The Forever Plan Read online

  When I reach home, I pull on to my drive, opening the garage with the remote I have on my keys and drive in. The taxi pulls up as I’m closing the garage door. Nodding at the driver I get in and after telling him where I’m going, I head for the pub.

  Neil is already being served at the bar when I walk in. Patting him on the back as I reach him, he passes me a bottle of Budweiser and grins.

  “Good timing.” I state grinning back at him.

  “Ha, well I know you well enough to know that you’re never late and especially on a weekend.”

  “No else out tonight?” I question looking around me.

  “I’m not sure, they didn’t give me a straight answer. They either won’t turn up or they’ll be here later.”

  Neil is my lawyer and has been for the last ten years. He draws up all my contracts and is the one I go to for everything. He’s my right-hand man in every sense of the word.

  For six-forty pm, you wouldn’t believe how busy this place is. The bar is already two deep with customers and it’s only going to get worse. Fridays are one of their busiest nights. They play live music up until twelve am and a disco until two am. As soon as I see a table come free over the opposite side of the room, I point it out to Neil and grab it before anyone else does. Neil takes the empties that have been left and places them on the bar out of the way.

  “Want anything to eat? I’m starving.”

  I call over the waitress as I look over the menu, but decide on something light. Ordering a couple of baskets of chips for us and I pass her my debit card.

  “Set me up a tab, gorgeous… oh and get yourself a drink.”

  “Thanks.” She purses her lips as she looks me over. Her eyes taking on some kind of glaze, before strutting away on her heels, until I stop her again…

  “Oh, and get us another round?”

  The bar staff know us well in here, it’s our local so they know what we drink without having to tell them.

  Throwing her a wink, she cocks a hip and smile sexily.

  “Of course.” Swinging her blonde hair, she heads back off to the bar, catching a glimpse of her long legs as she walks away.

  “You’re a dirty bastard.” Neil shakes his head laughing.

  “Never said I wasn’t mate.”

  As hot as she is, I’m not going there. I can’t shag someone who works in my local. It just makes it awkward to drink in here then. Having a pint is supposed to be stress free, it’s not if I’m getting the evil eye for the whole time though. So, it’s just another one of my many rules I made for myself.

  The cute waitress bring over our beers and my card, putting them on the table she leaves again. Leaving me to admire the sights as the bar begins to fill up.

  Chapter Three

  SERENA

  After chewing the taxi drivers ear off, Bonnie throws him a ten-pound note and we both exit the car. Not very lady like either.

  He’ll be glad see the back of us.

  It’s still early when we walk into The Tavern, but we don’t care. That’s the thing with this place, on a Friday it doesn’t matter what time you walk in here, it’s always got the happy weekend vibe that everyone loves.

  Looking around as I step through the door, I notice tonight is no different. The bar is bustling with patrons trying to get a drink. There’s guys in suits who have come straight from the office at a table and there’s a group of young lads sitting in the corner. Who by the looks of it might be underage, but that’s none of my business. Other than that, everyone is standing and enjoying the jukebox music before the live music starts.

  The men in suits look our way as we take a seat at an empty table, but neither me or Bonnie give them a second thought, or glance. I’m certainly not interested in the male species right now. I just want to get drunk, dance stupidly to cheesy music. Get a kebab at the end of the night and fall into bed at some ungodly hour.

  “What can I get you ladies?” The waitress who approaches our table asks. “It’s swamped at the bar, so I thought it would be easier if I took your order for you.” She further explains. When her eyes flit over to the men in the suits, it becomes clear she had a hidden agenda. She just wanted to gawk at the men.

  “Yes, we’ll have one double vodka and lemonade and double pink gin and tonic for my friend here.” Bonnie tells her. Only the waitress isn’t listening; her gaze is still fixed at the table where the guys are.

  Clicking her fingers in front of her face, Bonnie snaps her out of it, “Hello? Did you hear what I said?” She knows she didn’t, she’s just being sarcastic.

