All the Right Moves(21)

Cassie allowed herself a smirk. When she looked up again, Karma and her friends were on their way out, Ariel stealing one last glance at John before the door blocked her view.

Cassie stole a glimpse herself. John was back on his stool, sipping his beer, calm and cool and more handsome than seemed fair. He met her gaze as if she’d called his name, his slow grin part simmer, part promise.

Which was a problem. A much, much bigger problem than it had been half an hour ago. She didn’t date customers. She didn’t date airmen. She most certainly didn’t date pilots. But that kiss...

That kiss had knocked her for a loop. He’d made her knees weak and her heart flutter. She’d been attracted, sure. She had eyes, and he’d impressed her with his behavior in a very awkward situation. But the kiss. Damn. She hadn’t thought that through.

It had been a long time since she’d been kissed. And she’d never been kissed like that.

* * *

THIRTY MINUTES LATER, and John still couldn’t think of anything but Cassie and that kiss. Her hair was longer than he’d thought. The jerking motion of her arm as she washed the bar top had loosened her ponytail, allowing relaxed curls to trail her neck and skim her jiggling breasts. He tried damn hard not to stare. Jesus, she had to stop scrubbing sometime. Or at least look at him. If he’d blown it with her... They barely knew each other. He could have gotten a lot more with a lot less trouble if he’d gone to the Palms with the guys. Somehow, though, he had the feeling Cassie would be worth it.

“Hey, beautiful.” A guy he vaguely recognized from last night had come from the back room and headed straight for Cassie.

She looked up with a smile John was beginning to recognize. This one said, I’m nice, but watch yourself, whereas some of the customers got genuine warmth. “What can I do for you?”

The kid reached across the bar for a cocktail napkin, then made eyes at her. “Run away with me.”

“Let me know when you’re out of short pants and I’ll think about it.” She tossed aside the rag. “Beer? Pretzels? What?”

“I’m your age, sweetheart,” he said, straightening, and looking annoyed. “When are you gonna start taking me seriously?”

“Oh, I don’t know...maybe when you start acting your age.” She sighed. “What can I get for you?”

John hid his smile behind a sip. She was fierce, this one.

Shaking his head, the guy used the napkin to wipe pool chalk off his fingers. “A Miller. It’s for Tommy.”

Cassie’s features tightened. “He can’t wait for Lisa, or come get it himself?”

“Don’t put me in the middle.”

“Tommy did that,” she murmured under her breath, but John heard it. She went for the beer then set the bottle on the bar. “What about you?”

“I’m working on a pitcher. Your dishwasher still out?”

“Yep, so no, you’re not getting a clean mug.”

Chuckling, he grabbed the bottle and as he moved toward the back room said over his shoulder, “Think about what I said...one word and I’ll take you away from all this.”

“Are you kidding?” Cassie spread a hand. “And leave my world of glamour and thrills?” A smile tugged at her lips but didn’t make it full-term. “Hey, Steve—”

He stopped at the door to the back room.

“Remind Tommy he’s supposed to cover for me soon, would you?”

Steve nodded. “Sure.”

Before he turned away, a booming voice from the main room said, “Cassie doesn’t date customers, buddy.”

With a dismissive flap of his hand, Steve disappeared from sight.

It was the wheelchair-bound vet in the corner who’d made the general announcement, and considering the death glare heading his way John was real clear the message was meant for him, not Steve. That kiss hadn’t just shocked Karma.

He didn’t mind. Good for Cassie having protective people around her. But John was more interested in Cassie’s plans for later on. Was she leaving? Did she have a date? Was that why she needed someone to cover for her?

She took care of a couple drink orders and then made her way back to him. “Did you want pretzels?” she asked, as if he were just another customer.

“No, thanks. I’ll pass.”

“I just opened a new bag.” Smiling, she leaned back on her elbows, facing him, her T-shirt stretching across her breasts.