secret code.
He finally turned to her. “What’s that, honey?”
“Would you like a drink?”
“Yeah. Let’s see...” He played with his beard and frowned at the bottles of booze against the back wall. His gaze jerked to the left, and he grinned. “I’ll have me one of those.”
She knew without looking that Lisa was pouring the piña colada blend into glasses. Wonderful...this guy who looked as if he drank straight tequila with a side of nails for breakfast wanted a froufrou drink. Just perfect. Tempted as she was to ask if he wanted a miniature umbrella with it, she kept her mouth shut and headed back to her station. He’d likely say yes.
The door opened again, and she prayed with everything she had that it was Tommy.
Even better, it was John.
He looked right at her, and his smile, oh, God, his smile was really something. Not only was he gorgeous in his worn jeans and tan polo shirt molding his biceps and fit torso, but she also knew what was under those clothes. Heaven help her, a blush started somewhere around her chest and surged up her throat to her cheeks.
She quickly turned away, and looked directly into Lisa’s amused eyes. Her gaze shot to John, and then came back to rest on Cassie’s warm face.
“You little sneak,” Lisa said, her grin taking over her features. “When were you going to tell me?”
“Tell you what?” Cassie gave her a puzzled frown, peppered with enough irritation to send a clear message. Then busied herself with getting out the last of the pineapple juice and maraschino cherries.
“Come on...give it up.” Lisa sidled up to her, totally ignoring the three drinks Cassie hastily garnished and set on the tray.
“Sure would help if I knew what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, please. You know what. Your cheeks are redder than those cherries.”
“Take these to Beth and her friends, and tell her no more, I’m out.”
“Fine. If you won’t tell me, I’ll ask John.” Lisa lifted her chin at the same time she hefted the tray.
“Go ahead.” Cassie snorted a laugh. “I’d like to see that.”
With a disgruntled huff, Lisa left.
Cassie whipped up another piña colada while she filled two mugs, one for the new guy, one for John. Damn it, how had Lisa known they’d seen each other outside the bar just from looking at him? He’d smiled, that was all. Yes, he might’ve given her a heart-stopping look at the same time, but... Oh, God, had she been the one to give it away? She’d smiled back, nothing girlie, or sappy, just a plain ordinary smile she gave to every customer.
Or not. Oh, boy.
How could she possibly look at him without remembering his mouth on her breasts? Or how he used the tip of his tongue to make those tiny circles on the soft skin inside her thigh.
Snapping back to the present, she rescued the overflowing mugs, then grabbed a clean rag and wiped the beer off the handles. She picked them up, and made the mistake of looking over to see John watching her with those damn bedroom brown eyes and that ridiculously sexy smile of his. The heat still burned in her cheeks, and before she could think rationally, she gulped down half the ice cold beer from one of the mugs.
Lisa chose that moment to return, and let out a startled laugh. “What are you doing?”
Cassie shook her head, wiped her mouth with a cocktail napkin in case there was foam clinging to her lips and set the beer aside. “I couldn’t carry all of them, anyway,” she muttered, and picked up the piña colada and full mug.
Keeping her eyes averted, she carried the drinks to the two men. The younger guy was sitting on John’s usual stool, so he’d settled on another one closer to the wall. It was more private...if she ever got some time to talk. The men wanted to start a tab, and she tried to not look disappointed. A trio of regulars sat closer to her station, so really, what were a couple more customers sitting at the bar? Maybe she’d take home some decent tips for a change.
She filled out a slip for the newbies, then moved closer to John, but she didn’t dare look into his eyes. “Beer?”
He put his elbows on the bar and leaned forward, gazing at her. His lazy smile told Lisa everything she wanted to know. “Hey.”
Without her permission, her gaze went to his, and the sounds of the bar faded. Memories flooded