Lex glowers at me from the bar and, in all honesty, I consider it a greeting coming from her. I hop onto the stool next toher.
“Have you met the new waitress?” She strums her black cherry nails over thegranite.
“No, is it your sister, Serena?” Serena works at the Black Bear, and for the longest time Lex had a problem with that. If she’s working at The Sloppy Pelican, Lex here can keep an extra eagle eye on her little sis. But then Serena is probably too smart to let that scenario panout.
“No. It’s the blonde ditz who can’t stop talking about how cute Brody Wolf is. She asked me twice if she had lipstick on her fangs.” She looks as if she’s going to be sick. “If she asks again, she won’t haveteeth.”
“Blonde ditz?” My eyes scan the crowd, and I spot her. “Oh, crap.” A horrible sinking feeling takes over. “It’s Bo Peep. Now we’re never going to get rid ofher.”
“I told you to take the job”—Lex mocks—“but no, Miss High and Mighty is too good for a payingposition.”
“I never said that.” Not with wordsanyway.
“But let’s get honest.” She stands and tightens the apron behind her back. “You thought it. Look—after my honeymoon, I’ll be running my own business. You can have my spot if you want it. Think of it this way. You’ll be closer to your honey.” She glances past me at Mojo. “Both of them.” She takes off, and a knot builds in my stomach at the thought of working at the bar—atabar. It’s practically hard labor. It’s grunt work for sure. And I don’t think I’ve ever stood on my feet for more than tenminutes.
“I like my seat right here!” I shout after her. “Sans the apron full of dollar bills.” I spin around to find Brody in front of me and Bo Peep to myleft.
“I get it.” She rolls her eyes. Her name is spelled in all caps on the gold tag she wears proudly.JESSIE. And I can’t help but feel she’s rubbing her presence in my face. “Waitressing isn’t for everyone. And it’s truly humbling, especially for myself. I’ve got a doctorate degree in library sciences and, believe you me, I had to leave my ego at the door.” She looks to Brody with a straight face. “I need three ButteryNipples.”
“Raven’s all ego.” Brody gives a slight wink my way, and I suddenly want to kick him in the shins—then lovingly kiss that shin all the way up tohis—
“I’m not all ego.” I glower his way for both invoking such dirty thoughts in me and making me angry at the very sametime.
“Sure you are.” He gets right to work on those Buttery Nipples. “You wouldn’t take a job like this. It’s beneath you.” He lands the first two drinks on the bar, and Jessie is quick to sweep themup.
“Well, your loss is my gain,” Jessie purrs with an utter innocence in her voice that just makes me dislike her all the more. “I sure needed the money. It’s crazy how expensive life is. Just my cell phone and my car payment have me drowning in debt. Not to mention my apartment.” Her perky little face lights up. “Oh, andhey—I’m looking for a roommate, so if you know of anyone I’d sure appreciateit.”
I shoot Brody the look of death as he glides the last Buttery Nipple her way, and she boot-scoots her way across therestaurant.
“Don’t be long, darlin’,” he calls after her in a fake country accent, and right now I can’t figure out what or who I hatemore.
“Oh, drop the country fried love-struck act,” I howl. “And how dare you make me sound like an ego maniac. I’m as humble as they come, and don’t you forget it. And I also happen to know where you stash the Snickers bars. Don’t think I’m above raiding your freezer reserves. I might have to down all you’ve got after making me feel solousy.”
He belts out a laugh. “You can have at my Snickersanytime.”
The air charges between us, and suddenly that seemingly innocent candy reference seems overtly sexual and oh-so-delicious.
Mojo comes over, and I sag in my seat. I’m so tired of faux pining after the snake man only to have him laugh me off as if I were the cutest little thing he never did want. I need to win back Brody’s attention. He needs to see me as more than the little sister he’s willing to share his Halloween candy with—one he puts down for having an overblownego.
“Raven, my girl.” Mojo mixes a drink and slides it my way. “Shirley Temple with a shot of vodka just the way the big girls like it.” He offers up a wink, and I thank him for the drink. I’ve filled Mojo in on my annoyance over the fact Brody insists on treating me like a kid. In fact, I think Mojo and I have had more conversations about Brody than anything else. I rant, and he listens. He’s a great bartender in thatrespect.
“Now there’s a real man for you.” I give Brody the side-eye. “One who knows how to mix a real woman a drink. Thank you, Mojo. You are a knight in vodka shining armor. I was just about to faint what with all the bodies knocking around in here raising up the heat index. I need a good stiff drink.” I emphasis the wordstiffto no one’samusement.
“The only thing smoking in here is you, princess.” Mojo tosses an extra cherry into my glass. “You are looking hotter than a five-alarm fire in that dress. You sure your daddy knows you left the housetonight?”
We share a quick chortle and, swear to God, I can see the steam rising from Brody Wolf’s ears. Let’s just hope that’s jealousy and not some brotherly urge to protect my girl parts from the V-card threat I madeearlier.
“Funny you should gift me this sweet little treat.” I fish the glowing red cherry out of a bed of ice and wag it before him. “I was thinking of gifting you the very same thing a little later ontonight.”
Mojo’s brows lift in amusement. “Oh, honey, it’s on. I get off in an hour.” He picks up the vodka and adds another splash to my drink. “Get ready to have your world rocked.” He leans in, those dark eyes of his so intense they burn right through me with their wicked intent. “You’re playing with the big boys tonight.” He gives a hard glance Brody’s way before taking off and working the other end of thebar.
Brody balks, “Did he just take a potshot atme?”
“Come now, leave your ego at the door.” I can’t help but give a gloating grin while raising my drink to him. “Looks like I scored my date with Mojo after all! Aren’t you going to congratulate me?” I bat my lashes at him manically, and he scowls as if the act actually offendedhim.
“Why are you single?” he gruffs it out as if demanding anexplanation.
“Why are you a craterfiller?”
