Easy This Time - JH Croix Page 0,21
the smaller and cozier bars in this busy area. There was a crowd, but I knew the owner, and Johnny saw me from behind the bar. He waved us over and magically managed to get us two free barstools in the corner of the bar against the wall where it was a little quieter.
Once we were seated, I gestured across the glossy wooden bar. “Mari, this is Johnny. He’s an old friend. And Johnny, this is Mari. She’s visiting New Orleans for the week, and I promised her I’d make it a good trip.”
Johnny cast a roguish grin toward Mari. “You’ll have to let me know if he doesn’t treat you right.”
Mari smiled in return. “So far, so good. He took me to the best diner.”
“And now he brought you to the best bar in the French Quarter. I know Nash’ll order a scotch, but what’ll you have?”
“How are your margaritas?” Mari asked.
“The best,” Johnny said, waggling his bushy white eyebrows.
“I’ll take one then.”
“What’s your preferred flavor? Regular, strawberry, or watermelon?” Johnny asked as he prepped my scotch and slid it across the bar.
“Ooh, I’ll have to try the watermelon. I’ve never had a watermelon margarita.”
“Coming right up.” As he began to prep her drink, he asked, “So where did my boy take you?”
“The Good Dinner Diner. Best burger I’ve ever had.”
Johnny cracked a grin as he handed over Mari’s drink. “See now, Nash is a smart man. He didn’t go fancy; he just picked the best place. You best be careful, he’s a charmer.” With a wink, Johnny turned away when someone called his name. Glancing back, he added, “Y’all enjoy those now. Let me know when you need another.”
“Thanks, put them on my tab,” I commented. I might not get out often, but I’d had a tab here at Johnny’s since college.
“You got it.” He was immediately swept into prepping drink after drink for the customers crowding around the bar.
Mari took a swallow of her margarita. “Mmm, this is yummy.”
“Just like where I took you to dinner, everything is damn good here.”
Mari spun on her stool to look toward the small stage in the front. A jazz band was playing a mellow set. I couldn’t help but watch when Mari lifted her drink to her mouth, her tongue darting out to lick the salt on the rim.
My body tightened with a jolt of need, and I felt the press of my cock against my zipper. Fuck me. The effect Mari had on me was testing my control.
We stayed at the bar for a while. Although my arousal wouldn’t abate, it was nice to relax with Mari. Dating hadn’t been a priority of mine for some time. I’d been too focused on growing my business, much to the chagrin of my parents.
Once I started to do well financially, I’d wanted to build on it. My family had gotten by when I was growing up, but it hadn’t been easy. There were late-night whispered conversations that I overheard about shrimp seasons that didn’t go well and my dad trying to find extra work.
I dated here and there but didn’t want to use the time for anything more because work had been my focus. With the way I was reacting to Mari, I was wondering whether it was more that no one had caught my attention. Distraction was far too weak of a word to describe Mari’s effect on me. My body was on high alert around her. As the bar became filled with more and more people, and I crowded closer to her, I noticed every shift of her leg pressing against mine.
She had a few more margaritas while I eschewed any additional drinks and nursed my single scotch. I needed to escort her back to the condo and drive myself home after that.
“Are you ready to go?” she asked, the feel of her whisper in my ear sending another shot of blood to my groin, which was already aching.
“Darlin’, I’m ready to go whenever you are. Just say the word.”
“I say we go now. I’m not much for staying up late, so it’s a miracle I’m not falling asleep right here,” she said before she drained the last of her margarita.
Moments later, we stepped out of the bar. Although people were milling about the sidewalks and the sounds of the crowds filling the various bars along Bourbon Street were all around, the noise was muted out here. I curled my hand around Mari’s and walked her back to the