Still Water Read Online Free Page A

thought, for a Thursday night. It was just barely eleven, and the place was crowded. The patrons lined the bar, filled the tables, and danced on the small dance floor in front of the stage. The live music was rich and packed the room with such an amazing vibe. The entertainment was a folk band from Denver, and their music was infectious. I couldn't help but nod my head to the beat and hum along.
    "Someone's got the music bug." The striking blue eyes of my co-worker twinkled as he appraised my little show.
    "Oh, I have it bad. When's open mic again, Jace?" Jace was the complete opposite of Todd. Where Todd was brooding and moody, Jace was light and fun. I liked Jace instantly, and it helped that he was easy on the eyes. Jace was tall and lean. He had muscle, but he seemed softer, like he earned those muscles hauling hay or working outside, and his clean cut air and smile could make any girl stop dead in her tracks. He was thirty years old, just a few years older than my twenty-seven, so I hoped we had lots in common.
    Jace pulled his fingers through his sandy brown hair and smiled down at me. "Tuesdays, before Lakeside Prophets goes on."
    "Lakeside Prophets?"
    "Todd's band… you didn't know?" Jace shook his head and smiled. "They're huge here in the indie circuit. Frank and Todd run the record label Blue Bar Music. Any of this ringing a bell?" He playfully tapped my head.
    "Nope, not a chime. I'm not from around here." That wasn't entirely accurate. I knew Frank. Jace looked at me with interest. My mind spun. Todd was in a band? He and Frank ran the label together ? This could put a kink in my plan. Before I could elaborate, a patron started running off a list of drinks for us to make. I ran through the ingredients for each drink in my head. Jace and I had a good rhythm, and we held our own. My experience back home helped.
    I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida, by my hippy dad. My dad was in a rock band in his younger years and toured the country. He met Pam, my mom, here in Utah, and they hit it off one night at a show. They had dinner the next night and nine months later a baby girl. My mom toured with the band and for a while things were great. Until my mom, who couldn't make a good choice to save her life, started sleeping with the drummer. Frank Nadine. Needless to say, the band broke up, friendships were severed, and years of hard work thrown down the drain all over a "dumb chick," as my dad used to say. The thought made my lips pull up into a grin.
    "Hey pretty lady; hows'bout yoos get me a Bud?" A short, sloppy-looking frat boy swayed and tried to wink at me. This was hysterical.
    "No way, dude. You're cut off." Jace's eyebrows pulled inward.
    "Fuck off!" The drunk guy stumbled a bit.
    "I know you're not talking to her like that, fuck stick." Todd's deep baritone rumbled from his chest. My eyes locked with his right before he grabbed the guy and tossed him away from the bar.
    I sighed. "Where did Todd come from?"
    "Oh, he's always around. He's been around a lot tonight, though. He's been watching you." Jace's eyes narrowed a bit as he watched Todd shove the drunken idiot out of the front doors.
    "He's probably making sure I know how to do my job," I said while scrubbing the pint glasses in the bar sink.
    Jace's deep laugh seemed to echo in the room. "I don't think so. I think someone's got a hard on for you." He winked.
    I balked. "Ew. Please don't ever say that again. I was warned about you."
    He snickered. "Oh yeah, how?"
    "I was told you were quite inappropriate when it came to talking about man parts." I couldn't help but laugh.
    "Damn straight! Dick, penis, wiener, coc—"
    "Stop right there!" I squealed. He waggled his eyebrows. "You're disgusting." I was laughing so hard I had to hold my belly to keep from doubling over.
    "He is a total sleazeball. Go take a break, Lily." Tiffany smirked and snapped Jace's firm butt with a towel.
    "I call sexual harassment," Jace hollered teasingly.
    "What? No such thing, you