“I can’t believe you’re losing this place,” Callie said with a sigh, gesturing around the cramped bar.
A pang of regret tugged at her gut as she swept her gaze over the cluttered tables and little booths. The chrome counter her bartender Greg stood behind. The pool table and dart boards in the corner. The Diamond had been her entire life since her parents had died, and the thought of no longer owing it brought a wave of bitterness. She’d invested every dime she had into this bar and now all those dimes were gone. She feared she might have to file for bankruptcy sometime in the near future, but she was trying not to think about that. She’d be moving in with her sister Alice the day after tomorrow, and she desperately hoped she’d be able to climb out of her financial hole.
“Sammy?”
She lifted her head and found her friends eyeing her with concern. Waving a hand, she said, “Of course I’ll miss it. But maybe it’s time for me to start a new chapter in my life.”
“What about Riley Scott?” Callie teased.
“What about him?”
“How does he fit into your new life?”
She hesitated then said, “He doesn’t.”
Jane hooted. “Spoken like a true slut.”
Sam released a pent-up breath, wondering why the thought of Riley not being in her life bothered her this much. “I’m not the slut. He is.”
“Ahem.”
The three women turned their heads just as Riley approached in a pair of blue jeans and an ab-hugging red shirt.
Sam’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. God, he looked gorgeous. Those smoky blue eyes, messy brown hair, sleek muscled body. He was the epitome of eye candy.
“Did you just call me a slut?” he asked, flashing them a charming smile.
Jane smiled back, but Callie just stared at his crotch. Sam knew she was studying it thoroughly and trying to determine the size of his package.
Sam, of course, had experienced all eight inches of him, and her clit swelled just thinking about it.
“You shouldn’t eavesdrop,” she returned. “You might not like what you hear.”
“I always like what I hear.” He winked. “Especially when it comes from you, sweetheart.”
“You don’t need to sweet-talk me. I already slept with you.”
He chuckled, and then frowned when he noticed the dozen shot glasses littering the tabletop. “You’re drunk,” he stated.
“Yessiree, I am.”
“So are we,” Jane said, pointing to herself and Callie with a big grin.
Riley sighed. “Women and tequila never mix.”
“What exactly are you doing here?” Sam asked. She lifted her hair off her neck and fanned herself with one hand. Was it just her, or was it seriously hot in here? Had to be the alcohol. Or the man. Probably the man.
“I came to talk to you about something.” He looked uncomfortable, most likely because Callie continued to ogle his groin.
“As you can see, I’m busy.”
“No, she’s not.” Jane shot to her feet, pulling Callie up with her.
“What about girls’ night?” Sam asked.
“It’s two in the morning. I’m thinking we call it a successful night and go to bed.” At the word bed, Jane raised a brow at Riley.
“And maybe my husband will actually have sex with me tonight,” Callie added before Jane dragged her away.
Giggling, her friends left the bar. After the door closed behind them, one of the waitresses locked up and flipped the open sign so it read closed. The Diamond closed at two a.m. on Sundays, and as Riley helped her out of the booth, the waitstaff and bartenders began tidying up for the night.
“You’re stumbling,” Riley commented with a sigh, holding her arm to steady her.
“I’m so not stumbling.”
“Yeah, you are. Slurring too.” He shot her an endearing grin. “I must say, you’re a lousy drunk.”
“Am not.” She craned her head up to look at him. His rugged features suddenly looked hazy to her eyes. Maybe she shouldn’t have stood up just yet. “You came here to talk or have sex?”
“Talk, Ms. One-Track-Mind, but I think it’ll have to wait. You’re obviously in no condition to pay attention.” He gave her ass a little pinch. “So sex it is.”
He started leading her toward the back corridor, but she tugged on his arm and stopped him. “Uh-uh. I want to stay down here.”
He lowered his voice. “And screw me in front of your entire staff?”
Waving a dismissive hand, she pushed him aside and sank back into the booth. “They’ll be gone soon.”
Her entire body was wracked with impatience and arousal as she waited for her employees to finish wiping down each table and take care of the nightly duties. Riley didn’t sit down, just stood over her, looking intrigued. She was drunk, yeah, but not drunk enough that she couldn’t see the golden opportunity in front of her. Or more specifically, across the room. She’d pictured this moment so many times she couldn’t possibly pass it up now.
“The safe’s all locked up,” Greg said, approaching the booth. “The deposit’s in there, ready to be dropped at the bank tomorrow morning.”
“Thanks, Greg.”