I dip the glass into the lukewarm water and place it next to the sink to dry. My feet are killing me. Why did I take a double today? Oh, yeah, I felt bad for skipping out on Tori yesterday when I had a last-minute study group pop up. Thank god this is my last semester.

“Did you see Max’s new guy?” Tori purrs from behind me. She steps to the side of me, reaching for the vodka and makes a drink, not paying attention to the amount she’s pouring. She can make drinks with her eyes closed. We both glance at the table of men that frequent our bar almost on a daily basis when they're in town. The only thing different is the man staring back at me right now. Our eyes meet for a moment before I busy myself snatching a towel to dry off the sink area.

“I think he likes you,” she whispers.

Every day, I watch men flirt with women. They don’t sneak peeks, they stare, waiting for their chance to catch the woman’s eye. The slight smile with a tilt of the chin when they finally do. And her telling response, either opens doors or slams them shut. Single life is a wild world of body language. Sometimes I wish I had majored in psychology. It’s intriguing. I’ve mastered the disinterested gaze, ignoring the heated looks. But this guy is different, I can’t look away.  

“He looks at me like he’s trying to place where he knows me from,” I say, leaning my hip against the counter, making myself look at Tori and not him. 

“Do you think he does?” Her voice changes from flirty to concerned. Tori’s the only person who knows about my past. We met when I ended up here trying to drown myself from the disaster my life was in. Her uncle owns Ocean’s. She offered me a job that night and we’ve become great friends. I trusted her enough to tell her the truth. That’s where it stops though. It’s in the past. I don’t talk about it, and I sure as hell try my hardest not to think about it.

“No… maybe… shit, I'm not sure. He looks a little familiar. He won’t stop staring at me though. It makes me nervous.”

She lays her hand over mine. “Don’t be nervous. He’s one of Max’s guys, he’s a good guy. For Max to hire someone, he would have combed through his life with a lice comb.”

I snicker and itch my scalp. I didn’t need that metaphor. Now, I’ll be itching all freaking night. She’s right though. I turn my head and sneak a glance at the mystery man. Thankfully, he’s not looking back right now. He laughs at something Stone says, pulling the beer to his lips. I watch his Adam’s apple bob up and down as he downs his drink. When he places it on the table, he looks in our direction. He smiles and holds his empty beer bottle up. He is gorgeous, that’s for certain. His boyish looks are a stark contrast to the man I can see underneath that sweet smile and blue eyes. 

“Looks like your admirer needs another beer.”

I groan, grabbing another beer from the fridge. “Tell me again why I keep working here?” I reach into my back pocket, pull the warm metal bottle opener out and with one flip, the top pops off.

“Because you love me.” She blows me a kiss and smacks my ass as I walk away.

“I’m sure it’s the money,” I say over my shoulder. She giggles because she knows it’s true. The money is great here. Ocean’s is the prime location, closest bar to the beach which keeps us slammed every night. I’ve been able to pay for college, bills, and put a little extra away each month.

“I’m assuming you want this?” I say, placing the bottle in front of him and picking up the empty one.

“Thanks.” My body hums to life at the timbre of his voice. From one word. Really, Ell? It hasn’t been that long.

“Ellie, this is Kase. Kase, Ellie,” Stone says, waving his beer in between us.

Kase holds his hand out. “Nice to meet you, Ellie.” His words lace with a polite southern accent. One I know too well and am usually turned off by, but not his. His sounds like a warm blanket you want wrapped around yourself on a frigid night. Except, as soon as I wrap myself in it, I’d suffocate from the heat. 

I slip my hand in his. “You can call me Ell.” His smile widens like he’s enjoying an inside joke. I wait for the pick-up line that follows introductions from guys at the bar, but his smile stays plastered on his face. I’d rather have the pick-up line than the enamored stare. My exit is a lot easier when the guy is a douche, unlike this one, staring up at me like I hung the moon.

I clear my throat. “So, Stone, do you need anything?” I glance over at the other guys, searching for an out. Stone’s gaze moves from me to Kase and back to me. He’s as confused as I am.

“Nah, we’re good,” he says, picking up his full beer.

“Great. Call me when y’all need something.” My words are barely out of my mouth before I pivot and make a beeline for the bar.

