he managed to keep the pleasant expression on his face as Alvin moved away. Alvin and his brother, Lenny, gave the sheriff’s deputies lots of grief, serving one too many to their customers and sending them out to their cars impaired. The Double Eagle had been implicated in quite a few car accidents, fights, and episodes of general rowdiness. The owner had paid the fines and acted chastised in court, but it continued to be a trouble spot in Winnetka County.
“There’s Cassie,” Brian said, a broad smile spreading over his face. Lonnie was glad to see it. Even though Brian and Cassie had split up for a while, it was clear that Brian was just as crazy about his high school sweetheart as he’d been when they’d gotten married.
Lonnie put a smile on his face for Brian’s benefit. He’d never liked Cassie all that much, but Brian was a good friend and you had to pretend to like your friends’ girlfriends and wives, even if you didn’t.
“Lonnie,” Cassie called out, pushing her way to the bar. “Hey! Long time, no see. Don’t you ever get out to our neck of the woods?”
“Not often,” Lonnie said, giving her a chaste peck on the cheek. “You look great, Cassie.”
“Thanks.” Cassie turned to Brian. “Hey, honey. Get me a drink, will you? Tonight’s a night for Tequila Sunrises, isn’t it?”
Brian began to grin wider. “Sure is. Do you want me to order us a flight?”
“What’s a flight?” Lonnie asked.
Cassie laughed. “Three drinks, silly. They call it a flight ’cuz after three of ’em you feel like your feet don’t touch the floor.” She moved closer to Lonnie, wrapped her arms around him, and gave him a little squeeze. “That’s cute, huh?”
“Cute,” Lonnie repeated, hoping his friends weren’t going to get too drunk. He pushed the cake box over to Cassie. “This is for you, Cassie.”
“For me?” Cassie lifted the lid on the box and began to smile. “How did you remember that it was my birthday?”
“I told him we were celebrating tonight,” Brian said, before Lonnie could answer. “Lonnie picked up a Coconut Layer Cake for you.”
“My favorite!” Cass was all smiles as she wrapped her arms around Lonnie and hugged him again. “And it’s even got candles and my name on it!” She let Lonnie go and turned to Brian. “Light the candles, will you, Baby?”
“Sure.” Brian took out his lighter, lifted the cake out of the box, and lit the candles. “Happy birthday, Cassie,” he said. “I’m not going to sing, okay?”
“It’s more than okay. It’s a real present!” Cassie retorted with a laugh. “You’re a lousy singer, Baby.”
“I know. You keep telling me that.”
There was a little edge to Brian’s voice and Lonnie stepped in quickly.
“I promise you that I won’t sing, either,” Lonnie told Cassie. “I tried out for the men’s chorus in high school and I didn’t make it.”
“I never tried out,” Brian said with a laugh. “I knew better. I joined the band instead.”
“You played drums, didn’t you?” Lonnie asked him.
“Yes, and he was good,” Cassie said quickly. “My baby’s really great at banging things.”
Brian looked slightly embarrassed at the double entendre, but he laughed anyway. So did Lonnie, mostly because it was expected, and Cassie leaned over so that she could kiss Brian.
Lonnie drew a breath of relief. Cassie always flirted outrageously with him and it made him more than a little uncomfortable. She’d always been a real flirt, and her marriage to Brian hadn’t changed that.
“I was going to tell you to order two flights for us, but maybe we’d better split them three ways. We’ll do two for me, two for you, and two for Lonnie.”
“No can do,” Lonnie said, shaking his head. “Thanks, but I can’t drink hard booze when I might be called in.”
“Okay, then you can have another couple of beers,” Cassie decided for him.
“I’m switching to Coke after this one.” Lonnie gestured toward his half-empty glass.
Cassie gave an exasperated sigh. “Party pooper!” She turned back to Brian. “Order Lonnie a Coke. And we’ll split one flight of Tequila Sunrises.”
“Two for you and one for me?” Brian asked with a grin.
“Nope. One for me and two for you. And if they total you out, I can drive.” She turned back to Lonnie. “Is that okay, Mr. Deputy?”
“That’s perfect.” Lonnie gestured toward the cake. “Make a wish, Cassie. You’d better blow out the candles before they scorch the frosting.”
Cassie closed her eyes and looked thoughtful. When she opened them again, she was