“Yeah,” she sighed.
“I mean, I didn’t hurt you, right?”
“No. That was intense, but that’s a great way to start a Saturday morning.”
I chuckled. “Yeah. I could start every Saturday that way.”
She drew circles on my chest. “I have to go clean up.”
I gently withdrew from her. “We both do. Let’s go.”
We settled back in bed when we came out of the bathroom. Alexandra drew the sheet up over her body.
“Lex, I was serious. You’re gorgeous - naked, dressed, it doesn’t matter.”
“Rafferty,” she said, pulling away from my hold.
“Nope. I mean it. Doesn’t matter if you’re fucking me, or fighting with me, you’re gorgeous no matter what you’re doing.”
“Okay,” she said, exasperation lacing her tone.
“I’ll let it go, but I know your dad told you all the time, so—”
“He’s always going to say that, all right.”
I widened my eyes. “Maybe, but legit, baby, you are pure fire.”
She pressed her lips together. “Okay, I believe you, and I’ll work on it. Now, what are we doing about breakfast? We could go to First Watch if it’s not too late.”
I grinned. “Or I could make you breakfast. I have prospect shit I have to do pretty soon.”
She almost pouted. “Okay, but let’s eat outside. I’m feeling a little stir crazy. Probably because your room has no windows.”
“This is the most bizarre set-up,” Alexandra said, as her gaze wandered about the bar area of On a Lark.
“What do you mean?” I asked, using my hand at the small of her back to guide her to the far end of the bar.
I liked that corner of the barroom because I could keep an eye on the people near the stage, and also watch as people entered from the vestibule-slash-small room where merch was sold and cover charges were collected.
Alexandra settled on a stool and shot me a semi-incredulous look. “What I mean is that the small entry area reminds me of a tourist restaurant - when this area is anythingbuttouristy - and it strikes me as being presumptuous, because this isn’t what I expected after going through all that.”
With my elbow on the bar, I rested my head on my upturned fist. “Going through what, Lex?”
She shook her head. “Maybe it’s living in a college town, but most bars and clubs, the bouncer is at the door, checks IDs, collects the cover, and you go inside. Ryan out there behind a counter is… pretentious.”
“What are you drinkin’?” Killian asked, standing behind the bar in front of us.
I looked at Lex. She appeared to be mulling it over.
I leaned toward her. “If you want a cocktail, you only get one. I can’t get you home safe if you’re sloshed on the back of the bike.”
She turned her head to me. “I thought we were gonna be here a while. Why can’t I have two drinks?”
I dipped my chin. “Shit can change. If we were in the truck, I’d be down with that. Order what you want, babe.”
Killian shook his head and sighed. “You’re takin’ too long. I’m making you a Lark’s Lemonade, and you’re gonna like it.”
“What’s that?” Alexandra asked.