I hear Stone say behind me, “You sure you’re a SEAL? I think your balls shriveled up in the cold, murky waters.” The table burst out laughing. A SEAL, huh? Why does that make him that much hotter? Especially after what just happened. I stop and check on a couple of other tables.

The old-fashion jukebox retrofitted to play thousands of songs, turns on from the corner of the bar. I glance over at the big burly guy trying to dance to “I’m Too Sexy,” by Right Said Fred. Why do we still have this song on the list? It’s like a magnet for drunk guys. What happens next is so predictable, I could broadcast a live commentary. It never fails. Yep, there it is. Off comes the shirt. At least this guy is entertaining and not trying to rub himself on women. Hoots and hollers come from the patrons, urging him on. He starts cat-walking on our tiny dance floor. It’s funny to see his sunburn outlined where his tank top was, obviously not enough liquid courage to take off the shirt at the beach today. Unlike right now as he does the worm across the floor.

“Every. Time.” Tori walks up to my side and we watch the grown man make a fool of himself.

“I hope he wasn’t planning on picking up a woman tonight,” a sexy voice says. We both turn inward to find Kase standing behind us.

“That is for damn sure.” Her eyes trail down his body and she lets out a low hum. If I wasn’t standing so close, I wouldn’t have been able to hear her over the music. I tap her on the hip to stop. A wicked smile grows on Kase’s face. I guess the music isn’t that loud.

“Need another beer?” 

“After watching that” —he points to the guy pushing up on all fours, trying to stand up— “definitely. But I need the bathroom first.” We admire his backside as he walks off. He stops and turns toward me, opening his arms wide. “Sorry about earlier. I needed a map to find my way back, I was lost in your eyes.” He winks and turns to walk away.

Tori and I burst out laughing. “Awe, c’mon. You can do better than that, Cowboy,” I call out to him. He motions like he’s tipping an invisible cowboy hat right before he disappears into the men's bathroom.

“If I were you, I’d follow him into the bathroom and screw his brains out.”

“Tori!” I stare at her dumbfounded. “That’s just gross.”

She grabs her rag from her back pocket and cleans off the table next to us. “You’re so full of shit, Ell. Remember, I know about Steve.”

She won’t ever forget that. Just once, I let loose and the only mistake I made was telling her what I did. It also wasn’t at a bar where god knows what is on the stall doors. I shiver just thinking about it. It was at an upscale restaurant where each bathroom had its own room and what looked to be clean. I push in the chairs and we both head back to the bar. “Shh. That was a one-time thing. And I knew Steve. He wasn’t some hot stranger I followed into a bar bathroom.”

She shrugs. “You could take him to the backroom. There’s a bed. Just give me a heads up and I’ll stay away. Maybe.”

I chuckle. “You’re such a perv. You would so peek.” I snap her with a towel on the ass and then run out from behind the bar. “If you want to see me naked, all you have to do is ask,” I say with a smirk and blow her a kiss.

“It’s that easy, huh?”

Shit.

My face burns from embarrassment. I peek over my shoulder where Kase is leaning against the bar looking smug. “No. You and your cheesy pick-up lines can ask all you want. It’s not happening.”

He takes a step forward; his chest grazes my back. “I don’t need cheesy pick-up lines to get what I want.” Goosebumps pebble my skin from the heat of his breath. I catch myself right before I lean back into his hard chest, stepping forward and with great detail, wipe the bar off. What is it about this guy that is making me lose control of my body? Leaning into him, Ell? What the hell? I jump when I feel him at my side. Again. Jesus, this guy doesn’t give up. “I think you owe me a beer,” he rasps, deep and sexy. He’s intentionally doing this, getting me all hot and flustered.

“Oh, right… I’m sorry.” The sexy crooked grin only proves he’s getting a kick out of this. I huff and roll my eyes. “I’ll grab it and bring it to you,” I say, regaining my senses and walking around him. You’d think the bar was empty the way his laugh echoes in the room. Instead of walking behind the bar, I walk to the bathroom hallway to take a deep breath. “You need to stop this,” I lecture myself like I’m talking to another person. Since my body seems to have taken a turn on its own, I need to remind it that now is not the time.

The night turns busy enough I don’t have time to pay attention to my admirer. Our eyes catch a few times, but the constant orders being thrown at me keep me distracted.

