Page 6 of Crazy for You

“Home with their hotties.” She crossed her arms beneath her breasts and leaned her elbows on the bar to give herself a bit of cleavage. “And I need another beer.”

His gaze remained annoyingly on her face. “Sure thing. You still drinking Untapped amber ale?”

She nodded. This was so not her style, sitting alone at the bar trying to pick up a guy, let alone Ryan. The only thing she’d committed to was asking for a ride home, but maybe she’d flirt just a little, just enough to see if she could get a reaction out of him.

Think sexy, Emma. You can do this…

“Coming right up,” he said, still completely professional.

“Thanks.” Emma leaned back to check on Mandy, who was currently making out with the man she’d just met. Well, that was fast. Emma had never hooked up with a random guy like that, wasn’t sure she wanted to. But then again, wasn’t her new motto to shake things up? Be unpredictable…

“His name’s Carl, and he’s in town for business. He sells vacation rentals,” Ryan said as he set a fresh beer in front of her.

“Thanks, and how did you…”

His lips curved in amusement. “That’s my job. You didn’t think I’d stand here and watch Mandy make out with an asshole, did you?”

She shook her head. Of course not. Ryan made it his business to know everyone he served at the bar, and he always looked out for his friends.

“Be right back.” He walked over to three women sitting at the far end of the bar. They were dressed up and drinking fancy drinks, too fancy for a place like this. One of them leaned in, touching his arm as she spoke. Ryan laughed, then rolled up his shirtsleeve to give her a better look at his tattoos.

Emma frowned into her beer. That woman made flirting look easy. She was effortlessly sexy and probably much more appealing to a man like Ryan. A sinking feeling grew in the pit of her stomach as she watched him banter with them. He pointed at the blonde and winked, flashing that irresistible smile. He was flirting. Definitely flirting.

Someone tapped Emma on the shoulder, and she turned to find Mandy standing there, a sheepish smile on her face. “So, um, Carl and I are going to take off. You okay?”

“Yep. Have fun, be smart, and text me later, okay?” Because it made her nervous to see her friend leave the bar with a stranger, whether Ryan had chatted him up earlier or not.

“I’m always smart, and I will.” Mandy leaned in to whisper in Emma’s ear. “Bonus points if you kiss him. You’ll be sitting behind him on the bike. Just stand up a bit, lean over his shoulder, and kiss him. You’ll blow his mind.” With a wink, Mandy walked to the door, hooked her arm through Carl’s, and headed out into the chilly March night.

“Does girls’ night always end with everyone leaving with a guy?” Ryan asked from behind her, humor in his voice.

“Not usually.” Only when they’re setting me up. She lifted her beer and took a drink.

He looked at the mug, his eyes serious. “How are you getting home?”

“Not sure. I rode here with Mandy.” Gah. She was such a chicken.

“I’ll call you a cab.”

Wait a minute. No, she was still doing this, dammit. She lifted her eyes to his. “Who said I was ready to leave?”

Ryan watched her for a moment, his expression unreadable, then he cracked another easy smile. “Stay as long as you like.”

2

By eleven, only a handful of people remained at the bar. Ryan poured a scotch on the rocks for a man sitting alone near the door. Based on the way he fiddled with his bare ring finger, Ryan pegged him as either going through a divorce or a man looking to mess around on his wife. Neither option sat well when he caught the dude staring in Emma’s direction.

He walked over to her. “Why are you sitting here alone at the bar on a Monday night, Em?”

She looked up at him, her blue eyes bright and twinkling with mischief despite—or maybe because of—the drunken giggle that revealed how much beer she’d consumed tonight. “Because I’m having fun.”

He smiled in spite of himself. “Wouldn’t have pegged you as the type.”

She gave him a funny look. “Well, I’m trying to broaden my horizons.”

“Hang tight,” he told her, then went down the bar to settle up with the trio of tourists. They left him a sweet tip before heading out into the night. He wiped down the bar as he made his way back to Emma. “You ready for me to call you that cab?”

“What time are you off?” she asked.

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