Whatever's On Tap Read online

  Whatever’s on Tap Copyright @ Mandy L Woodall 2021

  Woodall Publishing

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and incidents are from the author’s mind and should not be viewed as real. If anything resembles actual events, places, people, dead or alive, or organizations are purely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission except brief quotes written in critical articles or reviews.

  Cover design by: Amy Hart

  Edited by: Maria Vickers

  Formatted by: Wild Heart Formatting

  Table of Contents

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Introduction

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Connect with me

  Books by Mandy L Woodall

  Dedication

  This book goes out to my BFF, Meagan. She has been by my side for more years than I care to say out loud. Each and every time we manage to hang out, there is a funny story to tell and laugh at. Apparently, her son is scared every time she can’t find her debit card because of that one time where the conveyor belt at the grocery store ate her card. That story was too good to let it sit there. It needed to be shared, and shared it was. I love you, chica and always will.

  Introduction

  Evyn

  Sometimes, things don’t work the way anyone plans. Sometimes, the people you rely on the most, leave you flailing and floundering, unable to find your footing. Evyn learned this lesson the hard way and is determined to never make the same mistakes again. In the past, her trust was broken, and it forced her to find her own way. But now, he makes her question her own convictions, tempting her to do exactly what she said she would never do again.

  When someone threatens her, will she trust him enough to protect her?

  Jaxson

  Life is a series of ups and downs with a few turnabouts thrown in to make it interesting. Jaxson is no stranger to the harsh realities of the world, but he has also found a few adventures along the way. On his own for a long time, he enjoys being a bartender. Talking to people has always come easy for him, especially women...except for her. He no longer wants whatever’s on tap, craving just her.

  With her safety and security in jeopardy, he is determined to shield and defend her, but will she have enough faith in him?

  Chapter One

  Evyn

  “Aaaah,” I squealed embarrassingly loud when I came in contact with something hard, like really hard, brick wall hard.

  “Whoa,” that voice said. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah,” I rasped, air slowly filling my lungs after the collision.

  “Evyn,” he whispered, hands cupping my shoulder.

  His soft, husky, soothing voice called my eyes up to his. Ocean blue glittered with worry and intensity. Short lines formed in between his dark eyebrows that were so perfect they looked well maintained as masculinity shown through his sharp cheekbones and strong jawline.

  Having no idea of why I did it, I studied his eyebrows, but I had shock and surprise going against me. My mind was away in a different place of what I called life. Bailey already looked at me like I was going to crack, which was bad enough, but then I had Jaxson in my face, as though he could see straight into my soul.

  I was able to throw off Bailey because she had enough things to worry about. Bailey Scott recently started seeing a guy named Ryker, and from what I’d observed, it was pretty intense and long-lasting, which thrilled me. She deserved all the happiness in the world, and if I were a better person, I would celebrate with her, show her how amazing her life would be with Ryker in it, but I wasn’t a better person. I couldn’t get out of my own damn head long enough to do anything except survive each day as it came.

  Jostled slightly, I was brought out of my reflections. “Evyn,” Jaxson snapped, his hands gripping my shoulders.

  “I’m fine,” my response was automatic and reflexive.

  After spending each day, minute, and second convincing myself that I was fine, it had become second nature to convince everyone around me of the same. Considering I’d been around Jaxson for months, this strategy did not work with him. He saw through my bullshit and usually called me out on it. Luckily, he didn’t get the chance to question me. Although I would have preferred it not to be a beautiful, petite, blonde with her breasts popping out the top of her tight shirt to be the interruption, my shoulders slumped with relief.

  “Hey, Jaxson,” Ms. Perky Boobs, as I now called her, said giddily.

  Adding a giggle at the end, she twirled her hair around her finger. Barely containing my eye roll, I gave Jaxson a weak smile and darted away.

  My face was a shit liar, always had been, and, more than likely, always would be. The front I put on around others didn’t actually fool anyone. My eyes gave me away every time. I avoided eye contact after I’d been told many times that my emotions reflected in my blue sapphire-colored orbs. Now, over the phone? I could fool anyone. My tone, inflection, and pitch of my voice were on point. God knows I had to hone that skill to make it out alive through a call with my mother. Anyway, being aware that face-to-face convincing was a no-go didn’t stop me from trying.

  By this point, it was a compulsion, a driving need to be okay…I had to be. Bailey cast a concerned gaze at me before bustling away. Not knowing her full story, I recognized the demons in her eyes. It didn’t make me happy, but I was relieved her mind wasn’t on interrogating me.

  Pushing everything else out of my brain, I focused on my tables and got to work. Luckily, Jaxson was busy and didn’t have a chance to corner me. Grateful for the bustling crowd on the floor, I worked on autopilot without worrying about Jaxson, Ms. Perky Boobs, or my problems.

