I scoffed. “I should hope London has some better kept secrets than this, otherwise she’s definitely letting the side down.”
“Oh, she has many more, don’t you worry. She’s a secretive old hussy is our London,” said Trev.
Laughing, we each took a seat by the bar and I scanned the cocktail menu. “I think we should both try a new drink.”
“Good idea,” said Trev before slamming his hand down on the counter. “Barkeep! Bring us two of the most potent cocktails on your menu.”
The guy behind the bar smirked at Trev’s antics as he used a dishcloth to dry a glass. “If you’re after a Cosmo, you only have to ask. I’m sure your lovely lady friend here won’t think you less of you.”
I gasped a tiny breath at his cheekiness and looked him up and down. He was hot, if you were into bearded hipsters. Trev didn’t bat an eyelash.
“Believe me, sir, if I wanted a Cosmo, I’d order a Cosmo. My lady friend is well aware of all my manly attributes.”
I glanced at him and raised an eyebrow. “Am I?”
“Last summer, Camber Sands, my towel very inconveniently slipped when I was changing out of my swimming trunks, allowing you to cop quite a delightful eyeful.”
I did my best to hide my blush, because it was true. I’d seen Trev’s manhood in all its glory, and though it had only been a flash, it was enough to let me know he was well-endowed.
“The delightfulness is yet to be confirmed.”
Trev’s eyes glittered as he leaned closer. “Is that a challenge?” His breath hit my skin and I needed a subject change, pronto. I turned to the barman.
“So, any drinks suggestions?”
He pursed his lips, thinking about it. “Either of you ever tried The Zombie?”
“That sounds suitably morbid and extreme. We’ll have two,” Trev announced.
“Hold up. I want to know what’s in it first.”
“Three different types of rum, lime juice, falernum, angostura bitters, pernod, grenadine, cinnamon syrup and grapefruit juice.” The barman lifted a finger for each listed ingredient.
I grimaced. “I honestly can’t decide if that sounds revolting or delicious.”
Trev nudged me with his elbow. “You’ll just have to try it and find out.”
He eyed me meaningfully, and I knew it was a silent reminder of what tonight was all about. New experiences. Right. “Okay, but if I get an ulcer you’ll be nursing me back to health.”
Trev smiled widely. “Well, duh! I look fab in a nurse’s uniform. Starched out white’s my colour.”
A few minutes later the barman set our drinks down and I lifted mine, first taking a sniff. It was definitely potent. When I took a tentative sip it burned but in a good way. Trev let out a hoot after he downed a long gulp.
The barman shot me a little grin. “Well, what do you think?”
“I imagine it’s an acquired taste,” I answered and he chuckled, his expression warming in a way that made me wonder if he fancied me. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t the sort of woman who went around thinking every bloke fancied her just because they were friendly. But I did have my audience, as most of us do. There was a certain sort of man who found me attractive, and I was beginning to think Mr Barman was one of them.
“I’m Ash, by the way,” he said and held his hand out across the bar to me. I shook with him, aware of Trev’s attention all the while.
“Reya.”
“And I’m Trevor,” my friend finished. “Now we’re all on first name terms. How splendid.” If I wasn’t mistaken, I thought there was a hint of annoyance in his tone.
Ash nodded to him then quickly brought his attention back to me.
“So Reya, do you live around here?”
I opened my mouth to answer, but before I could get a word in Trev interrupted. “Tell me, Ashington…”
“It’s Ashley.”
“Well, that makes it so much better. Tell me, do you always come onto other men’s girlfriends while you work, or is this just a one-time thing?”
Ash raised an eyebrow. “Is she your girlfriend?”
“No, but…”
“Well then, that answers your question.”
“No, it doesn’t. For all you know we could be married with three adorable children.”
Ash smirked. “I took a wild guess.”
“Oh yeah?”
I eyed Trev, not getting where all this hostility was coming from. He’d just told me one day I’d meet a man and fall in love, yet here he was hardly an hour later, vagina-blocking the shit out of me. I nudged him in the elbow as he stared Ash down.
“Quit being weird.”
“I’m not being weird. I’m simply questioning this young man’s ignoble intentions.”
I scoffed at that, because Ash was clearly a couple years older than Trev. Instead of engaging him, Ash reached under the counter and grabbed a pen, then proceeded to scribble something on a napkin. He set it in front of me and I peered down to see his phone number.
“In case you ever want to go out,” he said, giving Trev a look before returning his gaze to me. When he went to serve the people at the other end of the bar, I turned my attention to my friend, who at least had the decency to look sheepish. He lifted his drink and took a sip. I folded my arms and cocked my head. He pretended to peruse the liquor bottles stacked in a row along the shelf. I cleared my throat.
“Care to explain what that was all about?”
“I was saving your bacon. You don’t want to date a barman, Reyrey. Bunch of sluts, the lot of ‘em.”
“And how to do you know? Have you met every barman in the whole entire world?”
“I’ve met my fair share. Though the Greeks are by far the sluttiest. When me and the lads went to Santorini last year, there was this bartender who got off with a new bird every night. Lots of tourists there, so it was a target rich environment, but still.”
“Well, Ash doesn’t look Greek to me.”
“No, he looks like a tosser.”
“Trev!”
“What? You know it’s true. And anyway, I’m sick of this bearded trend that’s been going around. Contrary to popular belief, not all blokes look good with facial hair. They think it gives them automatic hunk status. Well, I’m sorry, but you just look like a nerd with a beard. Or a fat bloke with a beard. Or a big nosed sod with a beard.”
“Wow, you’ve really got a bee in your bonnet about this. Is it because you can’t grow one yourself?” I asking, goading him. It was rare that Trev got riled, so I was taking advantage of the opportunity to tease him.
“I’ll have you know I can grow a beard just fine. I simply choose not to. Besides, who’d want to cover up this glorious face?”
“Hmmm, sounds like the gentleman doth protest too much,” I grinned around a sip of my cocktail.
He levelled me with a serious look. “Is that another challenge?”
“Would you like it to be?”
He let out a long sigh. “No. Look, all I’m saying is, I care about you. And I don’t want you going out with some arsehole who doesn’t appreciate how wonderful you are.”
I had to admit, I was touched by the compliment and the ferocity in his voice. “Yes well, you don’t need to worry. I don’t fancy him anyway.”