“Did you cash out your tips?” When he gave me ahell nolook, I grinned. “Some of those guys were tipping you, not me.”
“Owners don’t take tips. It’s the rules.”
It was not, but I had noticed that if any of the Baileys helped me, they gave me all the tips for the night.
He folded his arms and leaned against the counter. A muscle popped in his jaw and he got a faraway look in his eyes. He was no longer thinking about cashing out for the night.
“You have something on your mind?” I asked.
“Maybe.”
I waggled my fingers toward myself. “Hit me.”
“I’d rather spank you.”
Immediate heartbeat between my legs. “I don’t read those types of books.” Hmm... being turned over his knee? I’d already sat on his face. “Yet.”
“Christ, Ruby. I’ll have to wipe tonight’s tapes too if you keep that up.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.”
“Or the second.”
I grinned, but the heat in my belly swirled, lowered. Working was definitely more enjoyable with him. “So? What’s up?”
He paused for a second, then he tugged me to him. “Nothing. My mind was on work and not you. I need to fix that.”
I sank into his hold and leaned my head against his chest. He wasn’t being honest. Maybe whatever had been on his mind wasn’t my business.
It might not be, but couples talked.
I waited another moment. His strong heartbeat thumped under my cheek. I couldn’t worry about something small like this. I was reverting to the days when Brock would be moody. Usually, that type of moodiness preceded a dumping.
Tenor wasn’t Brock. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be dating him.
I leaned back and pressed a kiss against his hard jaw. “I hate to break the silence, but my mom is back in town.”
He turned into a two-by-four against me. “Oh yeah?”
“Dad’s hitting me up for a date to play.”
“Right.”
I pushed away, but he didn’t release me. I hadn’t upset him badly enough to let me go, but he hadn’t relaxed either. “You don’t have to?—”
“I said I would,” he said gently. “Two weeks?”
“You need time to practice?” I teased. He was good at everything he did. If anything, he might let my parents win.
“I might need a refresher. I don’t want to be a bad partner.”
“You could never be.” I raised on my tiptoes and placed a kiss on his mouth.
His arms tightened around me, cinching me closer to him. “Two weeks. Saturday or Sunday, your choice. I’ll be there.” He kissed me again, lingering longer this time. “Now, what were you saying about a car scene from one of your books?”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Ruby
