“I’m fine,” she said. “Can I get you anything?”
Please say no. Please leave and stop raining on my orgasm parade.
Not that one climax constituted a parade. But she had hope for later tonight, after Dominic searched her home for potential threats . . .
Wow, her idea of foreplay needed work. After they caught this guy, after things returned to normal in her life, then . . . but no, Dominic would be gone again by then.
“A cup of coffee if you have it,” Ted said, and she could practically feel the rain clouds moving in. “I might have a beer later. I thought I would stick around and keep you company.”
But you broke up with me and my “fears.”
“Sure, but I have to keep up with the drink orders.” She turned her back to him and reached for mimosa glasses. Ted could wait for his coffee.
“If you’re pouring coffee, I’ll have a cup too.” She glanced over her shoulder and saw Dominic sliding onto the stool beside Ted. He held out his left hand. “Dominic. I don’t think we’ve met before. I’ve been away for a while and you’re new to the area.”
“Nice to meet you.” Ted gave his hand an awkward shake.
She turned her focus back to pouring not-so-equal parts champagne and orange juice into glasses. After keeping these customers waiting, they deserved a little extra booze.
“Sorry, I’d offer my right hand, but it’s not a pretty sight right now,” Dominic said.
Her brow furrowed as she added the OJ. She’d seen his hand up close. The skin was damaged from where the bullet had gone through, but she’d been under the impression that he was more concerned with the loss of his fine motor skills.
“I cut it on a broken piece of mirror,” Dominic continued.
Her grip tightened on the juice bottle. And she waited for him to add the mirror our mutual friend over there broke while she came against my hand. . .
“Hey, Noah,” Dominic called. “Do you have a Band-Aid?”
“First-aid kit is in the back by the dishwasher,” Noah shot back. A side glance at her boss and fellow bartender for the night told her that Noah was moving fast to pick up her slack.
She turned her attention back to the drink ticket. Three mimosas—check. Two bottles of light beer—
“You know, I’m not sure a Band-Aid will work,” Dominic said. “Would you look at how much blood has already seeped through this rag?”
She whirled around in time to see Ted’s face pale as he stared at Dominic’s right hand, wrapped in a red-stained bar towel.
“Oh God,” Ted murmured, swaying on his barstool.
“Dominic,” she said. “Don’t do that. He can’t—”
Ted swayed back on his stool and Dominic extended his right arm to catch him.
“Handle the sight of blood?” Dominic supplied.
“You knew,” she said, her eyes widening. Because she’d told him, after her failed date with Ted.
She saw Noah leap over the front of the bar and rush to the unconscious customer in Dominic’s arms.
“Let’s lay him down and elevate his legs.” Noah barked the orders as he reached for Ted. Then he glanced up at her. “How much has he had to drink?”
“Nothing yet,” she said. “And that’s not why he fainted.”
“It’s my fault,” Dominic replied. “Good Guy Ted can’t take the sight of blood. And I showed him this.” He held up his right hand.
Noah glanced up, shook his head, and continued to run his hand over Ted’s neckline as if the short-sleeve button-down might be constricting. Dominic reached over and tapped Ted’s shoulder.
“Hey, Ted,” he called. And the man lying on the floor stirred. As soon as the other patrons realized Ted would survive, they returned to their drinks.
“Damn,” Dominic said. “And here I thought I was one down with one to go.”
Noah glanced at him as he drew Ted into an upright position. “Planning to make another customer faint tonight?”
“Nah.” He removed the rag and revealed a cut-free hand. “I borrowed some ketchup from your supplies in the back. Probably left over from when your dad served food in this place.”
“Yeah,” Noah said. “Why the hell did you pretend it was blood?”
Dominic shrugged and his broad shoulders brushed the tips of his long hair. “I saw Ted when I poked my head out and thought I could get a jump start on the list of guys I’m supposed to knock off for Lily. That’s why you brought me back here, right?”
“That was Josie’s idea,” Noah said, cradling a semi-alert Ted to his side.