“Honey, break me off a piece of that,” Dana Simpson said as she leaned against the far side of the bar.

Katie’s eyebrows lifted at the woman’s statement. Fifty-something Dana, who always wore enough makeup to make a drag queen proud, stared across the room at a group of four men in cowboy hats and boots sitting at one of the bigger tables. Katie hated to think it, but Dana’s eccentric look probably wouldn’t grab too much attention from the men. They were in their early twenties and unlikely to be interested in hooking up with a woman Dana’s age. But…never say never.

“The wanna be cowboys?” Katie asked.

Dana sniffed and fluffed her shoulder length blond hair. She squinted a little. “Honey, those guys aren’t real cowboys. Their jeans are too tight, boots are too shiny, and their faces are covered in peach fuzz. I carded them anyway. They’re twenty-two. No, I mean that hot as hell Navy SEAL bouncer.”

“Nathan?” Katie almost squeaked the question.

Dana had only worked at the pub for three weeks, and even though she was an excellent waitress, she did a lot of recreational man spotting in the pub every night.

“Of course Nathan. You hiding any other SEALS around here?”

Katie wrinkled her nose. “No. Contrary to popular belief, there isn’t one around every corner.”

Dana patted Katie’s shoulder. “Too bad. Anyway, I see women flirting with him all the time. It’s kinda horrible how they plaster themselves to him all the time. Sexual harassment.”

Katie didn’t know what to say to that right away. She found her voice. “I think he can take care of himself.”

“I’ll bet. He looks like he could bench press a lot.” Dana licked her lips. “Don’t you think he’s amazing?”

I do. That’s the problem.

“He’s an honest, hard working guy,” Katie said.

Again Dana looked at Katie as if she’d lost her mind. “You’re kidding, right?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re downplaying how good looking he is in order to pretend you don’t think he’s all that.”

Katie felt the heat filling her face and cursed her pale complexion. “Just because a guy is good-looking doesn’t mean I’m attracted to him. If a guy’s personality sucks his looks mean nothing.”

“You don’t think he’s a good guy? You just said he was.”

Katie waved one hand in dismissal. “Dana, you’re twisting my words.”

“Uh-huh.”

A little perturbed at Dana’s assessment, Katie shrugged. “We work together, he’s my friend. Doesn’t matter what I think of his looks.”

Dana rolled her eyes. “I’m not saying you should like a man just because he’s good looking. It just makes things all the sweeter if he is. And come on. He’s a SEAL.”

Katie could’ve admitted to her co-worker that not only did she think Nathan defined hot, but also that his personality also made her admire him even more.

No. I’m not doing that again. I’m not.

Katie watched as he chatted with two seventy-something women at one table. Then he looked up as he moved away, and his gaze tangled with Katie’s. Heat and definite male interest seemed to flare in his eyes. It seared her right to the core, and she swallowed hard. She had to be imaging that look, right? Like she had all the others he’d thrown her way over the months. He obviously liked and respected women and enjoyed their company no matter what their age.

“I’d better get back to work,” Katie said.

As the night went on, Katie and Nathan kept too busy to say more than a few words to each other in passing.

Later in the evening the small dance floor half full, people swaying to a sexy song that Katie had always enjoyed. Dana encouraged her to take a break, and Katie decided it sounded good. Before she could escape to the office or upstairs for a few moments, a warm hand circled her forearm. Surprised, she swung around to see Nathan standing there. Instead of a smile, he looked deadly serious.

She frowned. “Something wrong?”

“Yeah, I think I’m gonna die.”

“What?”

“I need a break, too. I was hoping you’d dance with me.”

She couldn’t have heard him correctly. “What?”

He leaned in, his body so close and his lips near her ear. “Sweetheart, the music isn’t that loud. Dance with me.”

She shivered as his warm breath tickled her ear. A wild tremor danced through her, the pleasure of his request and his physical proximity making her tingle.

She pulled back enough to look into his eyes. All she saw there was sincerity and good humor.