  Blinking rapidly, she looks back to us with a flush all over her porcelain skin.

  “I’m so sorry girls. It’s just he comes in here with the same friend regularly and not once has he offered to take me home. He’s so fucking gorgeous.” She quickly snaps her mouth shut and puts her hand over her mouth. “Again, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be acting like this in front of customers.”

  We both laugh at her outburst. She’s nineteen maybe twenty, she’s young and still has a lot of learning to do, so we let it go.

  “It’s fine, honestly.” I reassure her before I tell her again what we would like to drink.

  When the waitress has flounced off to get our drinks, Bonnie turns slightly in her chair and looks at the men.

  “Holy fucking shit. I can see why she was having a damn good perv. That one...” She trails off as she points at one of them, “Is divine, I certainly wouldn’t kick him out of bed for farting.”

  Oh my god, sometimes I wonder why we are friends. She has such a way with words, but she never fails to make me laugh.

  Peeking under my lashes at the guy in question, I see why the women are falling over their feet for him. He’s sitting with his back to the wall so I can take him all in. Since we came in, he has slung his suit jacket over the back of his chair. The sleeves of his white dress shirt have been rolled up to his elbows. Showing off some kind of ink, but from where I’m sitting, I can’t quite make it out. Trailing my eyes back up, I take in the way his shirt is tight across his biceps, and chest. Then there’s his hair. Fuck me. It looks like he’s just been thoroughly fucked the way it’s styled.

  I’m stopped in my tracks when his eyes connect with mine. It’s then the wind gets knocked out of my sails, his eyes pierce me, locking me down in my seat. I’ve never had a man's eyes look at me the way his are. The intensity in them is out of this world and no man should ever be allowed to look at a woman the way he’s looking at me. I’m almost one hundred percent certain, that if I was standing up, I’d be on my arse by now.

  Embarrassed that I’ve been caught staring, I throw all my attention into Bonnie and her rambling.

  I will not show how much he’s affected me with just one look.

  I won’t allow it.

  Chapter Four

  DYLAN

  This place is full of gorgeous women tonight in tight dresses or short skirts and low-cut tops, giving my eyes the treat, they needed. I’m wondering who’s knickers I can talk my way into tonight. Gulping down a mouthful of beer, I rest my back against the wall behind me where I’m sitting. I look around the room until they land on the two women on the next table. One of them is dressed in a tight little number showing off every curve. She may be sitting down, but even from here I can just tell she’s got a body every man must lust after. Her long, red wavy hair hangs down her back; what I wouldn’t give to tangle my fingers up in that. As my gaze travels, my dick twitches in my trousers aptly letting me know he also agrees. Within seconds our eyes meet as she turns around and with a smirk, I lift up my bottle angling it in a toast. She licks her red lips and tries to look bored, but I can see the smirk she’s trying to hide. Placing the top of the bottle against my bottom lip I tip it up and slowly swallow down the beer, but I don’t break our connection.

  I’m so focused on the bird on the other table I don’t realise Neil is watching me, until I hear his voice.

  �
�Who the fuck have you got your eyes on now?” He follows my line of sight, “That waitress?”

  “Fuck that, she’s too young. I do have some boundaries.”

  “Fuck off,” he laughs shaking his head, like he doesn’t believe me.

  “Look at those two birds on the other table.”

  Neil can’t see, he has his back to them, I wait for him to twists around in his chair to take a look, “What do you think?” I ask.

  “She looks too much, even for you dude.”

  “Fuck that. No-one’s too much for me.” I reply, I know it’s arrogant, but hey, that’s me.

  Snorting loudly, he drinks his beer and calls the waitress back over. The woman I’ve been focused on flings her hair around and turns back to her friend. Lifting her glass to her plump lips and knocking back what I think maybe Gin, as it’s pink in colour. I’m not sure what the other drink is her friend has.

  The waitress comes back over, Neil gives her our order, but she turns to me almost throwing herself at me, stuttering, “W... Will that be all?”

