I flinch when a bartender appears out of nowhere and sets two cocktails in front of us. “Umm…?”
“Thanks, Ty.” Paisley wiggles her fingers at the man still hovering. “Glad to see my sparkly reputation remains intact, regardless of who I order for.”
“Thank your husband for me.” He knocks on the counter and wanders off.
I haven’t had a sip of alcohol, but my mind is spinning. “What did Brody do?”
Paisley shrugs, lifting her glass in his direction. “Probably padded the guy’s pockets to make sure our drinks are never empty.”
“Only one way to find out,” I mumble while lifting the cocktail for closer inspection. “What’s in this?”
She blinks at me. “It’s an espresso martini.”
My mouth waters from the name alone. “Been meaning to try one.”
Her jaw goes slack. “You’ve never had an espresso martini?”
“They’re not on the menu at my typical dives. And if they were, I wouldn’t order one there.”
“Well, you came to the right place tonight. The Paddock makes the best I’ve ever had.”
I take an undignified swig, making sure to lick some chocolate powder from the rim. The explosion of flavors almostmakes me choke. Sweet, rich, creamy, and strong. It’s everything I love about coffee with an added kick that makes me moan.
“Holy shit,” I breathe.
“Told you.” Paisley’s smug tone is well deserved.
My finger twirls in the air. “Keep ‘em comin’.”
She does a happy-dance on her seat. “We’re gonna be besties in no time.”
Espresso martini spews from my mouth in a terrible waste. “Never gonna happen,” I croak.
The bubbly blonde rears back, looking wounded. “Brat.”
I mop up the mess I made on my leather jacket. “No offense. We’re just from very different worlds.”
“So?” She rolls her eyes, settling on my phone. “What’re you watching?”
I shift my gaze to where the same clip is still playing on repeat. “It’s a scene fromThe Challenge.”
She takes a closer look. “I’ve seen this one.”
“Really?”
“Don’t sound so shocked. CT is my ultimate crush.”
I gasp. “Same! I love him and his dad-bod.”
“And the seasons with Diem,” she sighs. “I’ll never get over it.”
“Me either.” My nose burns and I sniff. “I’ve robbed people and threatened bodily harm without an ounce of remorse, but their tragic love story slays me.”
She’s nodding along as if we’re cut from the same cloth. “See? We have more in common than you think.”
That gets a smile out of me. “A mutual infatuation with CT is bonding material.”
“Not to mention we’re both living with Benson men.” She nudges me and I stiffen.