“All right guys, last call,” I say, gathering up the empty bottles. Kase gazes at me over the rim of his bottle while he drains it. I don’t know why his intense stares make me fidget.

“We’ll take one more round,” Stone says.

Kase winks at me as I grab his empty bottle. “Be right back with those.” I quickly turn so he doesn’t see the flush on my face. I can’t help the smile on my face when I walk away. 

“Ohh,” Tori taunts, pointing at my face. “You’re having second thoughts about that cot back there, huh?”

“You know, I have a good bed at my place,” I snicker. Her face lights up and I shake my head. “I mean, if I wanted to have a quickie.”

“You know you want to.”

“I’m not going to deny the thought hasn’t crossed my mind, but—”

She squeals. “I knew it! You guys can’t stop looking at each other.”

I want to argue that it’s him staring at me, but I can’t explain why I keep returning his glances. I fill the tray with their beers, turning to her before I lift it. “Even if I’ve had a few dirty thoughts, it won't happen. I don’t do one-night stands.”

“Ell, I’m saying this from the bottom of my heart. You need to get laid.” She shrugs as I glare at her pointedly. “And that man over there…” —she tilts her head in Kase’s direction— “would be first in line to ride the Ell sex train.”

I burst out laughing. “You are a freak.”

Picking up the tray, I walk around her, and she tugs her arm up and down in the air. “Choo Choo.”

I laugh off her incessant banter about sex. This isn’t new. She’s more of a free spirit with sex. Me, I need to trust the man first. And trust doesn’t come easy.

“So, Cowboy,” I say, putting the beer in front of him. “What brings you to Gilley Cove?” His lip curves into a lopsided smile, his dimple deepening. My heart skips a beat. That quick second that air escapes you and makes you wonder what the hell just happened. I hug the tray to hide my surprise feeling. I hadn’t planned on asking him anything, it just came out. Call it curious, or it’s my brain’s way of telling me trust has to start somewhere.

“It was time for something new. And when Max Shaw offers, you accept.”

My school project pops into my head, and how much Max has helped me with it. “That’s for sure,” I reply, absentmindedly. Kase’s smile fades and he cocks his head to the side.

“Oh?” He sits back into his chair with his arms across his chest.

“No! I didn’t mean it like that.” The guys snicker and I smack Cody on the shoulder. “Is that the only thing everyone thinks about?” I ask, flustered as I walk away. 

“Yes,” they say in unison behind me.

The bar empties and Tori and I work quickly to clean up. We’ve gotten used to a few of Max’s guys sticking around until we lock up when it’s just us. We don’t mind. Usually. Between two long days of school and work, I’m beat and a little sexually frustrated tonight. The reason for that is sitting at the bar, watching me closely. He’s smart to keep quiet.

As we’re locking the doors, I’m dreaming of my cold, inviting bed; ready to sleep until noon. There could be an earthquake right now and I doubt I’d notice in my comatose state.

A hand slips around my arm, stopping me. “Ellie.” I turn and gaze into the blue eyes I haven’t been able to get away from all night. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes, why?”

He drops his hand and stuffs both in his jean pockets. “I called out your name three times, but you kept walking. You’re kinda killing my ego right now.”

I flash him an incredulous gaze. “I’m not sure that’s even possible.” The other guys are talking to Tori by the back door and I smell a setup. “What’s up, Cowboy?”

“I was wondering if you’d like to go out sometime?”

I wince, knowing this was coming. “Listen, you seem nice, but I’m really busy with my last semester of school and work, I just don’t have time.”

His perfect lips twist, and my thoughts turn dirty. What they’d feel like against my body. Tasting me. I shake the inappropriate thoughts from my mind. Holy shit, I’m getting delirious.

“You still with me?” He snaps his fingers in front of my face.

My face heats. “Sorry, I’m exhausted,” I say, trying to hide my embarrassment. “I’m certain I’ll be seeing you around.” I manage a soft smile and then walk to my car. My apartment is only three blocks away, but walking home at two in the morning is out of the question.

“Oh, it’s possible,” he calls out.

I pinch my brows together and look at him, gripping the car door so I don’t fall down. He smiles wide but holds a fist to his chest. “You’re killing me, Ellie.”

I shake my head, sliding into my car. “You’ll live, Cowboy.” He fills my rearview mirror when I pull out, watching me. He’s not going to give up.

I’m not sure if I want him to.