the change, she handed him the receipt. “Give me a minute.” 

She felt him watch her as she readied four shot glasses before pouring alcohol into him. Topping the lid with half a slice of lemon each, she pushed them toward him. “Enjoy your drinks.” 

Instead of letting her go, he summoned her attention as he pushed a glass toward her. “Here’s your drink.” 

For the first time since she met him, she felt a funny feeling in her chest. Was he interested in her? 

“I told you I’m at work.” 

“And?” 

“Well, I can’t get drunk while I’m on duty.” 

Jamie scoffed, “That’s one shot. That’s hardly enough to get you drunk.” He said, picking up his own glass. “Unless, you don’t handle alcohol well.” 

Emma narrowed her eyes.“I handle it just fine.” 

“Then go for it, what’s stopping you?” 

Now that he stepped on her pride, she knew she couldn’t back down. Moreover, he was indeed right. The poor man saved her from an asshole who was ready to harass her, she could definitely entertain him for a drink. 

“Fine.” She relented finally and went for her shot glass. Before she could bring it to her lips, she saw him hold his own glass forward, and she took the cue to clink hers against it. She gulped the alcohol in one go and felt the bitter liquid burn against the back of her throat. Squeezing the lemon into her mouth only provided her some relief. “Ah.” 

“There you go.” He smiled, “That wasn’t so hard.” 

She narrowed her eyes at him before she rested her own elbow on the bar counter. Leaning closer toward him, she fixed him with an assertive look. “I’m grateful for your help, Jamie, but if you think you can compel me to entertain you because of that, then you’re no better than the man you rescued me from.” 

“How is that exactly?” He asked, leaning closer to her so that their noses were mere inches apart “I’m not forcing myself on you, or keeping you here against your will. I’m merely trying to get to know you, and that’s hardly deemed inappropriate.” 

“I’m sure you have better things to do than get to know me.”

“At the moment, I don’t.” He said. 

“But I do.” She said, eyeing the exit door behind her. Before she could move towards it, Jamie’s hand reached across the counter to hold her arm. 

“Wait,” He said, and pushed a shot glass against her. “There’s another round.” 

Emma sighed as he eyed the remaining two vodka shots. Gulping the next shot down, she felt her head spin for a second. Placing the glass back on the counter, she caught him smiling at her. Right then, a question arose in her head, and she realized it was the perfect time to ask him. 

“Why did you lie to him?”

His thick brows came together in a frown. “What lie?”

“That you were my boyfriend.” 

He gave her a casual shrug, “I figured he would listen to me only if he was convinced I have some sort of authority over you.” 

“I find it hard to believe that your motives were entirely altruistic.” She said, “Since you’re so interested in getting to know me.” 

“I sure am.” He smiled, “Is that a problem?”  

“If you merely rescued me because you wanted my attention to yourself, then I’m not so grateful to you anymore.”

“I would have done that either way.” He assured her, “I’m not going to allow a random bloke to put a helpless woman like yourself under distress. Irrespective of the fact that I find the said woman strikingly attractive.”

Emma’s jaw dropped, as color rose to her cheeks. “Are you flirting with me?” 

In response, he gave her a dazzling smile. “Just speaking my mind,” He shrugged, “I just happen to have a taste for finer things in life.” 

Giving him a playful smile, she narrowed her eyes, “Flattery won’t help your chances, mister.” 

Right then, he caught her off-guard as he raised his hand to her face. Touching the top of her head, he drew his finger down, tucking a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. He grew dangerously close to her then, his breath fanning against her mouth. When his eyes momentarily fell to her lips, she ceased breathing. “Then tell me what will and I’ll do exactly that.”