  “Actually no.” Winking at her she grins nervously, “Whatever the girls on that table are drinking, put it on my tab.”

  “Oh, okay. Sure.” Her shoulders slump in disappointment and she walks away.

  When I turn back to Neil, he’s staring at me with a frown creasing his forehead, “Dylan you’re a wanker, that’s all I’m going to say.”

  “What the fuck do you want me to do?” I shrug. I take no blame in this at all.

  “Why do you have to be so blunt, you could at least let her down gently.”

  “Fucks sake. Fine. I’ll tell her she’s too young and I’m a bastard who’ll break her heart, how’s that?”

  “At least you’re being honest with her.”

  Lifting my middle finger in a fuck you gesture, I down the rest of my beer.

  “Neil, you’re such a female at times. Are you sure you have a dick or do you have a vagina tucked away where you should have one?”

  “Oh, I have a dick alright.” Clutching his crotch in his palm he laughs.

  The waitress brings our drinks back over but doesn’t look at me. Instead she storms away with the other two drinks on the tray and goes over to the other table, smiling at the girls she places the drinks down softly. The waitress points over here as the girl looks back over her shoulder. I don’t change my relaxed posture I just nod, while she purses her lips again trying to hide that knowing grin.

  “I see you’ve found your prey for the night.” Neil exclaims grinning.

  “It would seem so…”

  Standing from her chair she grabs her handbag, teetering on her high heels she walks around the table. Passing by ours giving me a show of her very tight arse in her blue figure-hugging dress. I can’t take my eyes off of her as she flounces off to the ladies and disappears through the door.

  Neil watches with a smirk, while my eyes follow her until disappears through the door. He shakes his head with a knowing grin as I turn back to him...

  “I’m tapping that.” I announce to my best friend bluntly, not that he’s even surprised. Instead of paying attention to me he just gulps down his beer.

  The DJ starts the night off with some up-to-date dance tunes kicking off the weekend, before the live band starts their set for the night. I’ve seen the band who are playing tonight before and I know they will be playing some sultry music for me to get my grind on with red-headed beauty.

  I don’t take my eyes off the door she’s just gone through; she seems to have me mesmerised. Which never happens to me, I fuck 'em and leave em. I’m not the type of guy you build your dreams on. When the door to the toilets reopens and she steps out, I see this as my opportunity to make my interest known.

  “I’m going over.”

  I don’t wait for Neil to answer; he just does his best friend duty and follows me.

  Passing through the tables I almost at arm's reach when she loses her footing. Being the gentleman that I am of course, I make sure to catch her as she stumbles when she reaches the table her and her friend are currently occupying. Settling my hands on her hips as she falls into my chest. Her strong wildflower, but sweet candy scent wafts up my nose.

  “Steady there.”

  Her eyes meet mine as she giggles.

  “I’m so sorry. I think I’ve had one too many.”

  Grinning at her feeble apology I stand her back up.

  “I’m Dylan.”

  She takes my hand in hers as we make introductions.

  “I’m Serena Davenport and this is my best friend, Bonnie.”

  Pulling out a chair for Serena so she can sit down, I make introductions before parking my arse in the vacant chair that’s next to hers.

  “Nice to meet you ladies, this is my pal Neil.” I watch as they all shake hands smiling and realise, I have to get the conversation going. “So, I haven’t seen you ladies in here before.”

  “I have a need to get wasted.” The redhead states, “We weren’t going to stay here, but I liked it and the music is great.”

  “What’s the occasion?”

  “She has an amazing new job and my best friend there has finally fucked off that tool of a husband.”

  Serena’s eyes widen as her friend Bonnie cuts in and lets out a little too much information, causing her to avoid my shocked gaze.

  It’s always good to know there’s nothing to stand in my way of getting what I want.

  With the smug grin I know is smeared all over my face, I turn back Serena and hold up my bottle in a toast.

  “Well it looks like congratulations is in order.”

