Luke glanced around the bar before leaning on his elbows toward Connor and Liza. “Anna’s engaged.”
Connor cringed. “Shit. That sucks.”
Liza glanced at them both questioningly. Noticing this, Luke inclined his face toward Liza so he could lower his voice. “Ex-wife.”
Liza winced. “Oh. I’m sorry to hear that. I bet that’s tough.”
“Yeah, well…” Luke stood up straight again. “Oh well, right?”
“What youneed,” Connor inserted, “is a badass new job to take your mind off that.”
“Yeah, that’s what Gabe keeps saying.” Luke paused and then clarified to Liza, “My older brother.”
Liza offered a polite nod, and Luke continued.
“Anyway, like I said, I haven’t ruled it out. Maybe in a few more weeks or something.” Luke clapped his hands together, clearly wanting to change the subject. “What can I get y’all?”
Connor pointed at the table. “Get the trust fund baby a Barbie shot. Top it with a cherry and a mountain of whipped cream.”
Luke laughed heartily and shook his head. “Yes, sir.”
“I’ll have three fingers of Jameson Twelve Year. Neat.” Connor glanced at Liza. “What do you want?”
“I’ll have one of those.” She turned to Luke and leaned forward to speak over the loud buzz of activity. “Put a splash of water in mine. And can you warm it up a little?” She rubbed her neck and winced. “My throat’s kinda sore.”
Luke knocked his knuckles on the bar. “You got it.”
Liza unfolded some cash as though preparing to pay, and Connor held her forearm. “Come on now. Don’t insult me like that.”
She smiled and pulled her hand out of her pocket. “You don’t have to buy my drink.”
“I know that.” He angled himself toward her, leaning against the bar. “Maybe I want to. I’m having a fan-fucking-tastic night.”
She placed her hand on the bar and drew her fingers back and forth across initials carved into it. “It’s good to see you happy.”
He lifted a shoulder. “It’s good to see you,period.”
Her smile stretched wider as she dropped her gaze to the floor. Her sudden sheepishness was an obvious expression of nerves about this unspoken, rekindled closeness between them.
On the stage, the lights blew up in pink, gold, and fiery orange. Oscar blasted his way into a frenetic cover ofSkokiaan. Connor wanted to grab Liza and dance with her again. But dancing with her earlier, although riddled with the permeating hum of his intoxicating love for her, had been perilous. Nothing could come of it.
“I’m harmless, Liza.”
She lifted her head, looking at him from under raised eyebrows. “I know. Just like Brennan,” she said through a small laugh.
He gathered his brows. “What do you mean by that?”
“I mean.” She pulled the tissue from her pocket and dabbed her nose again. “You both flirt. You’re both charming. He’s my friend, and you’re my friend, and you’ve turned intojust my friendbecause I stopped ringing your bell a long time ago. And that hasn’t changed just because we’re friendly with each other now.”
“Ringing my bell?” Connor chuckled. “What does that mean?”
Her eyes shifted to the stage and back to his face as an incredulous smile tugged one corner of her mouth. “I’m not your cup of tea. I don’t strike your fancy. I don’tdo it for you. Not anymore. Possibly not even way back when.” She shrugged and sighed. “That’s okay, and it’s probably ideal for our current situation.”
“Now hold up just a minute,” he started to say, because there was no way she actually believedthat. “Just becausenowI can’t—”
“Two Jamesons neat, one warm with a splash of water,” Luke announced, setting down the glasses on the bar between Connor and Liza. “One sissified Barbie shot.”
Liza clasped her mouth as she laughed and then picked up the fluffy pink shot. “I’ll go give this to him.”