  The time passed rather quickly, and soon, it was time to go. Clocking out without looking toward the bar area, I walked out the door. Jealousy had no room in my life as it was, especially over a co-worker I would never have.

  Going home alone wasn’t much fun, but it beat staying around Jaxson any longer than necessary. He heated my blood and made me pant for him. Luckily, all this has been done silently, locked up in my head. I had enough problems. I couldn’t take on anymore, although Jaxson would be a satisfying problem to have. No doubt about that. He oozed sex and testosterone.

  Ugh!!!

  It seemed any thought I had these days depressed me more than I already was. Idly, I wondered if it would ever end. It was doubtful considering the people working against me, but I held onto the hope for a healthy life in the near future.

  Climbing into my old beat-up Galant, I wasted no time in exiting the parking lot. I didn’t want to see Jaxson at that moment, nor did I want to contemplate what he was doing with Ms. P
erky Boobs.

  Ugh.

  I shouldn’t even care. Maybe it was time to move on, find a new city to settle in for a while. Staying in Houma longer than anywhere else, I’d formed bonds I knew I shouldn’t have. It was hard keeping a distance from these people.

  They drew you in and made you want to be a part of their world. Being close to people never occurred to me until I met this group. Sure, I was friendly with each person I met along the way, but my co-workers had a way about them that had me wishing I could confide in them.

  Of course, I continued holding back. Fear of rejection and disbelieving looks kept my secrets locked up tight. I had already experienced someone I knew my entire life not believing what I had to say, and I wouldn’t do it again.

  Snapping out of my thoughts, I realized I’d parked in the spot in front of my townhouse without any memory of driving home. That wasn’t good, not at all. I should be aware of my surroundings at all times. Just another reason I had to let Jaxson go.

  Yeah, we worked together and had to see each other almost daily, but I had to build a wall of concrete around myself in order to keep him out. I’d think about where to go next when my head wasn’t a foggy mess.

  There was no need to decide right at this moment, and mistakes happened when I wasn’t thinking clearly. I had to be selective of where my next stop would be. Weighing the pros and cons of a new location took time and energy I didn’t have in me.

  Pain slashed through my chest, and a weight settled in my gut at the thought of leaving. Tears pricked my eyes as sadness invaded. I didn’t want to leave. I had finally found a place I felt good about calling home. I had connections to people that I didn’t want to sever.

  I often wondered what I did to deserve this type of life but realized there was nothing. I did nothing that forced me to run from city to city, place to place, job to job. This way of surviving was just my cross to bear because of the one who gave birth to me.

  For as long as I could remember, my mother had been obsessed with finding a man to take care of her, but she always failed at keeping one. My father left as soon as she peed on the stick to discover she was pregnant with me, or that was what she told me.

  I had no idea what the truth was. My mother liked to embellish and exaggerate stories to fit her needs. It was, more than likely, my father had no idea about me and left her ass. She was needy and clingy, demanding attention constantly. She was also a manipulative, conniving witch of a woman.

  Then, I felt like a bitch for even thinking about my mother that way, but I couldn’t think of any other way to describe her after experiencing what I did with her. Sure, it wasn’t always bad, but the good was buried deep.

  Fuck this shit!

  Forcing my mother and my sad, pitiful upbringing out of my mind, I stripped off my work uniform of a polo, shorts, and socks that went up to my knees. Stepping under the spray, I didn’t wait for the water to heat up.

  The cold water shook all thoughts out of my head as I was hoping it would. Goosebumps pebbled my skin, and my teeth chattered. By the time the water heated, my mind had cleared, and I could breathe again.

  It seemed thoughts of the past were crowding me more and more lately. I wished I knew what the trigger was because I would stop whatever it was immediately. Shit never ended well when I reflected on what happened and hoped for a different outcome.

  Life was what it was. No use harping on shit which couldn’t be changed, and no matter how much I craved peace, I wouldn’t get it.

  Blah, blah, blah. Whomp, whomp, whomp.

  Great, now I sounded like a whiny little bitch who needed to get over herself. Having enough of the pity party, I relaxed into the water, allowing the warm spray to soothe me. Letting my head fall forward, I groaned out loud as the tension slowly seeped out of my neck.

  Maybe, one day, I would have the peace I was searching for, but I had to live in the moment. Tomorrow was never promised, and I never knew what was coming next. I knew that fact better than most, and I would always remember that lesson.

  Being caught off guard and not being able to get me out of the situation was fucking scary. Desperately craving to know how to protect myself, I took self-defense at the local gym, Heavy Bags. Heavy Bags was owned and run by the Landrys. Ryker, Bailey’s boyfriend, helped manage it while one of his other brothers, Ryder, trained a few fighters. There were six kids in their family, and they were all super close. I’d met all of them at some point since I’d been here, and I was still in awe.

