Chaser (Dive Bar #3)(3)

“Can’t beat Bowie.”

“No, you can’t.”

“Guess that makes you the Jean Genie.”

“Ha. Yeah.” She gave another of those ball-tightening chuckles. I could happily listen to her do that all day long. Except suddenly the happy fell from her face. “It was her favorite song.”

Shit. Damn. I softened my tone. “Your mom passed?”

She blinked. “No.”

“No?”

“Sorry.” She shook her head, looking flustered. “Both of my parents are alive and well. I just meant it was her favorite song when I was young. That’s all. Nothing else.”

“Well, that’s good.”

“Hmm.” Her gaze fell to our still embracing hands and at roughly the speed of light the slight pressure of her grip and the warmth of her skin were gone. “Crap. I didn’t mean to paw at you.”

“Pawing is altogether encouraged.”

Startled laughter burst out of her. “Look at you with the long hair and that face and everything. You’re a hell of a flirt, Eric.”

“Thank you very much. You’re rather easy on the eyes yourself.” I smirked. “And I still owe you a trick.”

“Right, my drink,” she said, shoulders slouching as she relaxed. “Guess away.”

“Okay.” I squinted at her, searching for inspiration and trying not to get too distracted wondering what she’d look like naked and lying on my bed. It wasn’t easy. But like I said, self-discipline. “I’m going to say a black widow.”

She blinked. “A what widow?”

“A black widow. Blackberries, silver tequila, lime juice, and sugar syrup,” I said. “I think that’s what you should order.”

“And why should I order that?”

“It’s sweet but with a kick.” I gave her my best grin. “I think you’d like it.”

“So this has nothing to do with you suspecting me of murdering any husbands?”

“No, of course not.” I laughed. Then stopped. “Oh, man. You’re not married, are you? I mean, you are single, right?”

Her mouth opened, but nothing came out.

Shit, shit, shit.

“Relax, Eric.” Jean tucked in her chin, looking over the menu again with a faint frown. “I’m single.”

“Good.” I exhaled, smiling once more. “That’s good. Otherwise, asking you to dinner tonight would have been all sorts of awkward.”

She said nothing.

No matter. We could get back to that later. “I’ve never seen you in here before. Are you a local or just passing through?”

“Actually, I just moved to the area,” she said. “Today, in fact.”

“That’s great!”

As much fun as a one-nighter could be, I’d been thinking lately about perhaps getting more serious with someone. Maybe. Just to try it out, at least. It was entirely my idea; it had nothing to do with Nell’s daily lecturing.

The truth was that I was getting close to thirty. And a lot of heavy shit had gone down last year. It had been hardest on Nell most of all. But she’d bounced back, happily pregnant and with the right guy this time, Pat. It didn’t really make sense that I would be still struggling with it all.

Probably what was getting to me was just the fact that Joe was settling down with his new girlfriend. Joe, my brother. My younger brother. Who had never even been popular with the ladies, for fuck’s sake. Ever since Alex had come to town, however, he’d been walking around smiling like he’d won the jackpot.

Anyway, whatever the cause, I’d been feeling a little … I don’t know. Not lost. Just the thought had been hanging around in the back of my head. It didn’t seem as bad an idea as it would have a few years ago. Actually, this could be perfect. I drank in Jean’s stunning face and gorgeous curves. We could hang out together, catch some movies, do couple shit. Hold hands even. It would definitely show Nell I wasn’t some shallow fuckbot.

But I was getting ahead of myself.

“Where are you from originally?” I asked, getting back into the conversation.

“Jacksonville, Florida.”

“Yeah? You ever go to the Night Garden or Emory’s?”

Delight lit her face. “I love Emory’s, best club in town.”

“Passed through there a few years back on my way to Miami,” I said. With that energy and edge, I figured she might be from the party crowd. “Good atmosphere and the DJ was something else.”

“My friends and I used to go dancing there every Saturday night.” She stared off at nothing. “Those were the days.”

“Hey, just ’cause you moved to Coeur d’Alene doesn’t mean your life’s over. This town is awesome, plus now you can come hang out here. We have live music most weekends,” I said. “You’d be very welcome.”

No response for a moment. Then she quietly said, “I’ll be around.”

Taka seated some customers at a table nearby, pausing to give me an amused look. Typical. They’d all have to wipe those smirks off their faces once they realized I was boyfriend material. Taka, Nell, Lydia, the whole lot of them.

“So, Jean.” I braced my hands on the back of the chair opposite her, leaning in a little, trying to get her attention. It worked, her gaze snapping back to me. “Can I make you a black widow? On the house, of course.”