Page 6 of Rafe

“Dead ass,” Skylar laughed. “It’s all good. My agent said they really liked me and you never know.” She shrugged. “I’ve been promised five episodes. I plan on giving it a go for six months, and if it doesn’t work out, it is what it is. I’ve got Taylor managing the bookstore for me. My house is rented for a few months, so I’ve got that taken care of.”

“I’m still gonna miss you.” Hailey pouted.

A perky waitress holding a tray set a menu on the table. “What can I get you guys?”

Eva raised her hand. “Another martini.”

“Two lemon drops please.” Hailey smiled. “One for me and one for my soon-to-be-famous friend.”

“Anything else?”

“Gumbo, please. Bread,” Skylar replied, remembering her no drinking before eating rule.

“Be right out with your appetizers.” She scooped up the menu and disappeared back to the kitchen.

“All right then. Tonight we celebrate. To Eva’s permanent job at the DA and Skylar’s new gig! And to me…I have a new client I just picked up, so to us!” Hailey beamed as she raised her glass.

“To us!” Eva echoed.

“Just a few drinks. I can’t stay out too late,” Skylar insisted. “My mom always said that nothing good happens after midnight.”

“Aw honey, she’s never been to New Orleans.” Hailey winked at her.

Skylar glanced at her phone. Twelve-thirty. The energy in the room soared as the drummer banged out a solo while the other band members tossed beads out into the audience. Skylar waved to Hailey, out on the dance floor, surrounded by strangers. She raised her glass to her and took one last sip of her cocktail.

“Come dance!” Eva called out to her as she bopped past the table after returning from the restroom.

“Coming!” The audience erupted in applause as the eighties rock band closed another number. Skylar flung her crossbody purse over her head and shimmied out of the booth.

Across the crowded room, she noticed a large group of groomsmen dressed in tuxedos laughing with bridesmaids dressed in matching lavender gowns. For just a second, a pang of jealousy stabbed at her, a flash of sadness at the thought of whether she’d ever date someone again, let alone get married. Skylar brushed the negative thoughts to the back of her mind, reality reminding her of her goals. Dating would only make leaving New Orleans all that much harder. Stop killing the vibe, girl, and have fun, her inner voice told her. She waved to Hailey and Eva and stepped toward the dance floor.

“Oh shit.” She’d forgotten to snatch her credit card off the silver tray after she’d paid her tab. As she reached it, the plastic slipped between her fingers and went flying. Like an evasive hummingbird, the little silver card launched into the air in a majestic arch before descending into a group of people near the bar and tumbled down onto the floor unnoticed.

Skylar rushed over to the bar, squeezing in between a sea of patrons. She bent over, searching for her card in the darkness among strangers’ feet. The putrid scent of stale beer wafted into her nostrils and she held her breath. As Skylar attempted to stand up straight to get a fresh breath of air, her head bumped into a muscular denim-covered thigh.

“Ah geez, sorry.” Her cheeks immediately flushed red with embarrassment not knowing who she’d inadvertently touched.

“You need help?” A deep smooth voice asked.

Skylar’s mouth gaped open as she raised her gaze to meet his. With brown, wavy hair that fell to his shoulders and piercing dark eyes, the attractive stranger towered above her.

“No, no I’m okay, kind of…” Skylar backed up several steps and fumbled for her words. “I was just looking for my card. Sorry.”

Without another word, he glanced to his feet, bent over and swiftly returned upright, pinching a plastic card between his fingers.

“Oh my God. Thank you.” Instantly attracted to the mysterious savior, her heart pounded in her chest. What is happening?

As she reached for her card, her fingers brushed over his, lingering a few seconds too long. Embarrassed, she snatched back her hand as if she’d touched fire and stuffed the card into her purse. Flushed, her body immediately heated, and she almost forgot what she was doing.

“You okay?” he asked.

Skylar looked into his eyes, her mouth slightly ajar as she stumbled over her words. “I, uh, I’m fine thank you.”

The stranger shot her a knowing smile. “You’re local?”

“Um, yeah. For now, I mean. How’d you know?”

“Just a hunch.”