Beneath the Surface
For several nights after that day at her apartment, Ash was waiting for her after work every night. They would head back to her apartment and talk the whole night. Ash would share stories of his life, and Tessa would just listen. Sometimes she would fall asleep listening to the cadence of his voice.
In the early morning hours of dawn, just before the sun crested the horizon, Ash would take his leave. He never stayed the night. Tessa never pried, but she always felt a bit heartbroken when he left. They were growing closer, and the attachment was getting stronger.
"Hey hon, do you mind getting some more beers from the cellar? We're running low."
Tessa looked up at Nancy as she was placing some glasses into the wash. The bar was busy—apparently, there was some kind of convention going on at the university. She wasn’t sure what kind of convention, but she was glad for the business. The tips she had been getting were great, though her feet had plenty to complain about.
"Sure. Coming right up, boss."
She tossed the dish towel on the counter and headed toward the side hall near the bathrooms. She managed to wedge the door open slightly so customers going to the bathroom wouldn't crash into it. Locating the beers, she dragged two full crates to the bottom of the stairs.
On her way up, she missed a step and went flying out the door—beer crate and all. She braced for impact and pictured the broken bottles in her head, but the impact never came. Instead, she felt strong arms wrap around her and break her fall.
She peeked through her closed eyes and noticed a man had saved her. He placed her back on her feet and smiled.
"Are you okay, ma’am? Hope you didn’t hurt yourself?"
He looked her up and down, searching for visible injuries. Tessa felt like she had seen this man before, but she couldn’t place him.
"Thank you for helping me. That would've been a nasty spill. Stop by the bar—your next drink is on me."
She carried the beers back behind the bar and turned to look at him one more time before hurrying back. A short while later, she heard his voice again.
"Does the offer still stand?"
She smiled and gestured for him to have a seat. He was attractive; his rugged look suited him well. His leather jacket looked like it could tell stories, worn but still classy. His shirt was open at the top, exposing a bit of his chest and throat.
She poured him a pint and placed it in front of him.
"Thank you for saving me earlier. My name’s Tessa."
He smiled and extended his hand.
"Wyatt, at your service."
During a slow moment, Tessa walked over to stand near Wyatt.
"Sorry. It’s a busy night—some sort of convention going on at the university."
She refilled the caddy of precut fruit for garnishes while they talked.
"A convention about the supernatural—that’s what’s going on at the university."
She froze mid-action, her mind racing.
"Supernatural? Like ghosts and witches type stuff?"
Her thoughts turned to Ash. Could Wyatt be a hunter? Who else would attend a convention like that?
"Vampires, werewolves, and so much more," Wyatt said, smiling as his dimple flashed.
"Seriously? People actually believe in that stuff?"
"Of course. There’s a big underground world of supernaturals and hunters. The convention has brought hunters both near and far to learn new techniques and see updated hunting tools, making our jobs a bit easier. And some of us are just here to listen to our superstar hunter speak at the convention."
Before Tessa could respond, the bell chimed, announcing a new arrival. She looked up and saw Jax walking toward her. She hadn’t seen him in almost two weeks. He looked the same except for the small beard he was growing.
"What is it? You look worried. Is everything okay?"
Tessa came around the bar and stood in front of Jax. She noticed the circles under his eyes from lack of sleep, the wrinkled clothes, the troubled expression. He reached out as if to grab her arm but stopped himself.
He looked around the room, searching for someone.
"We have to talk."