“Oh, most definitely. I mean, it’s fun, first of all.” Regan’s grin had chased away the blush, and now it was clear she was enjoying herself as well. Ava studied her, holding her glass in both hands in front of her mouth as she did so. Regan was strong and athletically built, and she was also very pretty. She had an oval face, her cheekbones not sharp but clear, and her chin strong. The dark lashes and eyebrows only served to accentuate the blue of her eyes. Her skin was smooth, a few freckles sprinkled across the bridge of her nose that only added to the appeal. Ava’s gaze crawled slowly down along Regan’s throat to the peek of cleavage at the spot where her shirt buttoned. Regan made apfftsound and said, “Old news. You’ve already seen these.”
“Twice,” Ava reminded her, and the blush came rushing back as Regan pressed her lips together, making her laugh.
“God, I forgot about the second time.” Regan shook her head but kept smiling.
“I did not.” Ava held up her glass in salute as she said quietly, “To your boobs, which are pretty spectacular, by the way.”
The blush deepened and oh, yes, Ava was having fun with this, so much fun despite the fact that it was sonot her. She didn’t do this. She didn’t flirt openly and shamelessly. Nope. Not Ava.
And yet…
Regan looked at her nearly empty glass. “After that comment, I am in desperate need of a refill,” she said, then reached for Ava’s glass. “Be right back.”
And yes, Ava watched her go, watched the gentle sway of her hips as she walked toward the bar, the way she sort of stuck her ass out as she leaned on the bar top and spoke to the bartender. After a moment or two, she managed to pull her gaze away and focus on the others around her, one of whom was Maia, and she was looking directly at Ava with a knowing grin.
It was Ava’s turn to blush. She could feel it, feel the heat crawling up her neck. But instead of teasing her, Maia simply held up her drink in salute, gave her a wink, and went back to the conversation Vienna and Paige were having around her.
“Here you go.” Regan slid a fresh drink in front of her and reclaimed her seat. “Now. Where were we?”
There was a pause, something between a split second and a quick moment, where Ava considered calling it a night. Putting an end to everything that had been happening, thanks to the rum in her system, and signing off for the day. But there was something about looking Regan in the eye, the openness of her expression, the smile on her face, and Ava wanted exactly the opposite of throwing in the towel on the evening. She wanted to stay. She wanted to flirt with Regan. She wanted to do more than that. She wanted to do so much more than that, and the realization hit her like a slap.
Stupid rum.
She picked up her glass and sipped.
* * *
The fact that Ava Prescott was super good-looking was nothing Regan didn’t already know. There was no denying it. It was a fact.Even when they had worked in the same restaurant and Ava had seemed cold and distant and determined not to like her, even when she was making Regan’s work life miserable, it was still a fact that she was crazy fucking hot.
And now? Now that she wasn’t any of those other things, now that they were almost friends—a moment to think about how outrageousthatis, please—the only thing that had changed was that Ava might be even hotter, something Regan didn’t think was possible.
“Did you ever think we’d be sitting at a bar doing this?” she finally asked.
“Doing what? Drinking?” Everything about Ava was so damn sexy right now, so hot, Regan was a little concerned she might get scorched, that she’d leave with visibly scarred skin.
She laughed softly. “Yes. Drinking. That and…the other stuff.”
“Oh, talking about your boobs and how you keep showing them to me?”
Regan tried to smother her smile but couldn’t, so she covered it with her hand instead. “Accidentally.Iaccidentallyshowed them to you.”
“Twice. Youaccidentallyshowed them to metwice.” Ava was enjoying this. It was so clearly written on her face, the sexy smile, the crinkled eyes, the pink cheeks. Oh, yes, she was having fun. And if Regan was being honest, it was nice to see. Ava seemed like a supremely serious human, stoic, not prone to emotion…or even fun. At least, that was the Ava she remembered.
But now? Tonight? In this little town in this little bar, sitting next to her? Ava was different. Relaxed. Smiling.
It could be the alcohol. Regan had to admit that. A good cocktail could loosen up even the most sober person. She stifled a chuckle and thought,See what I did there?
“What’s funny?” Ava asked, leaning closer. God, she smelled good, like all the best baking ingredients rolled into one, warm and inviting. A little bit of vanilla, a little bit of cinnamon, and a whole lot of comfort, along with that subtle, inviting scent that she couldn’t quite identify.
Regan smiled and shook her head. “Nothing.”
“Liar.” Ava grinned but didn’t push.
She continued to grin even as she sipped her drink some moreand glanced out over the table at the others. They ended up staying for another half hour or so, but they were all exhausted from the day, and when Vienna commented that she was ready to head back to Liza’s mansion, nobody argued against that.
Did their room get smaller while they were out?
A ridiculous thought, yes, but that’s how it felt to Regan. Like Ava’s side was closer, her desk, all her things. Her bed. It all seemed to suddenly be much more within reach, and she was smart enough to understand the psychological aspect of what her train of thought meant, but that didn’t make it stop. She cleared her throat as Ava closed the door behind her, and then it was just the two of them. In their bedroom. Alone.
