and focus on his job. At least for now.
The song ended and he sat down on his stool and took a break while the singer talked to the crowd.
Kate had disappeared, possibly into the bathroom. He caught Maya’s eye and beckoned to her. A few minutes later, she appeared next to the stage. Honestly, he barely recognized her in that gold top with her hair all wild.
“Question for you. Your friend Kate. I met her earlier tonight. I don’t want to step on—”
“It’s all good. Go for it.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. Maya could be hard to figure out because she played her cards close to the vest. “That was quick.”
She wagged a finger at him. “Just don’t tell her who you are, that’s my only advice. Also, don’t tell her where you live.”
“What the hell? Why not?”
“Look, just go with it. She’s great. And she thinks you’re hot. So far as I know, that’s the only thing really wrong with her.”
He scowled at her. “Save your insults for the job, why don’t you?”
“But why would I, when they’re so fun no matter what the circumstances?”
With a growl, he took a sip of the water the waitress had left him. “I only have a couple minutes before the next set. Come on, give me something more or I’ll tell everyone I saw you dancing in a gold lamé top and Lost Harbor will never be the same after that.”
She smirked and folded her arms across her chest. “You wouldn’t.”
He raised one eyebrow and held her gaze. But this was Maya Badger he was dealing with, and he quickly caved. “Okay, I probably wouldn’t. I’m not that kind of guy.”
“Aaaaand, because you know I don’t care all that much.”
“Good point. Okay, at least give me the lowdown on your friend. Is she single?”
“She’s single. She’s very cool. Smart, funny, weird taste in men. She’s from the Lower Forty-Eight. But she spent summers here growing up.”
From out of state. That was a good thing. It could be hard dating in such a small town. A woman who lived somewhere else…yeah, that could work.
“But look, you should get to know her for yourself. Want me to pass a note to her or something?”
He gave her his most intimidating lip curl. “I can take it from here, thanks. I just want to make sure I’m not going to get on your bad side.”
“What makes you think you were ever on my good side?”
“Believe me, nothing makes me think that,” he said wholeheartedly, making her laugh. “I just don’t want to backslide.”
“You have my blessing. Just…” she hesitated.
“Just what?”
“Keep me out of it.”
“Why?”
“This is girls’ night out. We’re trying to have fun. I don’t want her pestering me about you. The two of you are on your own, okay? Either you click or you don’t. I don’t want to be involved.”
“Fair enough.”
She leaned in just a little farther and gave him a quick wink. “Word has it the owner rents the cabins out back.”
“I know. They gave me one for the night as payment for filling in. They’re pretty nice.” At least from what he’d seen; he’d barely had time to drop his bag on the bed before the mini-rehearsal.
A wide grin spread across her rich brown face. “Sounds like destiny to me. But what do I know? I’m just a cop. Have a fun night, Chief.”
“You too, Chief.”
They added a high-five to that, completing their usual sendoff. Maya disappeared back into the crowd.
The singer picked up the mic again, sending a twang of static through the sound system. “All right, who’s ready to keep on rocking?”
And it was back to work.
But not without one more glance at Kate. This time, she was looking back. Their gazes caught. And held. And she gave him the naughtiest smile this side of reform school.
He missed his cue. Oops.
Well, it wouldn’t be the first time a woman had completely thrown him off track. Judging by the electricity sizzling between him and Kate, it would be worth it.
At least she wasn’t from around here, so she couldn’t do any permanent damage to his life.
All the stress. All the worry. All the annoyance at her father. It all went floating away as Kate threw herself into dancing. Sometimes you just needed to let loose and have fun. Especially when your life had gone to shit. Here she was at the ends of the Earth and the beat was insane and the tequila was kicking in and for the first