She shrugged. “What the hey? What’s one little dance?”

As if he’d planned it, the music went from fast to slow. Uh-oh.

Nathan’s grin widened as he snagged her hand and led her to the floor. Apprehension gathered in her stomach, threatening to derail the undeniable excitement.

“Um…I don’t…” she started as he touched her waist lightly, holding her between his hands.

Despite what she’d started to say, her traitor feet moved, leading her in a slight sway. She recognized the song right away. A singer’s recent rendition of Wicked Games. She’d always loved the song and this new version was as sexy as the original.

He leaned in again, this time slipping his right around her waist while cupping her right hand and holding it to his chest.

“Um?” he asked into her ear. “Everything okay?”

Oh, God. How did she answer that? How did she keep from him the fact that she lusted after him every damned day? She didn’t want him knowing. If he did he could use it like Tate had—

No, you aren’t thinking about that again. Nope. It’s in the past where it belongs.

Because he leaned down for her answer, she whispered into his ear, “Everything is fine.”

Fine? No that didn’t fit. It was too mild. Too general. It couldn’t describe the incredible feelings roaring through her body, daring her to do and say things she shouldn’t. He drew her closer until her breasts brushed against him. Until their thighs brushed. She gasped and hoped he didn’t hear her.

“Everything is savage,” he said into her ear, his voice deep and husky.

The heat in that word, in that slang word for fantastic, created a fresh wave of desire through her. She shivered as stark pleasure took hold.

I feel drunk.

She slipped her hand from his and looped both arms around his neck. This song would be done too quickly for her to savor each minute of touching him. She closed her eyes, feeling his gaze penetrating, assessing. Did he know what he did to her? Part of her thrilled to the idea while the rest was terrified. If he knew, he could take advantage. She let go. Let all those inhibitions fly away for the few precious minutes this song would play.

Everywhere his skin touched hers, everywhere his body touched hers, emphasized things she didn’t want to acknowledge. So many things. Despite the fact she wasn’t a little woman, he towered over her, his shoulders so broad. Touching one shoulder and also feeling his solid chest under her fingers threatened to melt down her brain. He swayed slowly as well—they never made more than a small circle in one place. Anyone watching had to know. They would have to see the extraordinary heat between them, right? Self-consciousness uprooted her stability. She couldn’t do this without combusting right here. She needed something, anything, to keep her from losing control with this man.

Katie gently pulled out of his arms just as another song started and headed for the back. She didn’t look back, nor did she scan the room to see if Dana or her uncle had spied them dancing. Of course, they had. The thought made her walk faster. She needed air. She’d only step outside a few seconds. She pushed the back door open and walked out, making sure the rock would hold the door open.

Once outside she stood near the door and breathed deeply. A few seconds later, Nathan walked out. She leaned against the brick wall by the door, wishing he hadn’t come outside. Because the fever inside her hadn’t dissolved.

“Don’t tell me,” he said. “You’re taking out the garbage.”

He came toward her, but this time he did something she didn’t expect. He leaned both hands on the wall on either side of her head, effectively caging her. She took in a quick breath of surprise and undeniable anticipation.

Without another word, unable to take it a minute longer, she grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him closer. His eyes turned molten hot, his lips parted. She stared at his mouth, loving the cruel cut of it. His mouth was, in that moment, everything.

He cupped her head between his palms, slipped his fingers into the hair at the back her neck. He stepped forward and she bumped against the wall. His mouth caught hers.

Breathless, she released a little moan. Pleasure swamped her as he teased her mouth, a kiss so soft and such a surprise. Her fingers twisted in his shirt as her entire body trembled under the exquisite sensation of his lips on hers. Her lips parted, he delved deeper, his tongue taking possession with a hot, deep taste. Fire seemed to erupt inside her as he caressed her deeply. He drew back with a gasp and released her. She let go of his t-shirt.

Under the dim light, she caught his expression. He actually looked shocked, amazed by what they’d just done. There wasn’t anything calculated in his expression.

