I slowly slid mine into his grip. “Ryder. Let me know if you need anything.”
I reluctantly pulled away, but let my fingertips linger against his as long as possible. I felt his eyes on me as I busied myself wiping up the tables and clearing away the last few dishes. I didn’thaveto lean across that last booth, but I did, making my jeans stretch over my ass. I swore I heard him groan.
“You doing all right over there?” I asked, pleased with the way he watched me round the bar again. I tucked the dish bucket away and reached for his empty glass. “You want another?”
“Please.”
I grabbed a new glass and got to mixing. I felt Luke’s eyes follow my every move, so I put a little more flair behind tossing the bottles around—and maybe gave him a heavy pour.
“Thank you,Ryder.” He purred my name, as if he were enjoying the way it felt in his mouth. I squirmed. He took a drink, then his brows furrowed together. “Wait, are you Hannah’s dad?”
I cocked my head at him. “Damn, I knew this town was close-knit but maybe it’s smaller than I remember.”
Luke shook his head, a smile on his lips. “Kian’s my little brother. You’re the only thing Hannah’s been able to talk about for weeks.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Really?”
“Yeah, she’s been so excited to have you here. And I have tosay,” Luke paused to lean across the bar, bringing himself that much closer to me, “it’s nice to put a pretty face to the name.”
I cleared the bottles and dishes away, folding my arms on the countertop. I was close enough to smell Luke’s expensive cologne, to see the flecks of gold in his eyes. I inhaled deeply, almost intoxicated by his scent. “Do I meet your expectations?”
“You blew them out of the water.” He swallowed, and hesitated before speaking again. “This may be the alcohol making meextrabold, but what are you doing tomorrow night?”
“He’s working.”
Both Luke and I snapped our attention to the door. We’d been so enthralled in each other that neither of us heard James come in. He stood with one hand on the door, the other held a bag of food. Luke turned back to me, eyebrow raised. “Well, what time are you off?”
My eyes flicked back and forth between James and Luke. “Late,” I admitted. “Sorry. I don’t think it would be a good idea anyway. It might make things weird with Hannah.”
Though I saw disappointment in his eyes, Luke nodded as he rose from his seat. “I understand—she’s your priority. But does that take flirting off the table?”
Before I could answer, James cleared his throat, catching our attention again. “If you’ll excuse us, Luke. It’s late, we’re tired, and we’re closed.”
“I’m going!” Then to me, “See you around, Ryder.”
I made no effort to hide the way I watched him walk away, perfectly tailored trousers clinging to him inallthe right ways. He donned his expensive coat once again, muttered a good night to James, and stepped out into the darkness. James locked the door behind him and turned off the signs. As each one went dark, Luke disappeared a little more. I watched until I couldn’t see him anymore.
James turned back to me. On the surface he seemed calm,cool, and collected. But I didn’t miss the intensity in his eyes. He tried to mask it, but I saw it. “Luke? Really?” he teased, crossing the room and setting the bag down on the counter.
I cocked a brow at him. “Jealous, boss? There’s plenty of me to go around.”
James mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like, “I don’t share,” but quickly recovered. “Are you hungry? I brought plenty.”
I eyed the bag, and for a second my stomach thought about grumbling. But I was way more interested in the way James’s arms bulged against the restraints of his t-shirt as he shimmied out of his jacket, so I shook my head. “No, I’m okay. I don’t think you can get what I’m craving from a restaurant.”
“Well in that case…” James looked at me and grinned, and hope sparked in my belly. “Those dishes aren’t going to wash themselves.”
I sauntered away. “My dick isn’t going to suck itself either,” I muttered under my breath.
“I’ll be back to help you soon,” he called after me.
I froze, cocking a brow at him over my shoulder. “Huh?”
“With the dishes. I’m not going to make you do them all by yourself.”
“Oh. Thanks.” Still, the look on his face had me suspicious. He couldn’t have heard what I said, could he? When he remained quiet, focused on his meal, I shook it off and continued into the kitchen.
I took in the dirty dishes around me. The longer I stood there doing nothing, the longer it’d be before I could go home. The addition of the dishwasher calling out on top of Dani being sick made what would’ve been a hectic Friday night almost miserable.
