“Sure thing.” He made of show of mixing the drinks by flipping the vodka bottle before pouring the alcohol into a shaker cup.
Zoe poked Elba in the rib. “Looks like you’ve got a fan.”
She leaned back from the bar. “He’s entirely too young, but it’s fun to flirt.”
“Do you ever go home with anyone?” Zoe asked.
“Hell, no. I don’t pick up guys and I don’t get picked up.”
The bartender slid their drinks to them. “Eleven dollars, ladies.”
Elba passed a couple bills across the bar with a wink. “Thanks, sweetie.”
“Why are we here if you aren’t picking anyone up?” Zoe asked.
El turned and surveyed the crowd around the oval-shaped dance floor. “Because I like to dance and aside from having really cute butts, country boys know how to two-step. Occasionally I manage to find one that knows how to salsa as well, which pretty much makes my night.”
Tilting her head toward an empty high-top table near the dance floor, she said, “Come on. Let’s sit so I can see who the best dancers are.”
“I can’t even remember the last time I went to a bar.” Zoe took a sip of her drink. “Whoa. The bartender definitely liked you.”
Elba grinned and sipped her drink. “Yeah, he did.”
“Excuse me, ladies.” A guy in well-worn faded jeans and a t-shirt tipped his baseball cap up, then settled it back in place. “I was hoping one of you would like to dance.”
Elba set her glass down. “I’d love to. Watch my drink.” She didn’t wait for a response before offering her hand to the guy and following him onto the dance floor.
Watching her friend dance around the floor, Zoe finished the last of her drink and eye-balled Elba’s. As the song transitioned into another fast-paced tune, Elba passed and flashed her a smile. Setting her glass down, she picked up the other one since Elba wasn’t going to be returning anytime soon. She’d buy the next round to make up for it.
“You two-fisting tonight?”
An arm slid around the back of her chair and she turned to face her companion who leaned on the table, effectively boxing her in.
“Are you stalking me now?” She let her gaze travel down his body. He was dressed in much the same way he’d been when she’d seen him at the market a few weeks ago, except now he wore a light blue button-down shirt, the sleeves rolled back to expose his forearms. She struggled to feign indifference at his arrival when all she wanted to do was run her fingers through the dusting of dark hair on his arms.
Tim smirked. “Is it stalking if you told me where you’d be?”
“It is if you weren’t invited.”
“Sounds like you should file a report with the police. I know a guy.”
She smiled at his teasing tone. “I should probably get his number if you’re going to continue to be a nuisance.”
He clutched his chest. “I can’t believe you think I’m a nuisance after all the times I’ve helped you.”
“Hmm. I suppose you have helped me out with a couple of things.”
The corner of one eyebrow rose.
“Okay, yes. You’ve been very helpful. I swear I’m not usually so accident prone.”
“You do seem to be having a particularly bad streak of luck.” He picked up her empty glass and tipped an ice cube into his mouth, crunching on it.
“Would you like a drink,” she asked.
“I drove. I’ll get a water in a few minutes.”
“Are you on call?”
