Page 16 of The Other Half

When I looked away, my eyes drifted back to the blonde behind the bar. Damn those jeans were making looking away more difficult that it should be.

“What’s up?” I heard Aaron’s voice and turned to my left. He pushed into the space between the stools and leaned up along the bar beside me.

“Hey, man. Not much. Finishing up and heading home.”

“Catch anything today?”

“Oh, yeah. We had a good run.”

“We got skunked.”

I sucked the air through my teeth. “Damn. Hate when that happens.” Aaron ran his own charter as well, and we’d been buds since middle school.

“Yeah, it does. But still sucks.”

“I got skunked a few trips ago. Happens to the best of us.”

“You saying you’re the best?” He raised a blond brow in a challenge, but his blue eyes could never hide his humor.

“Damn straight.” I took a swig of my drink and he burst into laughter.

“Whoa,” he said, his laughter stalling in his throat as his gaze stared behind the bar. “Who’s the hottie?”

A surge of jealousy rose inside me when I saw his eyes fixated on Cassie. Surprised by the sudden emotion, I cleared my throat. “New girl. Just started today. I think she’s my neighbor.”

Wide eyes stopped devouring every inch of her figure and he spun back toward me. His mouth, situated between his scraggly strawberry-blond beard, was open when he looked at me. “Seriously? She’s your neighbor? Dude! I’m coming over! And bringing binoculars!”

“You’re such a perv.” I rolled my eyes, but it reared its ugly head again. Jealousy.

“Dude! Look at her! How in the hell does a girl that looks like that end up here?”

“Hey!” Jo said, catching the end of our conversation. “I’m a looker, too. And don’t you forget it.”

He scoffed. “You’re like our sister. We’re not allowed to ogle your goods.”

“Even if you can’t ogle ‘em, doesn’t mean I don’t have ‘em.” She smiled and shook her ass.

Aaron slammed his eyes shut and tossed his head back like she’d smacked him in the mouth. “Knock it off! That’s like incest!”

Jo waggled her brows and went back to work. The men on all sides of us didn’t seem to mind her impromptu show.

“Who’s got dibs on the new girl? I don’t want to fight you for her. I mean, I know not many women can resist this face of mine,” he said, waving his hand over the face so covered in hair I barely remembered what he looked like under there, “but let’s be honest. If she’s anything like every other woman around, she’ll be throwing herself at you in no time.”

Snorting, I almost spit out my drink. “I don’t think so, man.”

“Really? Are you trying to say women don’t throw themselves at you?”

“Not really.”

He rolled his eyes. “Whatever you say, man. Hey, Jo!” he called. “Beer me!”

“Hold your horses, Aaron! I’m busy!”

The door opened, and a gaggle of girls dressed in hot-pink wigs and white sashes stumbled inside.

“Dude! A hot new bartender and now a bachelorette party? Can my night get any better?” Aaron spun around and gave them his best smile.

“Lucky you.”