“Should I?” I ask. “I thought shame was a weakness.”
“It usually keeps people humble,” she retorts. “Something tells me you probably sneeze at the word.”
“I am allergic, yes,” I say.
Juniper giggles and shakes her head. The front door opens then, revealing two couples who look around the bar like it’s their first time inside. Juniper sighs and swipes the towel over the last bit of water on the bar.
“Hey, how’s it going, guys?” she says loudly. “Take a seat anywhere. I’ll be right there.”
She tosses the dirty towels into the bin and then braces her palms against the bar top, eyes meeting mine.
“Are you going to be here all night?” she asks.
“Until you kick me out,” I reply.
She smiles softly, pink back on her cheeks. “Then you have to go sit at that table with Jasmine. Can’t take up a paying seat if you’re just here to flirt.”
I huff and nod, standing from the stool. “Banished to the corner. You know, I don’t think I’ll recover from this level of humiliation. You have officially tormented me, darling. The first, ever.”
She chews on her bottom lip for a beat like she’s trying not to smile wider. “This isn’t torment. This is you practicing patience. Something I’m pretty sure you’ve never had to deal with before.”
“You’re right. I am not a patient man,” I admit.
The look in her eyes darkens as she shakes her head. “You are… something.”
“My favorite compliment.”
She regards me again, eyes darting over my entire figure as I straighten. A sly look rises in her gaze, and I’m suddenly wary of her.
“What?” I ask.
“I was just thinking about that word.Torment,” she replies.
I stare at her, body rejecting whatever plan she’s coming up with to tease me the rest of the night. “No,” I say, getting what she’s thinking. “Do not?—”
“It is really getting hot in here,” she says, fanning herself.
I will freeze the entire room and fuck you against the bar as it thaws.
—is what I want to tell her.
Because if she plans on testing me all night in something other than thisalreadylittle black dress, I may have to walk away.
Only she’s irresistible and wholly consuming.
An innocent little smile graces her lips. She steps around the bar, taps Jasmine on the shoulder to tell her she’ll be right back, and then disappears around the corner.
I assess the rest of the room, now concerned with whether I’ll be able to keep my sanity the rest of the night.
“Go sit,” Jasmine says, walking behind me toward the table that’s just sat. “I’ll bring you something.”
She throws a grin at me as she strides off, and it breaks me out of my stunned daze.
Where did Juniper go?
I’m still looking around for her when I take a seat at the table Jasmine has her accounting books strewn across. One of the bills catches my attention, and I’m perusing the numbers when I see a figure walk out from where I assume the bathrooms are. I peer over my glasses to find Juniper walking from around the corner with an excitement in her eyes. Our gazes meet, and she crooks a finger my way.
I don’t bother seeing if anyone else is paying attention to us before practically jumping to my feet.
