She crosses her arms. “No, it’s just clear what last night was.”
“And what’s that?”
“A mistake.”
“I don’t think so,” I retort immediately. I’ve been counting the seconds until I saw her again.
“Oh really, then what’s my name,Ryan?”
“Your name?” I repeat, then I realize. “That was just a joke back there. I thought you had a better sense of humor.”
“My sense of humor is just fine. You were being serious.” She starts walking away again.
“Alana—” I call after her. “Your name is Alana. I didn’t forget. I could never forget.”
She spins around in her little white shorts and wedge heels that make her legs look fantastic. “Look, please don’t leave. There’s one race left, and then I’m off.”
She stands there glaring at me. At least I think she’s glaring. Her sunglasses completely conceal her eyes.
“Please?” I tilt my head down and whip out my most charming smile.
After a pause, she huffs, “Fine.” A ghost of a grin playing on her lips.
I step back behind the bar as Alana sits down next to Mac.
“I don’t think we were formally introduced last night.” Mac puts out his hand.
“Alana."
“Mac,” he responds a little too cozy for my liking. I clear my throat as I serve a draft to a customer. Mac smiles shamelessly at me and pulls his stool a little closer to Alana.Dickhead.
“Do you know anything about horse racing, Alana?” Mac queries as he looks over the numbers in the last race. His tone is way too friendly.
“No,” she acknowledges, “I’ve actually never even been here before. That’s why I was late. I walked in the opposite direction of the picnic area.”
“Never?” I question.
“Nope. I guess I’m sheltered.” She laughs. The hum tickles every organ in my body.
“Pick three numbers,” I urge as I serve her a Coke with a lime.
Alana looks down into the cup and smiles. I really wish I could see her eyes. “Any three?”
“Yup.” I throw down another program in front of her and open it to the right page. “Which names do you like?”
“Number seven is scratched,” Mac advises with the pen cap in his mouth.
“Scratched?” Alana repeats, and I’ve determined that I love hearing the sound of her voice. It’s soothing.
“It means the horse has been pulled out of the race for some reason.”
“Oh, okay.” She looks down at the paper studying the names while I study her. “I like these three.”
I pick up the program and glance at the names she’s circled; Always a Party, Stryker, and Ryan’s Redeemer.
“Nice picks,” I smirk as I stare down at the last name, then I grab some cash out of my tip cup and hand it to her. “Go with Mac. He’ll show you how to bet.”
“Is it complicated?”