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Fly
She had assured him she was. And boy was it. She liked the feel of his big warm body against hers. Besides, she’d never said anything about her not touching him.
Jimmy’s was a local collegiate haunt with traditional pub grub that was cheap and decent, with two-dollar beers and karaoke. Grabbing Fly
Stowing their helmets and jackets with the hostess, they proceeded into the lively establishment.
“Hey, Iz, where the hell have you been?” Nick the bouncer called as she negotiated her way toward the three-deep bar.
“Working!” she called, continuing toward the stacked bar. “Jimmy,” she called, waving to the bartender and owner. “Dos Patrons por favor!”
He gri
Fly
Turning with a big grin, she said, “You’re not the only man in my life, Fly
He didn’t look at her; he was too busy glaring at the affable barkeep. Grabbing the two shots, Izzy handed Fly
Before Fly
“Party pooper,” Izzy said, and then pulled him further into the pub, past the karaoke stage to a small table on the fringe. For as crowded as the pub was, most everyone stood, so there was always a table or two open.
Just as they sat down, a perky little server named Dolly set menus down on their table. “Drinks?” she asked.
“Two waters,” Fly
“And a shot of Patron,” Izzy added.
Fly
“That’s what cabs are for.”
His scowl deepened, but he didn’t say another word about it. Instead he asked, “You come here often?”
“I used to, when I was an undergrad.”
“Undergrad?”
“Yes, commonly known as a person who is working toward their first degree?”
“You graduated from Cal?”
“Summa cum laude, baby.”
Fly
Izzy smiled. “Tell Jimmy thanks for the reminder.”
Gri
“Just some bartering we did a few years ago.”
“Out with it, Pink.”
Setting the menu down on the table, she said, “You know far more about me than I do you. Do you think that’s fair?”
“You Googled me, you know everything there is to know.”
“I want to know what’s going on inside there.” She tapped his forehead. “And here.” She pressed her hand to his heart. It beat strong beneath her palm.
He stopped himself when his hand reached for hers.
Giving him no quarter, Izzy kept it there. “Why have you closed yourself off to love?”
“You don’t mince words, do you?”
“You know me well enough by now to know that I don’t. Now answer me.”
“I don’t have an answer.”
“What are you afraid of, Fly
“My life isn’t conducive to a relationship.”
Sitting back, she considered his answer. It was lame. “Why not?”
“I move around. I could be transferred halfway around the world at a moment’s notice.”
“So?”
“So it wouldn’t be fair to leave someone.”
“Did it ever occur to you that the person you would be leaving behind would love you enough to go with you? To follow you to the moon if that’s where you were assigned?”
“I wouldn’t do that to someone.”
“That’s not your call.”
“Yeah. It kind of is.”
She frowned. She supposed it was, in a way. If he guarded his heart fiercely enough, he’d drive anyone away. It had worked easily enough with her. Almost.
Dolly approached, cracking her gum and carrying Izzy’s shot. “You decide whatcha wanted?” she asked as she set the tequila down in front of Izzy.
“How about one of Jimmy’s famous meat samplers?” Izzy said. Men loved meat, and so did she.
“Sides?”
“All of them.”
“For reals?”
“For reals.”
“Okay, girlfriend, you got it.”
As Dolly sashayed away, Izzy raised her glass to Fly
His brows furrowed.
“Stop being such a bore, Fly
“I want you to slow down.”
She stood up and bent down, pressing her face close to his, and said, “I’m just about to rev it up, Special Agent.” Then gave him a quick peck on the lips. She laughed at his stu
With that she headed for the bathroom just as the DJ a
Izzy smiled. She loved karaoke even though she couldn’t carry a tune to save her life. Maybe Fly
Chapter Twenty-eight
Sitting back in his chair, Fly
“We’re going to do things a little different tonight,” the DJ a
From the spattering of applause, the crowd didn’t seem interested.
“Let’s give it up for some ‘Uptown Funk’!” the DJ a
Fly
Pink laughed, shaking her head. Not taking no for an answer, the DJ pressed the mic into her hand and drew her up to the stage. Fly
The music started. Looking at Fly
Throwing her head back, she laughed and started to tap her foot to the beat. When her hips began to swing back and forth to the doo-wop sound and she ran her fingers through her hair, Fly
When she started to sing, he sat up straight. Her clear breathless voice struck straight to his groin. It wasn’t perfect, a little off key, but a hell of a lot better than he could sing. It was her smile and the way she danced, throwing her chin out, shaking her head, and turning with the tempo that hit every one of his buttons. She was having fun with it. The crowd started to clap, cheering encouragement.