Page 11 of Bartender's Surprise Baby

Three and a half hours later, I stepped into Levi's pub dressed for a night of slinging drinks. Leather pants, a lace crop top that would scandalize half of Holiday Grove, and knee-high boots that were equal parts comfortable and sexy. If they didn't grab Levi's attention, nothing would.

"You made it." His voice was right behind me, close enough that I felt the heat of his body against my back.

I looked straight ahead, soaking up his nearness. "Did you doubt me?"

"No." I could hear the smile in his voice. "Just wasn't sure with that storm sweeping through Mexico."

"That's why I bumped up my flight."

He laughed. "That eager to see me?"

"Maybe. Or maybe I just really missed sleeping in my own bed." It was a bit of both.

"Hmm." He pressed a kiss to that spot below my earlobe that made my knees weak. "Glad you're back." His hands settled on my hips, pulling me flush against him. "Let me show you how to use the register."

Fifteen minutes later, my nipples were sore, my panties were ruined, and my libido was in overdrive. And the night was just getting started.

It took less than an hour after the pub officially opened before it was packed to capacity. Locals and tourists alike filled the booths and chairs, and pretty much every free inch of floor space. Bartending wasn't as glamorous as modeling, and it didn't pay as well, but it required many of the same skills. I kept my pink lips curved into a friendly—but not too friendly—smile while I poured icy mugs of beer, mixed up margaritas and daiquiris, and even shook up a few more margaritas.

In between all of that, I managed to spend at least half of every hour flirting with Levi. "You wear that apron well, Mr. Chef."

His mouth twisted into a lopsided grin as he plated up the shepherd's pie bowls that were on special tonight. "Doin' all right up there?"

"Just great, Chef. The drinks are flowing freely, well, not free, but flowing like a river." I rolled my eyes at my corny joke. "I made you this. It has no booze in it, but it's refreshing." Suddenly feeling ridiculous and needy, I set the glass on the nearest flat surface and rushed out of the kitchen.

"Rob!" Torey called out to me from the end of the bar where she stood with Nix and Kayla. "Holy shit, girl, what are you doing behind the bar?"

I flashed a cheeky smile at my friends and gave them the abbreviated version of how it all happened. "Levi didn't want to be a liar, so here I am." And it was the most fun I'd had in a long time. "What are you drinking?"

"Somebody on Insta said you were making lavender mojitos. Please tell me that's not internet gossip," Nix pleaded.

"It's not. Three?"

"Four, actually." Nix moved aside, and my gaze landed on a face I hadn't seen since I was fifteen years old.

"Hailey?"

She flashed a shy smile and nodded. "You remembered."

"How could I not? You were the coolest chick to ever walk the halls of Holiday Grove High." A few years older than us, Hailey had worn leather pants and a denim jacket together. She smoked French cigarettes and wore high heels with jeans to school. "What are you doing back?"

"Starting over," she answered and looked away.

There was a story there, but now wasn't the time. "It's so good to see you. We'll catch up soon, I'm sure, but for now...four lavender mojitos?"

They all nodded, and I busied myself making the drinks when I felt a hand on my hip. "Where in the hell did you get ingredients for lavender mojitos?"

I glanced over my shoulder and right into those killer green eyes. "You have two bottles of lavender syrup for some reason, and they're selling for twenty bucks."

His eyes bugged out. "In that case, here's the mint. Sela said we were running low." He pressed a kiss to my cheek and disappeared back into the kitchen.

"We'll definitely have to talk about that at brunch on Monday," Kayla demanded with a smile.

"That rock star is having a negative effect on you," I told her.

She laughed. "I know, right?"

When Levi finally locked the door hours later, I was exhausted. And thrilled. I'd filled an entire evening, and I hadn't once thought about my career. It had been a long few days, but I wasn't ready to call it a night just yet.

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