Designed for you

Challenge Accepted

Mick looked at his watch and smiled to himself, he’d made good time and even had time for a drink with the boys before soundcheck. He headed over to the bar where his good mate and drummer John Williams was already perched with a beer in hand. As he drew up a chair and sat, the bar keep Mel caught his eye and he lifted one finger to indicate he was there to drink.

“Mate,” he nodded to John.

“Mick, mate. About time, I’ve had to chat up every girl in this bar,” he grinned, not sorry for the fact.

Mel brought his beer over and leaned on the bar exposing her cleavage, “Hey ya handsome.” She smiled provocatively. Mick maintained his focus solely on her eyes trying to avoid extending too much of an invitation to stay.

“Evening Mel.” He half turned and made a show of looking about the room and nodded towards the groups of people already seated at the table, “Nice turn out tonight.”

A sigh escaped her over glossed lips as she stood, “Sure is honey. Looks like most of the town have come to check out the new man in town, word sure gets around.” She pouted and he resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He was simply a novelty they would all get over with, but he guessed it couldn’t hurt to introduce himself and his services to a few out of towners while they were here.

Thankfully Mel got called away to serve some other customers and Mick nodded to an empty table not far from the bar, but far enough away from Mel’s company. He knew he was pretty blessed in the looks department but the girl was practically panting and seriously, where’s the fun of the chase? John got the clue and the men stood to make their moves. John pulled out his wallet to leave a few bills on the counter and almost knocked into Mick as he turned from the bar.

“Oi, what the -,” John started, then his eyes clasped onto what had stopped Mick in his tracks. Coming through the door of the pub was the most incredible creature either man had seen. With her waterfall of dark golden-brown hair cascading down her back and those bright open brown eyes; she had them captivated. The glow of the fluorescent above her head almost made her look like an illusion, but this was one mirage he didn’t want to disappear.

As she turned to follow her friends, who he recognised as Matt and Kadence; John was the first to break from her spell. “Mate,” John said coming up level to Mick, “that girl will be your kryptonite.”

Mick had no idea what John meant by that comment, but he wouldn’t be forgetting that behind in a hurry. What he wouldn’t give to wrap his hands around that denim clad behind and lift her up into his arms as they kiss passionately under the stars… kiss passionately under the stars? Where the hell had that rubbish come from! There was no place for ideas like that drifting through his head, in and out is the way he preferred things. A quick roll in the hay as the country folk like to say. But this woman whose hair tickled her back as she threw her head back laughing at something her friend had said, she was strictly off-limits. Matt’s family have been in this town for generations and the last thing he needs is to get that family offside.

His eyes drifted around the pub once more and couldn’t help the pang of jealousy that arose when he noticed all the men had their eyes on his candy. He couldn’t help the feeling of wanting to protect her, ok maybe it was more the fact if he couldn’t have her, none of these bozo’s could and he itched to go back to his car and drag out every set of handcuffs available.

To his surprise, he saw her heading towards him and tried to contain the goofy smile he could feel brimming. And yet, with a quick flick of her eyes and courteous smile of acknowledgement, she continued past him to the bar. Shock held him rooted until John gave him a little shove back towards the bar. “Now’s your chance mate, looks like Mel isn’t going to serve her. I’ll head back and get the sound check started”

Mick quickly downed the rest of his beer and sauntered his way up beside her. Mel registered his presence, frowned a look towards the vision that stood beside him and put the beer glass she was cleaning down to serve him.

Mel once again draped her bosoms over the countertop towards him, positioned to cut the woman beside him out of her sight. “Another beer, babe?” she tinkled, suggestively sliding her hand up and down his glass, but not before flicking an annoyed glance towards the other woman.

“Thanks Mel, but make that 2 beers and,” he let his eyes drink in her perfection before deciding, “2 glasses of white please.” He threw Mel his best smile and she practically melted before heading off to get his order.

The woman beside him scoffed, “Looks like you’ve got an admirer.” She glanced at him turning her back on the bar and throwing him an almost devilish smile.

Mick thought he was going to lose the ability of speech just from looking at it. “Looks like you don’t.” he grinned back just as wickedly. “I take it you’ve met before.”

“We may have crossed paths.” Amanda shrugged her shoulders. Like she cared what that little miss thinks, so long as she doesn’t spit in her drink.

Mick saw her gaze drift to where John and the band were setting up and took the opportunity for more conversation. “Do you like country music? Bit of local talent playing tonight.” he nodded towards the stage.

“Depends,” she replied, her eyes resting on him, “Are they any good?”

“It’ll blow your mind,” he answered not taking his eyes from hers. He was suddenly wondering if they were even still talking about the music, but he didn’t care so long as she kept looking at him with mischief in her eyes.

“That’s what they all say.” With that she turned as the drinks arrived. He reached out and held the glass of wine out to her with a beer in the other hand.

