Page 25 of Newly Tied

He whimpered, leaned in, and pressed his forehead to my shoulder.

“Is he all right?” Bing asked.

“Just starvin’. Did you guys put in a drink order yet?”

“No, they did not,” a handsome man in black jeans, a white dress shirt, and a bar apron said as he stepped up beside me. “Sorry I was late—we had a mix-up over whose table you all were—but I’m here now.”

“And we couldn’t be any more excited to see ya.”

“I’m Cody, by the way,” he said, and I knew flirting when I saw it, despite being a bit rusty with the drought I’d been going through. I hadn’t picked up anyone in over a month, which wasn’t like me. I loved sex and missed it.

“Well, Cody, it’s gonna be a big order. Are you ready?”

In answer, I got a wicked grin and a quick head tip.

“Okay,” I said, “I need water and a big-ass chocolate shake.”

“Ass,” he repeated, his gaze meeting mine. “Got it.”

I chuckled, pointing at Lang, who had not moved, still wedged against me. “He needs a water and a Dark n’ Stormy. Do you have the right rum?”

“Goslings?”

“That’d be the one.”

“Got it,” he apprised me.

“Perfect. And if you could bring us some nachos or whatever you got as far as shareable appetizers as soon as you can, that would be epic.”

“Anything you want,” he assured me.

I pointed to Talia then, who was still chatting with Nicolette. “She needs a big water and the largest Coke or Pepsi you’ve got, as well as a big-ass vanilla shake.”

“More ass,” he said, his gaze locking with mine again. “I hear you.”

The table found our banter very amusing, if all the laughing was any indication. As Cody took orders from everyone else, Lang sat up and glowered at me.

“What? Food and drink are on the way.”

“Don’t flirt with the staff,” he groused as soon as Cody walked away.

“Let him flirt,” Ashton told him, giving me a smile. “I always flirt with hot waiters myself, but he’s not even looking at me.”

“Aw, shucks,” I teased him, and he flushed a lovely shade of pink.

“Where are you from, Del?” Bing asked.

“Texas. Can’t y’all hear it?”

“I hear something, and it’s enchanting,” Ashton said with a sigh.

“See?” I snapped at Lang. “I can talk to people just fine.”

Everyone but Lang was laughing again.

I had to go to the bathroom and so excused myself. Once I was on my way back, I was stopped in the hallway by a wolf whistle. When I turned, Cody was there, smiling at me.

“Tell me the truth. Are you covered all over in that lovely golden tan?”