  The love and care they had for each other was something to be envious of, but I couldn’t. They were good people who were real and authentic. Not having experience with honesty, I didn’t know how to process the sincerity oozing from these people. I wondered how it felt to have people behind you, holding you up with support and deep-rooted love.

  Must be nice.

  Since I wasn’t a jealous person, I squashed those thoughts as soon as they popped up. It seemed feeling sorry for myself was the theme these days. I couldn’t pinpoint when it started, but I blamed Jaxson and didn’t care if that was unfair.

  Okay, that was a lie. I didn’t want to blame Jaxson, but it was easier to blame him rather than myself. There was not another place I’d ever settled long enough to yearn for things I couldn’t have. Sure, I thought about being free to live my life, but nothing further than that. I never dreamed of meeting a hot guy to get serious with. I didn’t wish for a family I could count on. I accepted shit the way it was and kept moving forward.

  Or so I thought.

  Jaxson made me question everything I’d previously disregarded. Watching my mother’s obsession with being taken care of, I strived to be independent and in control of my happiness. I got the independent part down. Working and saving money whenever possible, I could provide for myself, but I struggled to manage my joy.

  Just another reason my circumstances pissed me off, but I’d made a vow to myself that I would not rely on a man for anything. It only ended in heartbreak and nowhere to turn.

  Throwing on an oversized T-shirt and panties, I climbed into bed and burrowed under the mountain of pillows I had. Holding the pillows close, I didn’t feel so entirely alone in this world. They gave me comfort on my worst days and stability on my good days. With the depressing thought of only having pillows to hold and care for me, I drifted off to sleep, hoping tomorrow would be a better day.

  Chapter Two

  Jasxon

  I could not wait until my shift ended. Usually, I enjoyed my job. Left Turners was a laid-back, secure, and comfortable place to work. The owner, my boss, inherited the bar and grill when his parents, the original owners, retired, bought an RV, and started traveling.

  But my hands itched to touch Evyn’s silky-smooth skin, my mouth watered to taste her, and my dick ached for me to take her. She was mine and would always be mine. Convincing her would be a challenge, but I looked forward to it.

  When she first started working at Left Turners, I wanted to get in her pants in the worst way, but it became more. Realizing rather quickly that there was a depth to Evyn, I changed my approach immediately. I became her friend. It was the weirdest thing. I wasn’t friends with women, especially the ones I saw naked, but Evyn was a game-changer for me.

  Bailey still gave me warnings and threw glares my way anytime I was near Evyn, but I dealt with it. Bailey labeled me a player, which was accurate as fuck before Evyn. I hadn’t hooked up with anyone in a long damn time, though. Come to think of it, I hadn’t touched a female since I met Evyn.

  Damn!

  That was a hell of a realization. That right there showed how much she meant to me. Of course, no one was aware of my celibacy, but I knew, and it said everything.

  Life has been one obstacle after another with no end in sight until her. She was my end game. I knew it to the depths of my soul.

  “What’s up, bro?” Ross called, making his way be
hind the bar.

  “Not much, man,” I answered, shaking off my thoughts.

  “You’ve been busy?” he inquired.

  “Nah, not really.” I carelessly shrugged as I took note of the things I needed to refill before my shift ended.

  I had never been so eager for a shift to end as I was that night. It had been hours since Evyn ran out of here, and it bugged the absolute shit out of me. Why I let her get to me the way she did, I had no damn clue, but it was unstoppable.

  “Who’s the chick?” Ross asked.

  “What chick?” I countered distractedly.

  Running my gaze over the bottles, I checked to see if any of those needed replacing before I left. Ross was my relief, and I was glad to see him. Evyn had run from me again, and I had to find her. Chasing her could be fun, but I was about tired of it. We needed to get a few things straight.

  The main thing was for her not to disappear from me ever.

  “Damn.” Ross whistled through his teeth. “That chick is giving you some serious fuck me eyes.”

  I grunted without turning around or stopping my inventory check. There was no point. My mind was stuck on a doe-eyed girl who ran from me a couple of hours ago. My body only heated for her curvy body.

  “What chick?” I asked distractedly.

  “The one who keeps eyeing you like she wants a bite,” Ross said with humor coloring his tone.

  Not bothering to look at who he was talking about, I stated, “Not interested.”

  No one else would do. Besides, I knew precisely who Ross was talking about. Subtle, she was not.

  It had seriously pissed me off when she’d interrupted Evyn’s and my conversation, and now Evyn was gone. I could see the lie in her eyes and wanted to push for the truth, but she took advantage of the interruption and bolted, though not before I saw the hurt and jealousy on her face.

  “You can’t lie to me. That chick’s a hot little piece,” Ross commented disbelievingly.