Starting Fires by Makenzie Smith Read Free Book Online Page A

squatted to loosen them. I searched for a top. I knew that I needed to be comfortable, otherwise, my nerves would be even worse. I grabbed a black tank, and a pair of hot pink pumps that sucked in the comfort category, but made my legs look longer and miraculously thinner. Quickly, I ran into the bathroom and applied minimal makeup. Once finished, I rushed down the stairs, nearly tripping in my heels, but recovered as I walked into the living room.
    Wally and Charles were waiting in the foyer. As I walked out the door, one of them smacked me hard on the ass, and I glared over my shoulder. Wally shrugged and pointed in Charles’ direction. “Yeah, right,” I mumbled.
     
    From the outside, Burns looked like a run-down warehouse. Inside, it was anything but. To my left were pool tables. To my right was a bar that ran half the length of the wall. On the other side of it was a door that read employees only. In the middle of the room were a large number of tables, many already full. An open space was directly in front of the stage that looked like a dance floor. Some people were already utilizing it, and I couldn’t help but chuckle as I watched an older woman saddle up to a young guy, grinding her behind against him.
    Wally disappeared and Charles draped his arm around my shoulders. “Welcome to our home, Bird,” he said and began leading me through the crowd. Burns seemed like a friendly neighborhood bar—a place that I would’ve enjoyed even if I’d discovered it on my own. We approached a table, and I saw Wally out on the dance floor with that same older woman, showing her the time of her life. “I’ll go get us some beers,” Charles told me as I sat.
    While I waited, I had the feeling that I was being watched and discreetly searched for the culprit. Leaning up against the bar was a man with dark, spiky hair. He was wearing a tight, black t-shirt and jeans that hung low enough on his hips that I could see his white boxers. He took a drag off his cigarette and smiled at me. Reactively, I politely smiled back, but looked away thinking he might get the wrong idea.
    In my peripheral, I saw him leave the bar and walk towards me. “I’ve never seen you here before,” he said when he approached. He wasn’t a bad looking guy. I’d even say he was attractive. Up close, I could tell that he was wearing either mascara or black eyeliner and had gauges in his ears. He was a little heavy around the middle, but attractive nonetheless. Still, I didn’t like the way he was staring at me. The sexual gleam in his eyes made me feel uncomfortable.
    “It’s my first time,” I said and looked around him for Charles. “I’m here to see the band.”
    “Really,” he smirked then, without an invitation, sat down at the table. “What’s your name?” he asked, leaning into me.
    “Uh.” For some reason I wasn’t sure if I wanted him to know it, but I didn’t want to come across as a bitch, so I told him anyway. “Marlowe.”
    “Marlowe,” he drew out and smiled in a way that I’m sure he thought was super sexy. It wasn’t a bad smile. As I said, he was attractive, but from the way his eyes kept darting to my cleavage, I got the impression that he was only after one thing.
    “I’m Fontenot. If you like music, I play a little, too.”
    “Are you any good?” As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted them. I’d said them with a courteous smile, but he probably thought I was being flirtatious.
    Fontenot leaned in further and whispered, “Oh, I’m very good.” Yikes. I was about to excuse myself when I felt a hand at my shoulder. Lucas was standing behind me with two bottles of beer. He sat down in the chair to my left, scooting it close to mine. Once he settled in, he placed a beer in front of me and draped his arm along the back of my chair.
    “Fontenot,” he said before taking a swig from his bottle.
    “Hey, Lucas,” Fontenot replied, glancing at the arm around me. He laughed without humor and stood.