Page 41 of Body Shot

“So just drinks, then,” Crystal says. “What can I get for you?”

I don’t know what to order, so I focus on the menu and pick something. “I’ll have a Mojito.”

“Sounds good. And for you?” Crystal smiles at Will.

“I’ll have a Corona,” he says.

Crystal walks away.

“So,” Will focuses on me. “No tequila tonight?”

I grin. “I enjoyed learning about it, but I’m not sure it’s my favorite drink.”

“Powerful stuff,” he agrees. “But it was fun.”

The silence becomes awkward. I’ve never been good at making conversation, but I’ve learned a few things running my business.

“So you mentioned being a chiropractor.”

“Yeah,” he says.

“Do you enjoy it?” I ask, although I’m not sure chiropractic treatment has been sufficiently studied to know if it’s truly effective.

“Sure. I got into it for the money.”

I laugh nervously, unsure if that’s a joke. “I considered going into healthcare, but I got hooked on research.”

“Yeah, you’re a biochemist, right?”

“Right.”

The waitress sets our drinks in front of us and I take a greedy gulp of mine.

“Very nice,” I say.

“What’s in that?” Will asks.

I pick up the menu again. “Rum. Lime juice. And mint.”

Will nods.

The back of my neck tingles and I lift my head to see if someone is watching me. My gaze meets Beck’s dark eyes. He’s frowning at me while both hands are planted wide apart on the bar. My insides shiver and tighten at seeing him. He’s beautiful. His dark hair pulled back accentuates his sculpted cheekbones and deep-set eyes. My belly flips.

I can’t ignore him, so I attempt a smile and a casual wave that probably looks awkward as fuck.

11

BECK

I stare at Hayden sitting at a table with that guy. I don’t know his name, but I recognize him from the tasting last weekend. He and his friend chatted up Hayden’s friend Carrie, and then Hayden joined them. I watched her laugh and flirt with them, after I’d just had explosive, mind-blowing sex with her, and it pissed me off.

It pisses me off even more to see her with him again.

What the fuck? How did this happen?

Without thinking, I round the end of the bar and stalk over to their table. Hayden just opens her mouth to say something when I come to a halt beside their table. “Well, hi,” I say, trying for a smile but knowing it probably looks like a snarl. “Good to see you back at Conquistadors.”

The guy leans back in his chair and smiles at me. “Hey, Beck.”

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