Page 72 of Grand Escape

“After the fireworks, there’s no telling. Maybe the hora? You know what that is?”

We were walking toward each other, one small step at a time, in what felt like slow motion.

My fingers itched to touch her after watching her all night, making drinks, shimmying her hips to the music behind the bar, and smiling to herself. When she didn’t think anyone was watching, Rylan let her shield down and showed her absolute love for living.

“It’s a Jewish dance with the people in the chairs. I remember from the few bar mitzvahs I went to.”

“In this case, it would be the bride and groom in the chairs,” I said, giving it to her smugly. Poor Rylan, she didn’t know what she was in for with me.

We were standing so close, I could feel her breath on my face as I leaned over and ran my lips along her cheekbone. Then she went and ruined the moment.

“Employees only behind here.” Waving her hand over the bar, she winked.

“No one is looking. Plus, I know for a fact that management is pretty pleased with the wedding client you brought in.”

Even after working behind the bar all night, Rylan looked beautiful, her skin glowing with pride and her skin dewy from the humidity.

“You look amazing,” I told her.

“Try the lines somewhere else, tough guy.”

Rather than respond, I pulled her into my arms and tugged on her earlobe with my mouth.

The wedding was winding down around us, yacht rock playing quietly in the background. A few couples still lingered, finishing their drinks by the pool, but most of the guests had gone to partake of the midnight buffet. A full Vegas-style buffet was set up inside for wedding guests, compliments of Chewy.

I nibbled on Rylan’s ear while running my palm up her back, feeling goose bumps form at the nape of her neck. Our hips started moving together to the soft beat in the background.

“I have to clean up,” she said into my ear.

“What every man wants to hear,” I whispered back.

She giggled. “What are you doing here behind the bar?”

“For real?”

I felt her nod against my shoulder.

“Coffee. I need a cup and don’t want you to pour me any more drinks. I was going to get it myself.”

“Coffee?”

“I plan to be up late.”

I slipped away and headed toward the pot Rylan had brewing. With all the time I’d watched her the week while I was here on vacation, I knew she always had fresh coffee available for anyone who needed to sober up.

She gave me a dazed look. “I can get you a coffee.”

“You’ve done enough tonight. Now, hurry up and do what you need to, or I’m going to steal you away.”

“My job,” she said, confirming what I knew she was thinking.

“Just getting my coffee and staying out of your way.” When she went back to whatever she was doing with the fruit behind the bar, I said, “Watch this,” then proceeded to limbo under the bar while holding my coffee, and didn’t spill a drop.

Using her snarkiest tone, Rylan said, “Talented.”

“You have no idea how talented I am.”

She rolled her eyes and went over to pour herself a cup of coffee.

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