most of them had to back up so they could gaze up at him adoringly.
He smiled, making friendly conversation with them and other bar patrons as they came in the door. She pulled a maraschino cherry off its stem and chewed it thoughtfully as she truly observed him this time. Before, she supposed that she’d spent most of her time glowering at the women and never spent much time noticing how he handled their advances. They sure were a pushy lot. She had the sense that he was uncomfortable and noticed he kept looking over at the restroom door. He must wonder what kept her, or maybe he was concerned about what she would do when she saw all the women gathered around him.
She peeked over again and saw him raise a forearm to gently block another woman’s reach as she made a move to touch his long, silky hair.
Poor thing. Rachel couldn’t blame her. She could barely keep her own hands out of his hair when she was with him. He jerked back suddenly as though 74
someone had touched him in an inappropriate way. It was time to rescue her lover from his groupies, she thought with a determination. She was very proud that she remained calm rather than becoming angry and jealous.
Ethan came to stand beside her and chuckled, saying, “He’s been doing his best, Rachel. But they’ve been very persistent ever since you left. You’re making me proud of you the way you’ve handled all of this. I know it’s not easy for you.” He turned to his partner, who was behind the bar at the moment. “Hey, Ben. How about a shot of Crown for Rachel and 1800 for Eli. He looks like he needs the fortification. Put them on my tab.” Ben came over, grinning, and poured two generous shots for her.
Ethan turned back to her. “Time to go rescue your man from his admirers,” he said with a smirk.
She smiled gratefully. “Thanks, Ethan. You’re a peach.”
“So Grace tells me,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the next set of dance music. We’ve got two of your favorite songs coming up, back-to-back,” he said meaningfully, his eyes twinkling.
“Enjoy,” she murmured with a grin and backed away from the bar. She approached the front of the club and made sure she was in clear view of Eli as she sauntered slowly to where he stood, completely blocked in by female bodies. His discomfited face split into a wide grin as he made eye contact with her over their heads.
Mike elbowed Rogelio, watching with avid glee as she approached.
They both looked thoroughly amused by the scene playing out before them.
She winked at Eli, held up the shots, and didn’t slow her approach. The relief on his face was almost comical.
In her friendliest stewardess voice, she piped cheerfully, “Oh, hi! How are you all doing?” Like they’d come to see and talk to her . “Careful, ladies, don’t want to spill the shots. Watch out, I love that dress!” She sliced with surgical precision right through the group, never so much as bumping anyone aside. They all moved back a bit in surprise at her smooth, unimpeded advance through their ranks.
She offered the shot to him. He took it, slammed it, and placed the glass on the table. He gently pulled her to him, wrapping her arms around his neck, breast to chest, as he sat down in his chair.
* * * *
,
75
Damn, but Rachel knew exactly how to ease him. Eli couldn’t sit in the presence of these women because if he did, they’d invariably slide their perfumed hands up his thighs, which always led to other things. In another life, he’d have loved it, but he despised that they all knew he was here with Rachel and still felt as though they could act that way around her. She made it all worth it. The slow, seductive smile she’d given him as she strutted across the club, holding those drinks up, sent a shot of lust straight to his groin. He was rock hard by the time he pulled her into his arms, and judging by the look in her eyes, she knew it, too.
“Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just
He smiled, making friendly conversation with them and other bar patrons as they came in the door. She pulled a maraschino cherry off its stem and chewed it thoughtfully as she truly observed him this time. Before, she supposed that she’d spent most of her time glowering at the women and never spent much time noticing how he handled their advances. They sure were a pushy lot. She had the sense that he was uncomfortable and noticed he kept looking over at the restroom door. He must wonder what kept her, or maybe he was concerned about what she would do when she saw all the women gathered around him.
She peeked over again and saw him raise a forearm to gently block another woman’s reach as she made a move to touch his long, silky hair.
Poor thing. Rachel couldn’t blame her. She could barely keep her own hands out of his hair when she was with him. He jerked back suddenly as though 74
someone had touched him in an inappropriate way. It was time to rescue her lover from his groupies, she thought with a determination. She was very proud that she remained calm rather than becoming angry and jealous.
Ethan came to stand beside her and chuckled, saying, “He’s been doing his best, Rachel. But they’ve been very persistent ever since you left. You’re making me proud of you the way you’ve handled all of this. I know it’s not easy for you.” He turned to his partner, who was behind the bar at the moment. “Hey, Ben. How about a shot of Crown for Rachel and 1800 for Eli. He looks like he needs the fortification. Put them on my tab.” Ben came over, grinning, and poured two generous shots for her.
Ethan turned back to her. “Time to go rescue your man from his admirers,” he said with a smirk.
She smiled gratefully. “Thanks, Ethan. You’re a peach.”
“So Grace tells me,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the next set of dance music. We’ve got two of your favorite songs coming up, back-to-back,” he said meaningfully, his eyes twinkling.
“Enjoy,” she murmured with a grin and backed away from the bar. She approached the front of the club and made sure she was in clear view of Eli as she sauntered slowly to where he stood, completely blocked in by female bodies. His discomfited face split into a wide grin as he made eye contact with her over their heads.
Mike elbowed Rogelio, watching with avid glee as she approached.
They both looked thoroughly amused by the scene playing out before them.
She winked at Eli, held up the shots, and didn’t slow her approach. The relief on his face was almost comical.
In her friendliest stewardess voice, she piped cheerfully, “Oh, hi! How are you all doing?” Like they’d come to see and talk to her . “Careful, ladies, don’t want to spill the shots. Watch out, I love that dress!” She sliced with surgical precision right through the group, never so much as bumping anyone aside. They all moved back a bit in surprise at her smooth, unimpeded advance through their ranks.
She offered the shot to him. He took it, slammed it, and placed the glass on the table. He gently pulled her to him, wrapping her arms around his neck, breast to chest, as he sat down in his chair.
* * * *
,
75
Damn, but Rachel knew exactly how to ease him. Eli couldn’t sit in the presence of these women because if he did, they’d invariably slide their perfumed hands up his thighs, which always led to other things. In another life, he’d have loved it, but he despised that they all knew he was here with Rachel and still felt as though they could act that way around her. She made it all worth it. The slow, seductive smile she’d given him as she strutted across the club, holding those drinks up, sent a shot of lust straight to his groin. He was rock hard by the time he pulled her into his arms, and judging by the look in her eyes, she knew it, too.
“Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just
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