Hot As Blazes. Dani Jace
Bobby and she avoided one another while at home. A bouquet of red and yellow roses in the colors of love and friendship sat on the bar with a note of apology. Though wilted and nearly dead, her conscious wouldn’t allow her to toss them. More than once, she hit Ray’s number on her speed-dial, but pressing the send key proved problematic.
Dehydrated one afternoon after her shift, she popped into a small beachfront bar not far from the house. Bobby occasionally met some of his cop buddies at Papagayos.
Behind the heavy Spanish style door lay a man cave. A perfect place to disappear. She’d avoided the poplar nightspots hoping to avoid former classmates and locals who knew her and her troubles out west.
The bar spanned the left side of the room, with a few booths to the right. A small side room boasted a couple of pool tables. It was early for the after work crowd, but a few patrons tossed back cool ones and appetizers. Jo took a seat in front of one of several flat screens.
A hulky bartender approached. “What’ll you have?”
She eyed the taps. “Blue Moon.” To match her heart.
“A woman with good taste.” He tapped the beer and held out his hand. “Harley. You new to the area?”
She returned the firm grip. A tattooed eagle holding a trident and pistol peaked from beneath his T-shirt sleeve. Built like a tank and ruggedly handsome, with mysterious brown eyes and dark wavy hair, he wore a smile bordering on devious. She bet he’d been a real SEAL and had plenty of secret missions under his belt. “Jo Mercer, ex-pro surfer turned lifeguard.”
“Sister to Sergeant Bobby Mercer?” he asked with a chin raise.
“Guess my story is all over OBX.”
“We’ve all got histories, babe. Some more interesting than others.” He winked and parked an iced mug in front of her. “Taking on the ocean makes you tough. You’ll endure.”
A SEAL would know. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“I’m looking for a weekend bartender. Tips would be good for a beach babe like you, probably better than a whole day of fishing humans from the Atlantic.” He gave her a slight wink.
A little flirty, but Harley was the type of friend she needed. As an employee, she would be part of his team. SEALS were loyal to their team. Vic might be only a small-time dealer and still in prison, but his rich family might eventually seek payback. A risk she had to take to get out of jail. “Sure, I did a bit of bartending in Cali.”
“Our patrons are mostly cops, firefighters and the like.” He wiped down the bar.
“Hmm.” Glancing around, she decided she already liked the place.
* * * *
Jo quickly settled into a routine at Papagayos. The solitary cook in the back, and a college-aged waitress who served the booths and the pool tables in the side room were Harley’s only other staff.
One a sweltering Friday evening in August, she caught a brawny form settling at the bar and turned from the register. “What can I get for you?”
Her heart froze as wide blue eyes bore into her.
“Bud on tap,” Ray answered after a pause.
“Anything else?” Her shaky breath relayed her shock.
“A shot of forgiveness?”
She bit her lip, silently cursing her betraying body that warmed in his presence. Judging from his sweat-soaked tee, he’d been working on his day off. His weary frown made him appear older than twenty-eight.
Before she could reply, another patron raised his glass. She nodded and went to grab their beers hoping to gain some composure before answering.
“So how long have you been working here?” Ray asked as she slid a frosty mug in front of him. His stony stare mirrored his tone.
“About a month. Thanks for the flowers, but—”
He exhaled a frustrated sounding sigh. “I can’t change the past, Jo.”
“Neither can I―but I gotta start getting my life back on track.” She held out her hands gesturing to the bar. Tears brimmed, forcing her to blink. “And gas ain’t cheap.”
“Why here?”
“Tips are good and I don’t have much of a resume.” Another customer arrived and by the time she’d returned from serving them, he had disappeared. A hundred dollar bill sat beneath his half-empty mug.
“Big tip for one beer.” Harley’s deep voice boom from behind.
She flinched and faced him.
“Something going on between you and Ray?”
Her boss certainly knew his clientele. “Never got that far.”
“Once burned twice shy?” Harley’s dark eyes danced.
“More like burned at the stake and left for dead.”
“Ouch. You could light a fire with that amber glare, sweetheart.”
Ray made it clear he didn’t like finding her working at Papagayos. And Harley knew him. Her female intuition smelled a history between them.
* * * *
Ray collapsed the gurney and helped Georgia push the empty stretcher into the ambulance. How the hell did Jo end up working for Harley? Hopefully, she’d learned after being burned by the last bad boy.
“The nurse wants you.” His squad mate winked and flashed him a grin lighting up her dark complexion.
“No, she’s the captain’s daughter and needs a date to her friend’s wedding. Her guy is overseas right now.”
“So, he’d never know.” She shrugged.
“Not interested.” Hell, he was already in a fucked-up relationship with a fire captain’s daughter.
He felt his hip vibrate. “You wanna drive back, I’ve got a call.”
He opened the passenger door and answered, “What’s up, man?”
“Has she called you yet?” Bobby asked.
“Yeah, right.”
“Oh, I forgot. We’re talking about my stubborn ass sister. Just tell her to get over it, like I did.”
“Why didn’t you tell me she’s working for Harley?” He slid onto the seat.
A low whistle filled his ear. “Because I’m not a masochist.”
“Really? You’re a police sergeant. Thought it was part of the job,” he said buckling his seatbelt.
“Oh, yeah.” He snorted. “So are you going to suck up?”
“I sent flowers. Groveling isn’t my style. She’s feeling stung. You weren’t the one in California taking heat, only to come home and discover your family lied.”
“Man, you got it bad.”
“Oh, and you don’t. Your car’s never at the house anymore. Guess you’re sleeping at her place now.”
“Not much sleeping going on, bro.”
“Lucky you.”
“I’m cooking for Sarah and Jo on Sunday afternoon. Can you come?”
Ray caught Georgia grinning from ear to ear as she maneuvered the ambulance through heavy by-pass traffic. “I got an offer on a partial evening shift, and I’m not pressing things.”
“You’d be my guest, not hers. She can fly if she wants.”
“Let your sister and your woman get acquainted. Your world will be happier if they get along.”
“So, how long are you going to