Given the late lunch hour, only a small crowd gathered at Neptune’s when they arrived. They hopped out of the car and got in line to order.
“Want to know a secret?” Shane said, bumping Kagan’s side as she studied the big chalkboard menu hanging above the register.
“Sure.”
“Order the Shluke Special.”
That got her to turn her head. “The what?”
“Shluke Special. It’s not on the menu.”
“Because you just made it up.”
“Not just,” he said good-naturedly. “Luke and I put it together a few months ago. And no one knows about it so keep it on the down low.”
She squinted. “No one?”
“Sela might know because she’s got Luke whipped, but I haven’t told anyone.”
“You just told me.”
“You’re not anyone.” He put his arm around her shoulders. “And you kicked some bracelet ass today.”
The smile she rewarded him with made him feel like the luckiest guy on the planet. “So what’s the Shluke Special?”
He dropped his arm. “It’s a crab cake topped with mozzarella cheese, sweet corn salsa, bacon, ranch dressing, and slapped between two slices of grilled sourdough bread.”
“Oh, wow. That sounds really good.”
“Two Shluke Specials it is, then.” The person in front of them moved aside and they stepped to the register.
“Hiya, Shane.” Rebel worked the counter today and flashed perfect white teeth while she twirled a piece of long hair around her finger.
“Hey, Rebel, you keeping out of trouble?”
“That depends. What are you doing later?”
Shane laughed. Rebel could flirt with the best of them. “Whatcha got in mind?”
Kagan cleared her throat.
“Uh, two specials, please,” Shane said, wiping out the tease in his voice. He took in Kagan’s stiff posture. Huh. Seemed she didn’t like his verbal banter, and he wanted to take it back. He reminded himself the only person he should flirt with now was Kagan. An unexpected rush of pleasure ran through him at the idea.
Rebel shot Kagan a surprised look. “You got it.”
They got their food and found an outside table underneath a red umbrella. Across the highway, the ocean sparkled under the sun’s rays. Beachgoers cluttered the white sand.
Kagan lifted her Shluke sandwich and eyed it as if she were trying to figure out the best way to take that first bite.
Shane picked up his. “Best way to attack this? Just go for it.” He took a giant bite of his favorite lunch.
Kagan took his advice. Then she gave a little moan as she chewed. Her eyes closed. Everyone should eat with the abandon she did. “I think I’ve died and gone to heaven. The salty and sweet flavors are a killer combination.”
“I’m glad you like it.” He kept eating, only now he concentrated on really enjoying the taste along with appeasing his hunger pains.
“So is Rebel like the princess of naughtiness or something?”
Her question surprised and amused him, and it hurt to keep his smile somewhat in check. The sexy, yet curious tone of her voice spurred plenty of naughty thoughts in his head. Each and every one of them included the blonde sitting across from him. “You interested in behaving badly? Because I could—”
“Is every conversation a flirtation with you?”
“Not every. I don’t flirt with men. Although Luke is pretty hot and I may have—”
“Shut up!” She tossed a bunched-up napkin at him.
“So tell me about New York.” She wanted serious, he’d get more serious.
She fiddled with the crust on her sandwich. “What about it?”
He knew she loved food. “Favorite restaurant?”
“La Montanara. Best pizza ever.”
“Cab it or walk?”
“Walk.” She rested against her wood-slatted chair and her gaze flitted to the beach. “I could walk for hours, actually. I never get tired of touring around the city. Right now I really miss the summer rains. The sultry feeling, ducking into someplace new to dry off before venturing outside again.”
“You going back soon?”
“Yes. As soon as my lease is up. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else long term.”
He looked around him. The surf, the laid-back atomosphere, the temperature that was never too hot or too cold. A guy carrying a surfboard smiled and nodded as he walked by.
Shane couldn’t imagine living anywhere else either.
Chapter Five
“You’re shitting me,” Luke said, sitting across the small, square table from Shane.
Shane darted a glance away from his best friend and watched Kagan instead of answering right away. He couldn’t for the life of him stop watching her. Sunday night at the Crown & Anchor held a bigger than usual crowd, but she kept eyeing him at the same time.