Page 10 of Prove You Wrong

‘I saw the way you were gawping at me over your engine, like I was some piece of meat.’ I tut and then soften my voice, feigning hurt, ‘And you didn’t even bother to learn my name.’

‘Hey,’ the pitch of her voice rises. ‘You told me to remember you as the hot, mysterious stranger.’

‘Youdidremember.’ A grin stretches across my face.

‘Urgh, don’t tell me then.’ She sits back in her seat and huffs, ‘I preferred it when you were more mysterious.’ She quirks an eyebrow as I chuckle and asks, ‘What’s the favour?’

I lean on the bar, moving closer to her as if this were some sort of clandestine plot. ‘We’re thinking of introducing a cocktail menu and I wondered if you’d help sample some? Perhaps … feedback on what you think would be best?’

‘Josie said you didn’t do cocktails.’ There’s a questioning tone to her statement.

‘We didn’t. But maybe we should.’ I shrug. ‘What do you reckon?’

‘It’s a great idea.’ She nods. ‘I’m a big fan of cocktails.’

‘A connoisseur?’ I wiggle my eyebrows. ‘So, what should we offer?’

‘All good menus need a Margarita, it’s a staple. A classic. Then you might want a Mojito, or a Martini.’

‘All the Ms, huh? What’s your favourite?’

Her friend returns, hoicking herself up onto her stool. ‘What did I miss? Favourite what?’

‘Cocktails,’ we reply together.

‘Sex on the Beach. EllalovesSex on the Beach.’ Her friend announces, causing some of the locals to turn and look.

Ella’s flush has returned and then some.

‘I always found it a bit too sandy myself.’ I’m starting to love watching this crazy-sexy woman blush. ‘Sex on the Beach? I’d have thought you were more a Screwdriver kinda girl. I’ll go and see what I can do.’

Chapter 6

Ella

As I steady myself on my stool, I grip the edge of the bar, trying not to look affected by the hot, yet obnoxious, bartender who’s sauntering away. I don’t stand a chance between him and Josieannouncing my fondness for Sex on the Beach as if it’s my location of choice rather than preferred cocktail.

But my protest dies on my tongue as she throws up her hands and says, ‘Urgh. Little brothers.’

‘Everything okay?’

‘Jamie messaged to say he wants to go to a house party tonight and so can’t give us a lift home.’

‘Oh no, we could share a cab?’ I inwardly wince, I hadn’t anticipated the need to budget for taxi fare.

‘Don’t you worry.’ She flicks her hair back. ‘I called him right back and told him I’d rat him out to mum about the mystery stain on the lounge rug and he promised he’d still pick us up.’

‘Phew, thanks.’ Grimacing, I say, ‘Do I want to know what the mystery stain is?’

‘It’s best if it’s never spoken of again,’ Josie giggles. ‘So cocktails, huh? How’d you swing that?’

‘He just offered,’ I shrug.

She fixes me a curious gaze but doesn’t pry. ‘Do you think he knows he’s dealing with a couple of semi-professional cocktaileriers?’

Josie and I have been going for our cocktail nights for as long as we’ve had ID.

Laughing, I say, ‘I think he may realise we’re not exactly professional if he hears us call ourselves an entirely made-up name.’

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