making his hand twitch to feel the texture of it between his fingers. He shrugged off the inappropriate impulse, tapping his fingers on the bar instead. She shrugged. “I didn’t see. I was too busy searching for something to stuff in my ears.”
“Ah, but that’s a lie. How else would you know I was one of the guys up there if you didn’t look?”
The woman laughed, shaking her head. “All right, you’ve caught me. I sneaked a peek. You’re a good detective.”
“It’s why the city of Cincinnati pays me the big bucks.”
“Hmm, interesting. So solve this mystery for me, Detective. Why do men get married if they see it as biting the dust?”
“I’ll tell you a secret.” He looked over both shoulders, pretending concern at being overheard. “See, there are rules. We have to relinquish our Man Card to the Bureau of Masculine Affairs if we don’t at least pretend we’re being dragged to the altar kicking and screaming.”
She widened her eyes. “Ah. And when are you given these rules? Kindergarten, I suppose?”
“No, not that early. We call them commandments, emphasis on man, and they’re given to us in a secret ceremony when we come of age.”
She grimaced at his bad pun, but amusement danced in her eyes. “Oh, I see. A ceremony. Very official. I’m assuming there’s lots of chest beating and—”
“Foul bodily noises, grunting—”
“Ball scratching?”
Reed laughed. “There’s not an itchy ball in the place when all is said and done. How did you know?” He raised a brow. “Did you somehow discover the underground bunker where the ceremony’s performed and sneak in to watch?”
“No, no. Just a shot in the dark. I’m assuming you weren’t supposed to tell me about this secret ceremony though. Should I fear for my life now?”
He shook his head. “Being that you’re a self-professed psycho, I don’t think anyone will believe you.”
She laughed and he grinned, their gazes snagging, energy buzzing between them. Unseen sparks igniting in the air. God, it felt good. It made him feel alive, focused. He hadn’t been pulled to a woman like this in a long time, maybe ever, and he relished the feeling. Let himself fall into it.
Someone behind them let out a loud scream and the blonde next to him startled. They both looked back to see a young woman throwing her arms around a friend in a drunken greeting. They turned back to each other, and the blonde started to stand. Disappointment gripped him as did a vague sense of panic. She’s leaving. He stood back to give her room, his mind grasping at what he might say to either make her stay, or cement a way to see her again. Ask for her number. I should ask for her number. But she spoke before he could. “Let’s get out of here, Spence.”
His mind went momentarily blank. “Uh. Okay. Yeah.” He set his beer down on the bar. “There’s a coffee shop up the street that—”
She pulled on a leather jacket hung on the back of her bar stool and swung her purse over her shoulder. “I don’t want coffee, Spence.” She turned, heading toward the door and he only paused for a moment before following. I don’t want coffee . . . They wove through the crowd, Reed’s mind spinning as he kept the blonde in his sight. This was the last thing he’d expected when he’d headed to the bar straight from work to celebrate his soon-to-be-married co-worker with a round or five of drinks.
Just as the thought of DiCrescenzo passed through his head, the guy almost plowed into him. “You leaving, buddy?” he slurred.
“Yeah. Ah . . .” The blonde moved between two men and out of his sight, and another frisson of panic buzzed inside him. He took DiCrescenzo’s hand in his. “I gotta head home. I’m happy for you, man. She’s a good woman.”
DiCrescenzo nodded. “I really love her. That’s the best part, you know? I really losh . . .” He appeared confused for a moment. “I really losh hers.” He laughed, tipping slightly and Billings, another co-worker, came up beside DiCrescenzo and caught him before he wobbled over.
“Whoa there, big guy. You okay? We promised to get you home in one piece tonight.”
“I gotta piss,” DiCrescenzo said.
“I got ya, my man,” Billings said. “You leaving, Davies?”
Reed turned toward the door again but there was no sign of the woman. “Yeah. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He nodded to DiCrescenzo. “Make sure he gets home safe?”