Page 135 of Sharkbait
“Yay! Hotel! I love hotels!”
“I know you do.”
“See you tomorrow, Daddy.” Iris gives James a quick squeeze,then runs around the bar to her mother. “Is it the hotel that gives you warm chocolate chip cookies at the front desk?”
“Is there any other?” Eva ruffles her daughter’s hair.
James places a drink down in front of a customer, then makes his way over to us and tosses a rag onto the bar.
“Nine o’clock sound good for a drop-off, Evie B?” he asks.
“Sounds perfect, thanks.”
They bump fists.
Eva gives me a hug and whispers, “See you again soon, I hope.”
I return her squeeze. “I’d like that, yeah. Have, um… Have a great trip.”
“We will, thanks.”
A moment later, Iris and Eva are gone, and James and I are leaning toward each other across the bar.
“So,” I say like a total doofus.
“So,” he repeats.
“Eva. She’s…”
“What? What is she? You okay?”
“Fine, yeah. I’m… great. She’s great.”
“You sound surprised.” He laughs.
“I guess I am. I didn’t expect that to be so easy.”
“Not everything in life needs to be hard, Cold Brew.”
“I’m starting to see that.”
He kisses me softly on the lips.
“Can I get you another drink?”
I shake my head. “I was actually hoping we could go back to your place.”
“Oh really?” he flirts.
“Watching you with Iris was…” I hesitate to say this next part, but what the hell? Apparently, all bets are off tonight.“…it was all sorts of sexy.”
A cocky grin spreads across his face. “Oh, was it now?”
“Yes. It was,” I say and instantly hold up a finger in warning. ”But do not take that to mean something it doesn’t. I am by no means saying I want to procreate with you. Or with anyone for that matter. Ever.”
He tips his head up to the ceiling and laughs.
God, I love that sound.
