Closing her eyes and letting out another bout of yummy noises, she barely registered Kendrick asking someone next to her, “Did you decide?”
“Absolutely,” the raspy baritone scratched across Tabitha’s skin with familiarity. The chuckle that followed solidified the recognition. “I’ll have what red’s having.”
Cheeks full and eyes wide, she turned to the man at her left and snagged on two glittering brown eyes that crinkled with amusement. A few wavy strands of hair hung around his face while the rest was loosely pulled back in a bun at his crown. The thick, slightly unkempt russet beard hid much of his face, but straight white teeth gleamed from his grin.
Tabitha clocked the very moment—the instant—the man’s recognition took hold because the mirthful, flirtatious grin he’d been wearing dropped.
Just like her stomach.
“Tabby cat?”
Chapter five
Sixteen years ago, Seattle: Tabitha
“CanIseeyourID?” Tabitha turned as the bartender shouted to another customer over some popular song by The Fray. The volume was far too loud for such mellow music, but she didn’t really care. It was nice to have a break from training, even if she wasn’t drinking.
The man ordering passed over his license, cool as a cucumber. The bartender’s scrutiny flitted between the card and the guy a few times before he shrugged with a mumbledwhateveron his lips. Tabitha could see plain as day the guy was young. Possibly too young to be drinking. The baby face alone ratted him out. The nervous drumming of his fingers on the counter was his other tell.
A few girls sauntered up to the bar to order. Baby Face stepped aside to make room for them. A fourth joined the cluster, which inadvertently shoved the guy right on to Tabitha’s lap.
“This seat’s taken, pal,” Tabitha hollered in an ear that was far too close to her face. She got a whiff of him—not intentionally, it was the proximity’s fault—and she was pleasantly surprised. She would have pegged him for an overwhelming body spray kind of guy. Something in the vein ofanarchy muskortestosterone temptation. Instead, the clean aloe and orange peel scent delighted her senses.
Ass still resting on her lap, probably-under-age-guy glanced over his shoulder and smirked. “Best seat in the house from where I’m sitting, baby girl.”
Tabitha’s lips curled in distaste. “No.”
“No what?” he asked, tilting his head in intrigue.
“To the nickname.” She gave a mighty shove that he barely registered.
“Sweetheart? Darlin’?”
“Double no. Will you get off me already?”
Thankfully, the group of miniskirts with studded belts and too much eyeliner took their shots and scuttled back to the dance floor.
“Only because there’s room now.” He pulled a barstool up next to her and made himself comfortable. His ID rested face down on the counter, nearly forgotten as he leaned in. “What should I call you?”
“Not interested.”
“Ouch,” he groaned, gripping his chest, feigning a broken heart. “You wound me, madam.”
It was impossible not to notice the lean muscle and sinew of his forearm. And Tabitha found herself wondering if the toned limb was any indication of the rest of him.For shame, Tabitha Handcock.Forget drinking aged, this kid could still be in high school. Though, baby face aside, the square jaw and lack of acne pointed to him being at least old enough to vote.
She snatched his ID off the counter before he could intervene.
“Jonathan Miller, huh?” There was no way the blonde, amber-eyed man in the license photo was the same dude sitting beside her. For one thing, he had shaggy brown hair that tickled the tops of his ears and eyebrows. For two, his eyes were a deep brown that almost obscured the lines of his pupils. Plus, there were the dimples and a completely different smile. She’d have to be blind or drunk to buy the comparison. And since she wasn’t either . . . “From Leavenworth?”
Probably-not-Jonathan-Miller plucked the card from her fingers and tucked it safely into his wallet. “Ever been?”
“Have you?”
“Touché,” he said while barking out a laugh that made Tabitha’s neck warm.
Along with other parts.
Just then, the bartender walked over and deposited a can of Rainier beer. After retrieving payment, he leaned in. “Just this one then you gotta go. Clear?”
