“Based on the evidence in front of me, you can definitely do casual.” Josie pulled back long enough to slide her gaze over Eve’s sleeveless gray top and jeans before pressing their bodies back together. “Although I haven’t seen a look yet that you couldn’t pull off, including my pussy T-shirt.”
“Never going to live that one down.” Eve felt herself smiling at the memory. “But I didn’t choose this place because it’s casual or for the cheap beer.”
“No?” Josie asked, eyes locked on Eve’s, clearly intrigued.
She tipped her head toward the club across the street. “You told me last Monday you wanted to go to a bar where you didn’t work, let someone else mix the drinks, and go dancing.”
Josie blinked. “Oh.”
When she didn’t say anything else, Eve felt a twinge of disappointment. She’d thought Josie would enjoy this, but maybe she’d read her wrong. Maybe it was too much, or maybe she was just too tired. “That’s a lot for a Monday night, isn’t it?” she said, backpedaling. “We can just—”
Josie pressed a finger against her lips. “Shut up. I want to go dancing. There is absolutely nothing I’d rather do tonight. You just caught me off guard, I mean…I can’t remember the last time someone really listened to me like that. You’re unexpectedly thoughtful, Eve Marlow.”
And now Eve was caught off guard, because Josie had flat-out told her what she wanted on their last date, but suddenly, this felt like a much bigger deal than she’d ever meant it to be. “Who have you been dating that no one’s ever paid attention to what you like?”
“Exactly,” Josie said, bringing their mouths back together. “I told you I’ve been on a lot of shitty dates. Either I just have horrible luck, or the online dating pool is pretty shallow these days. You’re the first person in years I really enjoy being with.”
“Mm.” Eve ignored that comment in favor of another kiss, because she felt the same way, not that she’d ever admit it. This thing between them was only casual, a few dates and some blisteringly hot sex when it suited them.
“Is dancing okay for your back?” Josie asked between kisses.
“Yes. In fact, it hasn’t bothered me all week, but I wore these just in case.” She gestured to her practical—albeit rhinestone-studded—flats.
“Perfect.”
“Come on, I’m starving.” She disentangled herself and led the way inside.
The pub was loud and crowded. Eve paused in the doorway as a heavy weight settled in the pit of her stomach, an instinctual reaction she thought she’d overcome after all her time at Swanson’s. Her eyes flitted to the bar. But there was Josie, slipping her hand into Eve’s with a reassuring squeeze. “Okay?”
Eve nodded, shaking off the moment before leading the way to an empty booth. To her surprise, Josie slid in beside her. She settled close, one hand on Eve’s thigh as she reached for a menu. Sitting like this, with their backs to the rest of the bar, the clatter of glass and din of conversation became a cloak of background noise, sealing her and Josie in their booth.
At Josie’s suggestion, they ordered whiskey instead of beer. She reminded Eve of the age-old advice against drinking beer before liquor, because they’d certainly want cocktails later at the club. They ordered burgers and sipped whiskey, leaned in close, hands clasped beneath the table.
“Why do you work at theDo Overoffice instead of having your own?” Josie asked.
“I lease it from them, mostly to save on office costs. When we’re not filming the show, I keep to myself.”
“So if you don’t get renewed for season three, you’ll have to find new office space, on top of everything else?” Josie’s fingers trailed down her arm.
“Yes.”
“When will you know?”
“Soon after your episode airs,” Eve told her. “You’re going to be our season two finale.”
“Ooh.” Josie gave her a playful smile. “Big pressure on me and Dragonfly. I hope we live up to expectations.”
“If the episode doesn’t perform well, it won’t be because of you,” Eve said. “Sometimes there’s no predicting what will appeal to an audience, but you should feel good about what you’ve accomplished.”
“I do,” Josie told her, leaning in for a kiss. “Thanks to you.”
They sat and drank whiskey until it was late, since the club didn’t open until eleven. Truthfully, Eve was tired. She’d already had a long day, and all she really wanted was to take Josie home and fuck her senseless before falling asleep in her arms. But she’d committed to this, and she wanted Josie to have a good time tonight.
So she settled deeper into their booth, her back sinking into the cracked leather. She finished her whiskey and set the glass on the table as Josie pressed her face into Eve’s neck, tongue skimming over her skin, leaving fire in its wake. She turned her head, bringing their lips together, kisses softened by the alcohol warming her veins, deep and languid and searching.
They kissed until Eve was drunk on the desire pulsing in her veins, her body humming with a need she knew Josie would satisfy spectacularly at the end of the night. But for now, she was content to wait. They strolled hand in hand across the street to the nightclub she’d chosen…a gay club, so they could be as hands-on as they wanted without attracting any unwanted attention.
Inside the club, music pumped, so loud she felt the beat vibrating in her bones. A black light on the dance floor made her top glow bright white, but even more interestingly, it made Josie’s hair glow like purple flames dancing around her face as she began to sway to the music.
