blew kisses to Steph and Sid, and Gunner sneered at him. That started a litany of hilarious remarks. Chloe was laughing along with everyone else as Leah approached the table. Her mass of brownish-red corkscrew curls hung around her heavily freckled face like a lion’s mane. Her skin was the color of sweet cream, and she had a slightly flat nose and full lips.
“Can I get y’all something?” Leah asked with a slight Southern drawl. As she moved around the table jotting down orders, her eyes moved warily beneath her thick auburn brows.
When she reached Zander, he flashed a cocky grin and dragged his eyes down her body. “What I want isn’t on the menu.”
Leah’s eyes turned serious and studied Zander’s face. Zander sat up straighter, puffing out his chest with an expression that conveyed, Oh yeah, baby, you know you want me.
“Jesus,” Justin snapped. He reached over and swatted Zander on the back of the head.
Zander ran a hand over the same spot and said, “Dude! Don’t touch the hair.”
“Don’t be an ass,” Blaine said. He nudged Marly. “Women don’t like asses, right, Mar?”
“Don’t get me involved.” Marly picked up her drink and said, “I love a good ass in tight jeans.”
Blaine shook his head.
“See? Women like my ass.” Zander rolled his shoulders back and winked at Leah.
Leah’s stoic expression didn’t change. She was still studying Zander’s face like she was trying to figure him out.
“Alexander.” Rob stared Zander down and shook his head.
“Aw, come on, Preach.” Zander pushed to his feet and jokingly said, “Tell ’em, Leah. You like my ass, right?” He turned around and slapped his back pocket, grinning over his shoulder.
“It’s not bad, but I’ve seen better,” Leah said evenly, brows knitted. “Maybe Zeke can help you study up on better butt exercises.”
Everyone laughed, except Zander, whose grin faltered. He eyed Zeke, and Zeke held his palms up, shaking his head.
Leah looked down at her order pad and said, “Who’s next?”
Tank said, “I’ll take whiskey, neat.”
Leah lifted her eyes to his, and the little color she had drained from her face. “I’ll go…I’ll get…Be right back with those drinks.” She scurried off toward the bar.
“Geez, Tank. What’d you do to her?” Madigan asked.
Tank looked offended. “Me? I didn’t do shit. It was Zander.”
“No, that was definitely you,” Blaine said. “That poor girl looked scared.”
“Yeah, dude. It wasn’t me. She totally digs my ass.” Zander chuckled.
“You must have done something at some point,” Steph added.
Tank scoffed. “I ordered a drink. What’d you want me to do? The shit Zan does?” His voice rose an octave as he said, “Hey, little lady, want to suck my dick?” Uproarious laughter erupted, and in his normal voice, Tank said, “Sorry, dude, but I’m not an asshole.”
“Dude, I’m not an asshole,” Zander said. “I’m playful.”
Rob glowered at Zander. “You just about crossed the line with that little gal, Zan. Watch it next time.” His eyes shifted to Zeke, who gave him a confirmatory nod.
“In Tank’s defense,” Chloe said carefully. “He’s a big guy, and with all those piercings and tattoos, he can be intimidating. Tank, maybe you could smile at her sometime.”
Justin leaned closer and said, “Babe, that steel don’t crack.”
“Oh, come on. Tank has a great smile,” Evie urged.
Baz gave Evie a sideways look.
“It’s true,” Madigan agreed. “Show ’em, Tanky.”
Tank bared his teeth, making a low growl. The guys chuckled, and all the girls spoke at once.
“Oh my God,” Evie exclaimed.
Madigan pointed at Tank and said, “Don’t ever do that again. Especially around Leah.”
Steph said, “Yeah, save that for the dogfight guys.”
“Your bed will be empty forever if that’s your come-get-me smile,” Serena chimed in.
Serena’s comment spurred a ruckus of the other guys showing their come-get-me smiles and loudly debating the pros and cons of each.
Madigan pushed to her feet and said, “Come on, girls! Let’s dance!”
All the girls got up, except Sid. Marly and Madigan each took an arm and pulled her up despite her complaints.
“Go get ’em, beautiful,” Gunner said to Sid, who rolled her eyes.
Zander and Baz began chanting, “Sidney! Sidney!”
Chloe got up, and Justin pulled her down for a quick kiss. “Show them how it’s done, sweet thing.” He smacked her butt, and she followed the girls to the dance floor.
The band was great, and they danced to several songs Chloe had never heard before. Reba and Ginger joined them on the dance floor, giving Chloe a chance to introduce Ginger to Serena. She greeted Serena with the same welcoming embrace Reba had. Reba and