Drinking probably wasn’t a good idea. Not before she had to dance with Mick. He was no doubt going to be the best dancer in the world, or at least think he was, and she needed to make sure she could hold her own.
The barkeeper nodded again. “Sure.” He turned away again.
“No!” She burst out.
He turned back.
“Gin and tonic.” She bit her lip. “And lime.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “You sure?”
“Yes. No. Oh shit.” She grabbed the counter. What was going on with her?
“Would you like me to suggest something?” Mick said, his voice low and full of a warm laugh as he stepped up to the bar beside her.
“Vodka,” she blurted out at the barkeeper. “Straight.”
The barkeeper flicked a look at Mick and then back at her. “Vodka?”
“Two ice waters,” Mick said. “With a wedge of lime in each.”
She spun to him. “Who said I want water?”
“Who said the second glass is for you?” he asked, his smile playful.
Her heart quickened, and the pit of her stomach tightened.
Oh God.
“Two ice waters.” The barkeeper placed two glasses on the counter in front of Mick.
“Thanks, mate,” Mick said, picking up both.
His jaw was so square. His nose so…so…hawkish. Damn it, why was he so good-looking?
He turned back to her, that playful smile still dancing on his lips, and held out one of the glasses to her. Zeta swallowed, opened her mouth, closed it.
“Thanks,” she muttered, taking the glass and capturing the straw with her lips.
His stare dropped to her mouth.
She sucked. Ice water flowed down her throat.
Mick chuckled. “Thirsty?”
She ignored him and drained the glass without stopping. Well, she tried to ignore him.
He leant on the bar with one elbow, his smile tormenting her. It did things to her she didn’t want to examine. It hadn’t before. Whenever he’d smiled at her before, she’d wanted to hit him in the face with a pillow.
Did you really? Or have you been telling yourself that?
Putting the empty glass on the counter, she licked her bottom lip.
His gaze dropped to her mouth again, and his nostrils flared.
Her pulse quickened. Of course, with his ego, he probably thought she’d licked her lips on purpose to draw his attention to her mouth.
And you didn’t?