“I never should have doubted you,” Kane said, his dark eyes shining with amusement. “You are a bartender. And tonight, I am, too.”
He left the office and I followed him down the hallway and across the crowded floor of the club. The long, dark wood bar was swarming with angry-looking customers and impatient-looking servers.
I touched Kane’s arm to get his attention in the noisy room. His skin was warm, his bicep rock hard with muscle. He looked at my fingers on his arm and then at me.
“Want some help?” I asked.
He looked at the mob in front of the bar for just a second before nodding. I followed him to the end of the bar, where he lifted the swinging counter and stepped aside for me to enter first.
“You handle the servers since they bill their own drinks,” he said in my ear. My skin prickled with warm awareness at the feel of his breath on my bare skin.
The bar was clean and well-stocked. A martini shaker sat abandoned where Bryce had probably left it. Patrons were yelling out orders, but Kane silenced them with a glare.
“One at a time,” he said, his tone authoritative. The clamor eased up and I turned to the group of several servers at the end of the bar.
“Just here to help,” I said, washing my hands quickly at the nearby sink. “Who’s up first?”
I took an order for three Cosmos and four shots, crossing paths with Kane as I went down to make them. He was headed to the sink to wash up before making his first drink.
Even though it’d been a few years, I fell back into the rhythm quickly. Pouring, measuring and shaking were second nature to me after three years as a bartender. The recipes came back quickly for most of the drinks, and the servers were able to help with the others.
Kane was a natural bartender. I watched him with every free second I could spare. He kept both hands busy at all times, sometimes working on more than one drink at once.
I cleared the line of servers in less than fifteen minutes and then backed up Kane, making the more time-intensive drinks for him. I soon realized there was no catching up at Six. The group of thirsty customers just grew as the night got later.
I’d looked up at the balcony a couple times and caught flashes of Cara’s blond hair. She was dancing. Cara made friends wherever she went. I, on the other hand, had confidence in myself but still felt awkward inserting myself into people’s social circles.
“Here comes our relief,” Kane said after about an hour. Two men came through the swinging counter and one gave Kane a puzzled look.
“Shift starts at nine, right?” he asked.
“Yeah. Bryce quit,” Kane said.
The man smiled and glanced at me. “Looks like you found a much prettier replacement.”
“She’s just helping me out,” Kane said gruffly. “Eyes on your bar, Hintz.”
Kane nodded to the swinging counter and opened it for me. I walked through and headed for the stairs, not sure where else to go. When I stopped near the grand entrance to the second floor, Kane was still next to me.
“Thanks, Viv,” he said, leaning down to speak in my ear. And again, major tingles. “Let me pay you for helping me out.”
I shook my head vigorously and tipped my face up to talk in his ear. “It was fun. And last time I was here, you helped me out in a pretty big way.”
His expression softened from its usual scowl. “At least stay for dinner. Everything’s comped tonight for you and your friend.”
I leaned back and met his greenish brown eyes. “Will you join us?”
He must’ve heard me or read my lips, because his face registered surprise. “You want me to have dinner with you?”
I nodded, realizing I wanted it a lot.
“Okay,” he said, gesturing toward the stairs. “Lead the way.”
I went back to our small room, which was somewhat insulated from the noise. It only flowed in from the door that was open to the balcony.
“If the attorney thing falls through, I’ll hire you as a bartender any day of the week,” Kane said, sounding impressed.