Speakeasy (True North #5)(21)

“Um…” Connor chuckles. “Hang on.” He sets down a bar mop and trots off toward the kitchen.

Alec grins, and suddenly I feel very self-conscious, like I don’t know where to rest my gaze. I can’t look at Daniela, because that way lies the abyss. I can’t ogle Alec, because I don’t want to be a creeper.

I don’t look at all those open bottles of wine. Although they’re beckoning.

“So,” Alec says, his voice low. “You never finished telling me why Daniela thinks you aren’t woman enough for her.”

“Maybe that’s private,” I whisper.

“Maybe.” He shrugs. “On the other hand, it sounds like a fun story. And she’ll know we’re talking about her. People have a sense for that. And she kinda deserves it.”

“She does,” I agree. “But it’s not the right conversation for a crowded room.”

“Really.” His eyes flare. “That only makes me more curious. How were you not lesbian enough for her?”

“This is really turning you on, isn’t it?” I tease. “Lesbian sex talk?”

He gives me another playful shrug. “There are worse topics. Besides—I’ve always thought women were less weird about this stuff. Like—it’s dudes who always compare dick sizes. Burst my bubble—aren’t women above all that? Or was she secretly comparing boobs and feeling inadequate?” His eyes take a brief trip into my cleavage and then return to my face.

It’s not subtle. And suddenly my head is full of lesbians comparing their boobs, and I actually giggle like a school girl. “No, geez. Boobs are nice in every shape and size.”

“No kidding.” Alec licks his lips. “So what’s her damage?”

“It’s not a body thing,” I whisper. “Okay—it is a body thing. She thinks it’s not cool to enjoy…” I stop myself.

“What?” he whispers back. “Spanking? Choking?”

“No! Penetration,” I hiss. “She felt threatened by my vibrator. As if needing that meant I wasn’t one of the tribe.”

Alec’s jaw drops. “No way. You wild woman, you.”

Then I really laugh, and so does he. “It sounds ridiculous out loud,” I admit in a low voice. And I cannot believe I’m sharing such a weird and intimate detail with him. Then again, vibrators aren’t exactly edgy, as he just pointed out.

Also, there’s something really easygoing about Alec. I have the feeling that nothing I ever did or said could shock him. Though it sure is fun to try.

“Listen.” Alec shakes his head. “I’m not a big enough idiot to mansplain lesbian sex to you.”

“Ha! Good to know.”

“But who gets to tell another person what’s sexy, right? And I think I just learned something about Daniela. And people in general.”

“What’s that?”

His brown eyes tease me at close range. “You don’t have to have a penis to be a dick.”

“Omigod.” That sets me off again. I have to clap a hand over my mouth to hold in the laughter. Because he’s absolutely right.

The bartender comes back, his arms full of ingredients. “Here we go, luv,” he says. “Let’s do this.”

I calm down as he and Alec begin to discuss the mocktail. Apparently my drink requires ice cubes and mint leaves. I take a chance and glance around the room, noting that Daniela and Tracy have inched closer to us, damn it.

If I had garlic to ward them off, I’d use it.

There are other people in this room that I should take the time to greet. But I just don’t feel like mingling. If anyone asks me why Daniela and I aren’t together anymore, I don’t even know what I’ll say.

Schmoozing colleagues can wait until another time. Alec, his sense of humor, and his Scottish bartender are more my speed tonight. I’m tired and emotionally drained.

“Okay, let’s try this,” the bartender says. He hands me a glass containing mint leaves and golden liquid with ice cubes.

“Thank you! No need to go to so much trouble.” I take the glass.

“It’s what I do.” He winks.

I take a sip, and it’s glorious. I taste lime, a touch of honey and the bite of ginger. “Wow.” I take another sip. It tastes great, although I feel eyes on my back once again.

Daniela’s ex has approached the bar. “Do you have shots?” she asks. “I need one. Bad.”

“No, luv,” the bartender says. “Just the wine and beers you see here.”

“Really? Then what is little miss sparkly shirt drinking?” She jabs her chin in my direction.

My blood pressure doubles immediately, because there’s no mistaking the taunting edge in Daniela’s ex’s voice.

Alec puts a calming hand on my lower back. Easy, it cautions.

“She’s drinking a mocktail I created just for her,” the bartender says. “Cannae get your buzz from that.”

“How does it taste?” Alec asks me, as if Daniela’s ex weren’t even there.

When I turn to face him, a sexy smile waits for me. “Lovely,” I say, and I’m referring to him as well as the drink. “Minty.” I take another sip. “Thank you.”