Page 7 of Player For Hire

Iona snorted, but she toyed with the orange peel in her drink, smiling behind the rim before she took a sip. She gave a gusty sigh. “I don’t know what kind of magic you have, but you always make it just right.”

The Negroni was a simple drink, but it was also easy to fuck up if you didn’t get the ingredients balanced just right.

Callahan grunted behind me then he dumped a bucket of ice in front of me. He gave me a hard look for offering up the annoyingly complex Peachy Keen to show off for the pretty girl.

Our clientele was surprisingly the same most nights. Ladies’ Night was usually the only time we had new people in and out. I was best at making quick drinks and moving people along with a smile. Something about Naomi made me want to take an extra minute.

A pair of guys finally made a space at the bar and Naomi carefully climbed onto the stool. She glanced at Iona, who gave her an encouraging nod. “I’m game for a new drink.”

I wasn’t sure she was, but I recognized the familiar light of bravery in Naomi’s eyes. Iona had that effect on people. She was so self-assured, where the redhead looked like she’d rather be anywhere except in the middle of a busy bar.

“Where are you from, Naomi?”

“Here, actually. Well, Rochester, but I just moved back from Chicago.”

“Windy City. Nice.”

“Have you been?” She tangled her fingers together on the bar a few inches from the glass. Her big blue eyes studied me as I flipped my tongs around my finger before pulling out one of the oversized ice cubes for the drink. I tucked it into the glass with a twist to make it spin.

She glanced up at me with a wide smile.

My belly gave a startling pull. That smile was killer. Part girl next door, part siren—and all adorably sexy.

I measured out the ingredients into the shaker and gave it a quick rattle of ice and made sure to show off my arms. I wasn’t dumb. And I didn’t work out for nothing—I liked to look good and to see the light of attraction fill a woman’s eyes.

Naomi was a little less obvious about it, but she snuck a look. When I poured the drink into the glass and ducked down in the mini fridge for a slice of peach, I came up with one of the silly swords I rarely used for a drink anymore and pierced the slice of fruit and set it across the top, then pushed it forward. “Enjoy.”

“Quit screwing around down there, Romeo!” Callahan called down from the other end of the bar, where a six pack of guys were ordering.

I nodded to my boss, then I glanced back at Naomi. “I gotta know if you like it first.”

“Oh, right.” She lifted the glass and took a tiny sip. Her big blue eyes widened and she took a longer swallow. “Looks like my favorite is the same as yours.”

My throat dried up and my gaze dropped to her mouth for a second. A tiny fleck from the jam stuck to her stained lips. She licked her lower lip, then she graced me with another smile.

I laid my hand over my chest. “Ahh, Naomi. That’s what I like to hear. I’ll be back to check on you ladies in a few.”

I grabbed a few glasses and headed down to Callahan.

“Not like you to get tangled up with a pretty girl that long, dude. Four Stellas and two Buds.”

“Sorry.” I started pulling the standard drafts on tap.

Callahan drew a Guinness in that slow, methodical way he had. I was good at the pour, but it always annoyed me that I had to be so careful with it or I’d fuck it up.

“New girl?”

“Yeah. Iona’s college friend.”

“Ah. Iona is a pit bull—sure you want to get tangled with one of hers?”

Callahan often spoke in a different kind of language, one as lyrical as the Irish he came from. Not that he was actually from the country, but it was definitely in his blood. And he swore with the ripeness of an Irishman when he was in a mood.

“Who said I was getting tangled? I was just making her feel welcome.”

“Sure, you were.” Callahan finished the Guinness and set it front of the customer, then took over pouring one of the Stellas as I switched to the standard Budweiser.

I rolled my eyes. “What? She’s a pretty girl. I can’t show off?”

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