All the Right Moves(50)

Lisa watched him pour the next shot, clearly trying not to laugh. “This isn’t brain surgery. Don’t be so precise.”

“Yeah, well, it’s going to be my head Cassie bites off if I mess up her profits.”

“Don’t worry. Cassie is more generous when she pours. The customers are used to stronger drinks. I’m surprised they haven’t complained. Though they’ve been distracted...” She cursed when she saw the pitchers overflowing and hurried to turn off the tap.

“Okay, here are the gin and tonics.” He stood back. “Oh, shit, wait.” The lime wedges. Where the hell had he put them?

He groaned when he remembered he didn’t have any more cut up. He was supposed to take care of those kind of things in his spare time. Right. As if he’d had a single extra minute. His mouth was dry, and he was so thirsty he’d drink jet fuel at this point.

The door creaked open to the left behind them...Cassie, of course. “Do you need—?”

“No,” John and Lisa said at the same time.

“Fine.” She shut the door rather loudly.

They exchanged grins, then Lisa said, “Our problem child.”

“Third time now. I hope she’s gotten the hint.”

“Um, you don’t know Cassie.”

No, he didn’t. Not as much as he’d like. At what point he’d arrived at that conclusion he wasn’t sure, but he’d seen red when he found out Tommy was in the wind when he knew his sister needed him. He got out the bag of limes and cutting board. Had no idea where he’d put the knife.

Lisa seemed to pull it out of thin air, then waved him away when he reached for it. “Make the vodka tonics. I’ll cut up enough for these drinks, deliver them, then come back and finish.”

He envied how fast she worked. “Thanks for helping me out.”

“Hey, you’re the one helping. Cassie deserves this. She deserves you.” Lisa paused, frowned, sent him a sidelong look. “Someone like you. Hell, you know what I mean.”

John let the comment go and uncapped the vodka bottle. “So, would you say a shot and a half would be about right?”

“Jesus, flyboy, just pour.” Laughing, she picked up her tray, balancing the two heavy pitchers and drinks in one hand. “Be right back.”

A woman of her word, Lisa used the next lull to cut up limes. He figured he’d hit the bonus round when she started washing glasses. “You’re good for business,” she said, glancing over at him with a sly smile.

“Okay, I’ll bite. How so?”

“You asked earlier how we keep up. We get slammed sometimes at the end of the month and the middle...you know, around payday. Nothing Cassie and I can’t handle. But tonight, everyone’s ordering extra. They’re trying to keep you humping, see how long it takes for you to blow a fuse. And then there’s a few who just want to annoy the crap out of you.”

“Gee, let me guess who.” Gordon, who hadn’t liked him from the first, gave him a small nod. John held back his grin, even though he’d take that gesture for the compliment it was.

Lisa followed his gaze. “He knows you’re doing this for Cassie. That’s major points right there.”

A giant bear of a man with an impressive beard and endless tats had come from the pool tables and slammed an empty pitcher on the bar hard. “No wonder service is so shitty. You two standing here gabbing like old ladies. What the hell do I have to do to get a refill around here?”

John had been ready to suck it up and apologize, when Lisa said, “Try shutting up for starters.”

Customers at the tables laughed. So did the big guy.

“Damn it, Spider.” Lisa grabbed the pitcher and inspected it. “You could’ve broken this.”

“Where’s Cassie?” Spider asked, frowning at John. “She’s prettier than you.” With beefy hands, he gripped the edge of the bar, arms wide, his round belly pressed against the wood while he studied John’s face. “Though not by much.”

That got another round of laughter.

“Funny. I didn’t know it was open-mic night.”

John heard the storage closet door open, and turned to see Cassie peeking out. “Everything’s fine,” he said.

“What was that loud noise?” She saw Spider and rolled her eyes. “Was that you causing trouble?”

“Cassie.”