She reached for a nearby stack of disposable coasters and took one, which she held in his direction. “Here’s a coaster for your beer.”
“Excuse me?” The look her gave her was more of a glare.
Alicia stifled her sigh. She was only trying to help, and she’d already offended him. “Your beer is leaving condensation on the bar.” She set the coaster down beside the offending glass and nudged it in his direction.
He looked at it and then at her. “The bar’s waxed, can’t hurt it.”
She bit back her retort. Waxed or not, a coaster was always a good idea, but arguing with him about it certainly wasn’t a good flirting strategy. What had Clare said to ask next? “What are you drinking?”
“Lager.” He picked it up, gave her another irritated look, and stood, leaving her alone at the bar.
Alicia’s cheeks burned. Well, that hadn’t gone well. The bartender brought her beer, so she paid and made her way back to Clare, who was watching with an inscrutable expression on her face. “I chased him away. See? I told you I was a disaster.”
“What did you say to him?” Clare asked.
“I offered him a coaster for his beer.”
Clare’s eyebrows shot upward. “A coaster?”
“He was getting condensation all over the bar!”
Clare’s shoulders shook with laughter, which she unsuccessfully tried to hide behind her hand. “You are one of a kind, that’s for sure.”
Alicia slid onto her stool—successfully, this time—and took a sip of her beer, annoyed to feel the hot prick of tears behind her eyes. It was one thing to fail at flirting, but quite another to do it in front of the woman she had feelings for, a woman who was now laughing at her.
“Hey.” Clare leaned forward, her expression suddenly tender. “You can’t win them all, right? I sent you out there too soon. You just need a little more practice.”
Alicia shook her head. “I think I’ve caused enough damage for one night. Are you ready to go home, or do you need to do more research on this bar?”
“I’m finished scouting the bar, but I don’t want to end on a bad note. Why don’t you practice your flirting with me? I’ll give you some pointers, and then maybe you can get back out there before we leave.”
“No, thanks.”
“Oh, come on,” Clare said. “Pretend I’m a random woman you just met and see if you can pick me up. What have you got to lose?”
That was a loaded question. “Well…”
“Try to draw my attention to your mouth.” Clare nibbled on the tip of the blue straw in her daiquiri, which indeed drew Alicia’s attention straight to her mouth. “Maybe let me see you checking me out.” Her eyes dipped to Alicia’s mouth and then to her cleavage before sliding back up to meet her gaze.
Heat spread over Alicia’s skin. “What else?” she asked, hypnotized by this flirty version of Clare.
“Eye contact,” Clare said as her eyes held Alicia’s. Their caramel color was enhanced by the warm hue of the bar’s lighting. “Once we’re talking, you’ll want to move a little closer, maybe touch my hand. Make sure I know you’re interested.” Clare’s hand inched closer to Alicia’s before sliding over to grip her daiquiri glass.
Alicia gulped, helpless to look away as Clare’s fingers traced patterns in the condensation on the glass. After a moment, Clare lifted her hand and touched her throat, leaving behind skin that glistened from her wet fingertips.
“Okay,” Clare said. “Your turn.”
“Uh…” Alicia realized her mouth was gaping open, and she picked up her beer to cover for herself, taking a quick drink. “Come here often?”
“Not the most original pickup line, but I’ll allow it,” Clare said with an amused smile. “My friends own a beach house not far from here, so I’ve visited before, but not often.”
“I’m just visiting too.” Alicia fiddled with her beer, trying to replicate what Clare had done with the condensation, but she only succeeded in bumping the glass so that it almost tipped over.
“Do you like the beach?” Clare asked, cocking her head slightly to the side. Her eyes never left Alicia’s.
“I love it when it’s not crowded,” Alicia told her. “I’m not much of a sunbather, though. I prefer to swim or walk along the beach looking for shells.”
“Aren’t you afraid of sharks?”