  Serena picks up her glass grinning and clinks my bottle with her goldfish bowl like glass.

  “Hmmm. I guess it is. Cheers.”

  Calling over the waitress I order a bottle of the pubs most expensive wine. At best it’s a bottle of Prosecco if you’re lucky, along with four glasses. I don’t give her time to drool over me this time, I turn my back on her and concentrate on the girls.

  She returns quickly and places down an opened bottle, the four flutes on a tray and gives me the receipt. I thank her politely and continue to pour the drinks. Neil refuses, but that’s because he’s driving. Instead he passes his drink to Serena with an extra congratulations for her freedom. Watching Serena guzzle the one glass down shocks me but fuck, if she doesn’t knock the second one back and all I can think is - she’s my kind of woman.

  Chapter Five

  SERENA

  Can someone tell me what the fuck I’m doing?

  This isn’t me; I don’t drink this much ever and I certainly don’t flirt; and I’ve done both within the hour.

  When I got up to go the loo, I could feel his stare on me. With the Gin flowing nicely through my veins I gained some extra confidence and added an extra sway to my hips. Only I had to go and be a clumsy shit and stagger on my heels when I came back. Not only did he see me do it, he caught me, preventing me from face planting the dirty bar floor and flashing the rest of the patrons a right eye full. When his hands landed on my hips and my back crashed into his chest, I swear I nearly come in my knickers there and then. Even without feeling it with my bare hands, I know he’s solid underneath that shirt of his.

  I’ve always been a sucker for a man with a nice chest.

  My breath hitches when he whispers, “Steady there.” into my ear. Looking up at him I stutter an apology and give some sort of explanation about how I think I’ve had one to many. My brains a little fuzzy and more than likely make no bloody sense at all.

  Grinning at me he stands me back up, holding onto me until he’s satisfied that I’m not gonna go arse over tit. Seemingly happy that I’m capable of standing on my own, he introduces himself.

  “I’m Dylan.”

  At the same time, he offers me his hand which I shake and tell him my name, before I introduce him to Bonnie. Looking over his shoulder as he looks behind him, I see the guy who he was sitti
ng with before turning back to me.

  “Nice to meet you ladies, this my pal Neil.”

  To which we all shake hands. Once all introductions are out of the way, we start a nice and steady conversation about how we came to be here tonight. That is until Bonnie opens her big trap.

  “She has an amazing new job and my best friend there has finally fucked off that tool of a husband.”

  Someone please shoot me.

  I have this sexy as fuck man talking to me and she has to go and mention that fucktard.

  Way to go Bon.

  I glance up at Dylan to gauge his reaction, thinking I’m going to see revulsion or disappointment on his face, because no-one wants someone else's cast offs, surely? Yet I’m surprised by what I see, he’s got the goofiest grin spread across his face. Leaning into me, I inhale the fresh woodsy yet exotic smell of his aftershave, just as he grazes my earlobe with his lips sending tingles down my spine.

  “Your ex-husband is a dick. If you were mine, you’d never leave my bed.”

  My mouth dries instantly, I’ve never been spoken to like that. It’s refreshing. Albeit, I’m not used to it so my cheeks blush in an instant. Neil and Bonnie are lost in their own conversation, not paying one ounce of attention to what’s going on merely feet away from them.

  Taking a hold of my glass, I wrap my lips around the rim as far as they will go and I literally pour the entire contents down my throat.

  I think it’s time for me to go home.

  “Well lucky for me, I’m not yours. I’m not going to let another man tie me down again. The first one was enough, thank you very fucking much. He was also the biggest mistake of my life.”

  Jesus Christ, I’m just spitting verbal diarrhoea at him now. I bet he thinks I’m one crazy chick, but I had to make him see that no amount of smooth talking he gives me; he’s not going to get into my bed or knickers. Even though my body is saying something totally different. It’s buzzing with need for this man. I can feel my clit beating wildly in my underwear. Demanding attention from him and all he’s done is whispered a few words in my ear and held onto my hips.