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The girl’s eyes narrowed and she opened her mouth. “You’re a-”
At that moment, Abby lurched off her stool, swayed, and deposited her martini directly onto the front of the girl’s shirt. She laughed and hiccupped at the same time. “Oh, sorry!” she slurred. “Didn’t see you there!”
The girl screeched in outrage, spun on her heel, and stormed away.
Abby turned back to the bar and sat her now empty glass on the counter. “Maria, I need another,” she declared, suddenly sober.
“You’re wasting my gin,” the blonde drawled.
Abby wrinkled her nose. “I know. Believe me. It pained me to do it. Should’ve been a cosmo, though. She’d never get the stain out.”
As Maria poured Abby a new drink, Daisy said, “Thanks, but I can fight my own battles.”
The redhead’s lip curled up. “Please. That was hardly a battle. If she was going to do something, she would’ve done it. Nah. She was just gonna stand there all night and bitch and ain’t nobody got time for that.”
“Amen,” said Milo. “If there’s gonna be a catfight, let’s get a pool of jello. Otherwise I ain’t interested.”
Daisy reached for his plate, but he moved it out her reached and stuffed some fries into his mouth. He chewed indignantly.
“Jesus,” Daisy muttered and cleared the bar of empties. “I’ve never seen this much fuss about a two-minute tango.”
Abby pulled an olive off her toothpick with her teeth. “Don’t let them get to you,” she told Daisy. “There’s nothing wrong with going at it with a stranger in the bathroom.”
Daisy raised an eyebrow. “You speaking from experience?”
The redhead sighed and shook her head. “Sadly, no. I never got to do it,” she admitted. “Always wanted to though. But I met Tex; we got to know each other and now, no dice.”
Daisy followed her gaze across the bar to the pool table closest to them. “The Sioux or the blonde?” she asked.
Abby sighed again, this time contentedly. “The blonde.”
“Damn,” said Daisy, approvingly. “I’d say you came out ahead on the deal if you get to have that fine hunk of man every night instead of a stranger for just one.”
“You better believe it,” Abby confirmed. Her fingers went to the necklace she was wearing and she stroked it lovingly.
“He gave you that?” Daisy asked.
Abby glanced at her, cheeks flushed and nodded.
Just then, Daisy’s phone went off. She ignored it and wiped down the bar.
“That’s her boyfriend,” Milo chirped.
“You have a boyfriend?” Abby asked.
“No,” Daisy growled and shot Milo a look.
Milo shrugged. “Phone’s always ringing.”
Daisy blew out a harsh breath. “And do I answer, old man?”
Milo’s face screwed up as he considered this. “No,” he decided.
“What does that tell you?”
“Ex-boyfriend,” Abby guessed.
“Give the lady a gold star,” Daisy grumbled, her mood suddenly soured.
“I’d settle for another martini.”
Daisy gaped at her. “How many can you drink?”
“Don’t judge me,” Abby replied.
“Oh, I’m not,” Daisy assured her.
“So, your ex keeps calling.”
Daisy glowered. “Don’t know what he wants. We are never getting back together.”
“Never, ever, ever…getting back together!”
Daisy rolled her eyes. “Knock it off! You are not Milo Cyrus!”
“Is it a sordid tale of woe?” Abby asked.
Daisy shrugged. “Not really. Girl meets asshole. Asshole leaves her in Sturgis during the rally and goes back home.”
Abby’s mouth dropped open. “He left you?”
Daisy nodded solemnly. “We had a fight, and he took off the next morning.”
“Holy shit!” Abby breathed. Then her forehead wrinkled. “The rally’s in August,” she pointed out. “What’ve you been doing all this time?”
Daisy’s stomach tightened. Oh shit, she thought. She’d managed to open her mouth and insert her whole foot inside. She was desperately trying to think up a reply when a man stepped up to the bar. He had shoulder length, brown hair and what was not really a beard but some serious five o’clock shadow. It suited him though.
His black t-shirt hugged his body. Large biceps stretched the fabric and black ink travelled the length of both arms. She recognized the face as well as the tats.
“Hey,” Daisy said and smiled up at him. He returned the sentiment. “I remember you from last week,” she declared. “You said I had nice tats.”
“Why does he get to say it?” Milo whined.
“Tats!” Daisy barked at him. “Tats! Clean your ears while you cut that hair.”
The guy grinned at her. “Both are nice,” he told Milo loudly. Daisy blushed as her heart thudded. She was not about to take this man’s chili cheese fries away, no, sir.
“I’m glad you remember me,” he said in a smooth, velvet voice. “I’m Adam.” He reached out to take her hand and shook it. Then he turned her wrist and inspected her ink. His thumb ran over her orange white koi on her forearm. “Traditional and Japanese, but it works,” he said. “Very nice.”
Daisy would’ve said something about Sailor Jerry but she’d momentarily misplaced her tongue.
Adam turned, looked down, and nodded. “Abby,” he drawled. She blushed and nodded back.