“We’d better go inside. Someone will come looking for us,” she said and hurried into the building.

She rushed to the restroom. Thankfully no one was there to see her expression because she was pretty sure she’d look insane. She probably looked as dumbfounded, as bowled over as Nathan had while they stood in the alley. She entered a stall, closed the door and shut her eyes for a moment while she processed what had happened.

Oh, damn. Damn.

It had been wrong. So wrong to do. Because now things would be damned awkward. Weird.

It didn’t matter that it had been the single hottest moment of her life dancing with him, or that kiss, however brief, had stunned her to the core.

This changed their friendship to something…else.

“Shit,” she murmured.

* * *

Katie was right. Awkwardness started as soon as she exited the restroom and went back to work. Dana eyeballed her with the biggest shit-eating grin. The rest of the evening Nathan and Katie avoided each other like the proverbial plague. Then some things happened that made an impulsive dance and kiss seem like nothing.

Close to eleven that evening, two men sat down at a table toward the front. Katie was free and approached them with her pad, ready to take their order. As she walked toward them, she noted their demeanor and appearance. Both were dressed in suits and ties. One man had long dark hair pulled back in one of those stylish buns and with a short beard and mustache. The other sported short blonde hair and was clean shaven. They looked as if they should be GQ models. Both smiled and both eyeballed her in a way that gave her the creeps. She shrugged it off.

“Evening gentlemen,” she said with a return smile.

“Evening, darlin’,” Bun Man said, a hint of Irish in his tone. “We’re just here for drinks. I’ll have a scotch on the rocks. Whatever brand you recommend.”

“Good idea.” The blond guy’s voice held a thicker Irish accent. “Same here.”

“Coming right up,” she said and started to walk away.

Right that moment she felt blond guy’s hand touch her ass. Stunned, she gasped and turned toward him. Their eyes met as he smiled again.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Just being friendly,” Blond Man said. “Now get us those drinks, honey.”

Anger burned inside her like a wildfire. “I’m not your honey, and you’re aren’t getting any drinks. Touching me is not appropriate.”

“Oh my God, she really thinks she’s something,” Bun Man said. “You’re a waitress. Not the Queen of bloody England.”

Before she could even respond to his asinine statement, Nathan was by her side, towering over the table, his presence solid. Along with her indignation at the two men at the table came a firm appreciation for Nathan’s presence.

“Gentlemen, it’s time for you to leave,” Nathan said.

Both men gave Nathan scathing expressions.

“What the hell?” Blond Man said. “This is none of your business.”

Nathan kept his voice low. “Policy is if you disrespect any employee here with inappropriate touching, you’re out the door. No quarter given.”

“What he said. Out the door gentlemen,” Katie said. “Now. Don’t ever come back.”

Both men stood, shoving their chairs back so the wood scraped loudly against the floor. Even above the music and talking, this caused a few patrons to notice.

Bun Man glared at Katie and Nathan. Nathan followed both suits to the door and watched as they walked out. With a sigh of relief, she continued working with her other customers and tried to forget anything had happened.

When she went to the bar to get drink orders, her uncle took a moment to say, “Saw Nathan kicking two men out. What happened?” She explained, and then he said, “Best damn thing I did in the world was hire you and Nathan to help me with this bar. You know how to handle creeps.”

She smiled. “We’re just implementing your excellent policy. Not every pub would’ve kicked them out. They’d expect the wait help to put up with it.”

“Never going to happen here, sweetie. You have my permission to kick them in the balls if they ever come in here again.”

The rest of the night went smoothly until closing time. Malcolm walked Dana to her car and when Malcolm came back inside, Nathan and Katie volunteered to finish close up. Nathan stepped outside the front for a moment and so did Katie to make sure patrons weren’t lingering in the parking lot. No one was. A screech of tires and the roar of an engine came as a luxury sedan screamed around the corner and headed straight for them.

“Nathan,” Katie barely breathed the warning.

The car was coming fast. Way too fast.