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I closed my eyes.“Oh, God.”
“I ain’t gonna tell anyone,” Rick assured me in his measured drawl.“But whoever he is, I hope y’all won’t give him the time of day once you’re back across the pond.”
“Oh, don’t worry.”I traced my finger around an old cup ring on the wood of the bar top.“I don’t intend to.”
“Good.”
I looked up at him, letting myself get lost in the depth of his tawny eyes for a long moment, all the possibilities turning over in my mind.If he tried to kiss me now, would I let him?Would I have wanted him to?
Yes.I wanted him to.
Should I have wanted him to?
I was tired of these mental gymnastics.
“Sorry, folks.What can I get you?”Molly asked, and Rick’s gaze cut from mine.
I swallowed, taking a deep breath.It was for the best.He was too attractive, too kind, and wasn’t I here partially because of a break-up?It would be really stupid to indulge in any kind of relationship, even the very temporary kind.
Rick nudged my shoulder with his.“Ladies first.”
“I was here first, anyway.”I teased.
He just grinned.God, he was so handsome it hurt to look at him directly, just like looking right into the sun.
“I’ll have a mojito and a Coke,” I told Molly.
“Sure.”She lifted the Coke tap and pointed it at Rick.“Watch this one.He could charm a bear out of hibernation.”
“I can believe it,” I said wryly.
Rick shook his head.“Teamin’ up on me, ladies, I’m hurt.Hurt.”He pressed a hand to his heart, and it only drew my attention to where the neck of his shirt opened, revealing his tanned skin and a very light furring of chest hair.
“He’s all talk.”Molly smiled as she set the drinks on the bar and told me the damage.
I paid.“Have a good night, Rick.”
“You, too.”He smiled, a slow smile that spread from one side of his mouth to the other, and I felt it all the way to my toes.
I carried the drinks back to Jenny.She was deep in conversation with a guy sporting a little goatee and wearing a beanie, and they were leaning toward each other.
She looked up when I approached, and she swiveled in her seat.I saw disappointment flash across the guy’s face.
“Hey!Thanks!You were gone a while.”
“Your brother was at the bar.”
“Was he nice to you?”I watched her gaze dart back to beanie guy, who had taken his phone out but was also super-obviously keeping an eye on her.
“He was,” I reassured her.I didn’t make a move to sit, but I did lower my voice, passing her the mojito.“Do you want to carry on talking to him?”
Indecision paraded over her face.“Oh, no… I couldn’t, because then you’ll be by yourself.”
Jenny had not enjoyed a night out in a long time.Who was I, someone she had known for almost literally five minutes, to get in the way of her meeting a handsome stranger?
“Well, your brother offered to teach me how to play pool, so…”
Jenny rolled her eyes.“He thinks he’s the man.Don’t let him mansplain the game to you.”
