(Love) Contract

Zack’s POV

I watched the scene for a little while and then I got up and walked to the back and sat down on one of the empty tables, waiting for Alessia to return.
It took her a little over 5 minutes to make her way from each and every table over to mine.
She smiled at me like at all the other customers, she pushed her curly brown hair to one shoulder, and I saw her pierced ear. I liked that, haven’t noticed that before, does she hide more of these piercings, or maybe some tattoos? I would find out later…

“Hey handsome, what can I get you?” She asked, not really looking at me.
“Hey… another beer and your name and phone number.” I grinned back and she shook her head, looking up to me “Beer, yes. They call me Less it’s my nickname, but phone number, sorry buddy, I don’t give my number to everyone.”
I frowned, okay… “Why do they call you Less, you rather look like ‘I want more’?!”
She looked at me again, one eyebrow lifted “Is that all you got?” With that she turned around and went to the next table.
“Hey handsome, what can I get you…” Her voice trailed off and I frowned even more.
Damn it, playing hard to get, huh?!
But I wouldn’t give up that easily…

The next time she came around I tried a different approach. “Alessia?” I asked sweetly.
“Yes?” She looked at me still the same smile, like for everyone, I could see that this was the ‘working- smile’, but not the really ‘I am happy that it’s you- smile’.
“Can I buy you a drink? Is that allowed?” I asked her and she frowned a little, I must have caught her off guard.
“From where do you know my name? And sorry, but I am only allowed to drink, when I am off shift.”
“I got my connections. Alright, so when ends your shift, so I can buy you a drink?” I asked her and she chuckled.
“Not giving up that easily, are you?” She smiled, and this time for real.
“Nope, so better give in to me.”
“Sorry Zacky, but I am new, so I got the late shift with closing the bar.” So she knew who I am, nice… or well not so nice, since she didn’t react to it in the least…
“Perfect, because I will be your last customer” I smiled and motioned for another beer.

Tara’s POV

The next morning was there way too soon. I didn’t feel prepared at all. I didn’t know how to react, why was I so nervous now?
Brian had surprised me with the kiss yesterday, and I knew he wanted to show off, but still he was kind of sweet about it. He didn’t force anything on me, and it really was just a meeting of lips, I had felt his tongue on my lips, wanting me to grant him entrance, which I refused… for now.

“You got everything?” Cara looked at me, all dressed up for work.
“Yeah, I guess so.” I looked around, scanning everything for my belongings.
“You want some of my clothes to take a long? You know I can spare you some?”
“Really? I mean.. just maybe a little bit… and why are you all dressed up? It’s weekend!” I frowned and she looked at her phone.
“I know, but I got a telephone conference in 30 minutes, couldn’t say no… again. So, just pick some things out and we will talk later. Your “boyfriend” will be here in a few minutes, but I need to go now. Call me later and tell me about your new home.” Cara smiled and I nodded.
“Thank you.”
“No problem, have fun… or well not too much fun, would be better right? Oh and did you call Tony?” I nodded at her.“Yeah, thanks and I did, we agreed on meeting later today, I will go over there with Brian or Matt or both of them… I don’t know, I have to talk to them about it...”
“Sounds good, do that.” Cara walked towards the door and when she opened Matt stood there already, his hand lifted to knock on the door.
“Hey Matt, nice to see you, I need to hurry. Tara is in the living room, bye.” With that Cara went past him and left him there standing…

He took a hesitant step forward and looked a little helpless around. “I’m here.”
He finally walked in and closed the door, I frowned.
Where was Brian? Shouldn’t he be the one picking me up?
“Are you alone?” I asked when Matt stood only a couple of feet away.
“Brian asked me to pick you up.” Matt looked uncomfortable and I bet I was the reason for it, I and the situation we got into during the flight… during both flights.
“Oh…” I picked up my bag and set it on the couch.
“I need to get my bag from the bathroom, then I am done and we can go.” I looked away from him and made a step forward, when he grabbed my arm. I didn’t even hear him move, his hand was hot and so large, his fingers wrapped easily around my wrist.
“Wait.” His deep voice made me shiver.
“Okay…” I said hesitantly and waited for him to say more but he just stared at me and normally I would have looked away, but somehow I couldn’t bring myself to not take in that handsome face of his.
“I’m sorry.” He finally said and I frowned.
“Sorry for?” My brain wasn’t working at the moment.
“For yesterday. I never meant to embarrass you. I wanted to apologize.” Matt said again and my eyes were glued to his lips.

While my brain was trying to figure out what he was talking about right now… the comment with the two cars. That could be it…
I felt my cheeks getting hot again and I tried to look away from him, succeeding this time.
“Don’t worry. No harm done… You don’t have to apologize.” I shook my head and quickly moved my arm away from him and went to the bathroom getting my bag with the cosmetic articles and toothbrush.
When I walked back I saw Matt sitting on the couch, next to my bag.
“Would you sit down with me for a second?” Matt looked up to me and I nodded.
I set my small bag down to the other one and slowly walked over to him and sat down, looking at him from the side, but when he looked up I quickly averted my eyes.

“Listen Tara, I don’t want you to think I wanted to make fun of you or embarrass you. I didn’t know you had such a hard time… Brian told me about the thing with the dress, when we went to dinner in Las Vegas, why didn’t you come to me?”
Oh god, this was going even worse now… why did Brian talk to him about this?
“He told you?” I cringed inwardly, would he think now that I was just a money grabbing bitch, who didn’t really care about the actual job?
“Yeah, because I didn’t know what I said wrong earlier… so he explained. But damn, Tara… I should have been your counterpart, I mean… shit… I don’t know what to think now…” Matt shook his head in frustration.
“If you think now that I wanted Brian to buy me the new dress, that’s wrong. I told him to excuse me from the whole dinner. I didn’t want him to buy me anything… And I don’t need to live in his house, I don’t wanna be a gold digger or something. If you think something like that from me, we can call this off right now. Yes, I don’t have many things, and yes I may be broke, I told Brian I just moved here and I have to start over new, but I don’t need you. If you don’t want my help, fine. I will do my bartender job and earn my money elsewhere and you can find someone else.” I was pissed, was he really thinking I would need them, sure I would love to earn that money, but I would have done it for less.
I like Brian and I had liked Matt, until now… does he want to show me that I was nothing that he could talk me down.
I was down on the ground for way too long, it was enough. I would be sad not seeing them again, but I also wouldn’t work with someone who thought even less of me.
No way!

Notes

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