“Nice try, sunshine.” She smiled as she reached around and took the beer from his hand, taking a pull from the bottle. “Enjoy your wine.” She tapped the beer bottle against the glass in his hand then sauntered off to the table where Matt and Kadence were already surrounded by a gaggle of women wanting the latest wedding gossip. Amanda didn’t need to bother taking a look back over her shoulder, she could feel he was still standing there at the bar, with his eyes locked on her.

Amanda 1 – Hot guy 0.

It wasn’t long after she sat down, she heard a familiar voice rumble through the microphone, announcing the name of the band and welcoming the crowd to their first gig. She whipped around in her seat in time to find him staring at her and with that satisfied wink of his eye she had to conceded; he’d actually surprised her.

Amanda 1 – Hot guy 1.

But if it was a challenge he was after, he certainly picked the wrong woman to go up against.

She settled back in her seat and his smooth voice drifted through her like a gentle ocean wave. She slipped in and out of the conversations around the table as she found herself enjoying not just the atmosphere but the dulcet tones of mister tall dark and handsome up on the stage.

A yawn escaped Amanda and she hoped mister hot guy on stage thought she found his music boring not soothing. There was just something about his confident manner that got under her skin.

“I’m ready to go when you are Mandy, just say the word.” Kadence sidled up to her.

“Sorry, I guess I’m more tired than I thought.” She stifled another yawn.

“I just have to duck to the ladies,” Kadence rose.

“I’ll go warm up the car for you ladies and meet you out the front,” Matt smacked a kiss on the side of Kadie’s head and made tracks for the door, nodding and waving to other locals. The women paused to watch as he courteously stopped to help one of the old dears out of her chair and with a smile he looped her arm through his and escorted her out the door. Amanda heard the soft sigh of her friend who clearly loved her husband to be, more and more every day and it wasn’t hard to see why.

“I’ll just wait for you here and finish my beer,” Amanda advised and Kadence made her way to the bathroom at the end of the pub.

Naturally, it was then the band took a momentary interlude and she found herself staring once again into those piercing blue eyes as Mister Hot as she’d come to name him, stood by her chair.

“So, how was the local talent?” he grinned, “Did we satisfy your high standards in music.”

Amanda couldn’t help her shrug of nonchalance, “I’ve heard better.” Actually, they were pretty darn good by her reckoning but there was no way she was going to let him score another point.

He knew she was teasing but he felt his hackles rise. That was the best they had played together from any of the rehearsals, “I’d like to see you get up there and do better.” He threw at her. His mind was screaming at him not to take the bait but his mouth couldn’t help itself. He just couldn’t believe she had just said that; she’s heard better. Not in any of those city bars she probably frequents.

She locked her eyes firmly on his as she gracefully rose from her seat almost standing nose to nose. Challenge accepted. He stood with his arms folded across his broad chest wondering what this little minx was going to do next. Bring it, his eyes challenged, waiting for her verbal onslaught.

Amanda brushed past him and made her way over to the stage, after taking a quick look around, she spotted exactly what she was looking for; the acoustic guitar. She took her time to plug it in and pull a chair over to sit, she may as well get comfortable and draw out his torture a little longer.

She strung her fingers across the strings to the opening bars of her favourite Sunny Cowgirls song and got the familiar jolt of excitement to be playing again. She really needed to dust off her old Gibson and bring it out of retirement.

She sang the opening lines; “You know what I’m like, I like to laugh out loud. Drink a little too much, Let my hair down” and looked to the spot she left mister hot. She couldn’t help grin in satisfaction as he practically had to pick his jaw up off the ground and directed the next set of lines to him, “But that’s something you, Gotta get used too. Is my Naughty Side.”

Mick couldn’t believe his ears, not only was this a country song but she had well and truly perfected it. And not just general karaoke night perfected, she had the voice of an angel; and he was truly lost.

John had made his way over to stand beside him and with a little nudge he grinned with an I told you so smile. “Better pick that jaw up off the ground, sunshine. Wouldn’t want to catch anymore flies.” He laughed at his joke. “Reckon you can talk her into playing with us?”

Mick couldn’t see that happening, but couldn’t bring himself to let go of the thought either, she had talent and with looks like that, she could definitely draw a crowd.

Amanda strung the last chords and drew a deep breath in of the guitars oak. The round of applause that now surrounded her was a little overwhelming and as she saw Kadence standing by the front door of the pub smiling back at her, she risked one last glance towards mister hot to see he was still rooted to the spot; and took the opportunity to make her leave. She gently placed the guitar in its stand and crossed the floor without a second look back, and through the open door.

Mick barely had time to register what she was doing before she was out the door, he rushed over to catch her, but she was sliding into the back of Matt’s car. Amanda paused at the sound of the door banging closed and looked up to discover the hot guy standing out the front just staring at her, he caught her eyes but couldn’t make his legs move any further, with a crooked smile she slid the rest of the way into the back of the car and closed the door. She nodded to Matt and off they went into the darkness.

Amanda 2 – Hot Guy 1.

And like an inigma, she was gone; Mick thought as he raked a hand through his hair. He really hoped she’d be in town for a while because he knew without a shadow of a doubt, this one was worth the chase.