Page 46 of 28 Dates

“What’d they do?” I ask, leaning forward on my elbows when he’s close enough so we can’t be overheard. “Offer to make it a four-on-one?”

He glares at me, but it lacks heat. “Shut up, Caitlin.”

“No way. Come on, tell me. Which girl over there is the lucky winner tonight?” I give them all a good look, even though by now I’m pretty certain I know Tucker’s type. He might go for the girls at the bar who flirt a little bit, but he’s never been one to take home an assertive female, one who’s blatantly clear in her attraction to him. No, Tucker likes the sweet quiet ones who get embarrassed easily. “It’s the brunette, isn’t it?”

I glance at the girls again, and catch the one woman’s gestures. She tucks a chunk of thick bangs behind her ear and nibbles her bottom lip, but it’s her eyes that keep sliding in our direction. Mostly to Tucker’s ass before she quickly glances away.

Tucker leans forward and swipes a hand through his thick blond hair. It falls back to the side. “You’re a pistol, aren’t you? Why do you think it’s her?”

A lady never throws another woman under the bus. It’s the secret girl code. There’s room for all of us in the world to be successful and help each other out. I don’t need to embarrass her more. And based on how sweet she looks, telling Tucker she’s checking out his ass would definitely do that.

I take a sip of my drink and give him a goofy look. “I know you. You like the quiet girls. The ones who blush and make you work for it. The two at the edge of the table are a bit too,” I tap my finger to my lips, trying to find the right word, “brassy for you.” I take the finger and swirl it in the air at him. “One of them made you blush. What’d she say? Did she ask if you think you can compare to her rabbit?”

He barks out a laugh. It might be a choke. I’m not one to filter my thoughts much, and Tucker taught me long ago he can handle whatever flies out.

“Jesus. No. But she did imply that foursome you were talking about might be possible.” He dips his head, brown eyes gleaming. “Or at least a twosome.”

“With the sweet little brunette included?”

“Trust me.” He slaps his hand on the bar. “She’d be all I needifI was looking tonight. And I’m not.”

“I knew it was the brunette. And why not tonight?”

He rolls his eyes dramatically. “Because it’s Sunday.”

“And you can’t bang a girl on the Lord’s Day?”

“No, you freak.” He shakes his head. Sometimes I surprise myself with what comes out of my mouth. “Because I don’t get out of here until one and I’ve got class at eight. God, Caitlin. The Lord’s Day?”

I shrug, and my cheeks hurt from smiling. Who would have thought getting stood up could be so much fun? Leave it to Tucker and Jonas to get my mind off it so easily. “Well, what else is special about Sundays?”

He peers at me strangely as if trying to figure me out, but it’s useless. I’ve long since quit trying to figure out my own self, so Tucker has no shot.

“Weirdo,” he mumbles again and points to my glass. “Need a refill?”

I slide the glass his way. “Always, choirboy.”

He laughs and shakes his head, turning away, and it’s the perfect time for a refill because Jonas is returning from the kitchen where he left to go get us food a few minutes ago. He’s carrying two wood platters, and my mouth waters. Not from the food, even though his charcuterie boards are a thing of beauty, but it’s the man holding them that grabs my attention like a meteor shower. His black hair is swiped to the side looking messy, and his short-sleeve Dirty Martini’s shirt curves over his chest showing absolute perfection before it’s tucked into faded, distressed jeans that hang low on his hips. They’re belted with a thick black leather belt and dark silver buckle, but there’s that bulge in his jeans that brings all sorts of memories to my mind.

Next up: ordering a bucket of ice to dump on my head.

I clap my hands together and bounce on my chair as Jonas gets closer, sliding both of the boards onto the bar. “Oh. For me?” I bat my eyelashes playfully. “You shouldn’t have.”

He gives Tucker a strange look before coming back to me. “You drunk already?”

“No, she’s not. But I think she took some drugs before she showed up,” Tucker says, already done shaking and mixing my drink. He pours the appletini into my glass and sets the mixer down on the bar. “I made extra. That’s all yours.”

“Oh goodness.” I take a sip, moaning over the deliciousness. “It’s like Christmas. Food and all the martinis I can drink? And just so you know, the only drugs I take are goofy pills. Not my fault you two don’t have a sense of humor.” I pop a chunk of sausage into my mouth and close my eyes. Dang. It’s just the right amount of garlic and spicy.

Jonas really knows his meats.

I snort and take a drink to wash away the dirty thought.

“Hey Jonas?” I bump him on the shoulder to get his attention. He’s on his second beer and chewing on a chunk of cheese. “Did you know that Tucker works for the church?”

“What?”

“Ignore her,” Tucker says. “I am.”

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