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Jo opened her mouth to respond, to tell Evelyn that she had nothing to apologize for. She wanted to say that the kiss had been amazing, but before she could get the words out, a familiar voice cut through the moment.

“Well now,” Mica said, sidling up to them with a knowing grin. “Looks like you two are having fun.”

Jo glanced at Mica, then back at Evelyn, who looked like she wanted the floor to open and swallow her whole. “I should go find my friends,” Evelyn murmured, starting to get up. “Excuse me.”

Before Jo could stop her, Evelyn disappeared into the crowd, leaving Jo staring after her with a mixture of confusion and longing. Mica nudged her friend’s shoulder. “Earth to Jo,” she said. “You still with us?”

Shaking her head, Jo tried to clear the fog that seemed to have settled over her mind. “Yeah, yeah,” she said. “I’m here.”

Mica raised an eyebrow. “Uh-huh. Sure you are.” She jerked her thumb toward the bottles of liquor lined up along the mirror behind the bar. “Come on, Casanova. I need another drink, and it looks like you could use something a little stronger than your…” She caught sight of the two Cosmopolitans on the counter. “What the hell is that?”

Glancing at the drinks, Jo shrugged. “She wanted one, so I thought I’d try it.”

Staring at Jo for a long moment, Mica’s face was unreadable. “I can’t believe it,” she said. “You never do that. We need to fix you. Fast.” She held up two fingers to get the bartender’sattention. “Two tequila shots, please.” After a beat, she turned to Jo with a slightly worried, but also mischievous look in her eye. “Make that three.”

Jo frowned. “Three?” she asked. “Who’s the third one for?”

As if on cue, Evelyn reappeared, looking slightly flustered but determined. “I’m sorry for running off like that,” she said, addressing Jo directly. “It was rude of me.”

Taking in the woman’s open and sweet, yet eager expression, Jo felt her heart skip a beat. “No, it’s fine,” she said quickly. “I mean, I get it. That kiss, well, it was unexpected.”

Mica looked between the two women beginning to smile. “Perfect timing, actually,” she said. “I was just ordering us some shots. Tequila.”

Evelyn’s eyes widened slightly. “Oh, I don’t know if I should—”

“Don’t be silly,” Mica interrupted, pushing a shot glass filled with golden liquid at Evelyn as the bartender set them down. “It’s your birthday, right?” Jo watched as Evelyn hesitated, clearly torn between what was likely her usual caution and a desire to let loose. Finally, with a small nod, Evelyn picked up her glass. Mica’s smile widened. “Happy Birthday.” She lifted her shot glass. “Now, down the hatch.” The three women drank in unison, Evelyn coughing as the tequila burned its way down her throat. Jo found herself reaching out instinctively, her hand coming to rest on Evelyn’s lower back.

“You okay?” she asked, her voice low and concerned.

Evelyn nodded, her eyes meeting Jo’s. “Yes, thank you,” she replied. “Just not used to tequila, I suppose.” Still, even through the cough, Jo couldn’t miss the desire in Evelyn’s eyes, and it sent a bolt of excitement through her.

Setting down her glass with a little more force than was necessary, Mica cleared her throat, interrupting the moment.“Well,” she said. “Since Jo’s not going to introduce me, I’m Mica. I don’t think I’ve seen you in here before.”

Surprised to hear Mica chime in, Jo blinked, suddenly aware of how mesmerizing her attraction to Evelyn was. “Uh, right, sorry,” she said. “Mica, this is Evelyn.”

A polite smile crossed Evelyn’s face. “It’s nice to meet you,” she said. “And this is my first time here.”

“Oh, I see,” Mica said in a tone Jo didn’t like. “Just some straight girls having a fun birthday party at the gay bar.”

“No—” Evelyn started, but Jo interrupted, giving Mica a hard look.

“This bar is open to anyone,” she said. “Mica’s just joking around, right Mica?”

A grin crossed Mica’s face. “Right,” she said. “Just joking.” She clapped her hands together. “Okay, what’s the plan for the rest of the night?”

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Jo hesitated. “I, uh, I’m not sure,” she said, her usual confidence nowhere to be found. “What do you think, Evelyn? It’s your birthday, after all.”

Clearly torn, Evelyn bit her lip, a gesture that Jo already found adorable. “I should probably find my sister and friends,” she said, though she made no move to leave. “They’ll be wondering where I’ve gone.”

Mica rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on,” she said. “The night’s still young. Why don’t we all go dance again? Unless...” She leaned in close to Jo as if to whisper. “You’re planning on taking the birthday girl home with you. Maybe?”

Jo felt her cheeks heat up, a sensation she wasn’t used to. Normally, she’d have no problem with the idea. In fact, she’d probably already be leading Evelyn out the door by now. Yet, something about tonight felt different. Somehow, Jo felt that Evelyn wasn’t only another conquest, another notch on her bedpost.She is something else, Jo thought.Something more.Then she shook her head.Of course I will ask Evelyn to go home with me. That was what Jo was all about.

Evelyn’s breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening at Mica’s words. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Jo stiffen but couldn’t bring herself to look at the other woman’s face. A mix of excitement and fear coursed through her veins.

“Mica,” Jo warned, her voice low. “Don’t start.”

But Mica’s words had already taken root in Evelyn’s mind, sprouting possibilities she had only dared to imagine in the privacy of her most secret fantasies. Going home with a woman like Jo. Tall, muscular, in a leather jacket and with a sexy smile. The thought sent a thrill of anticipation through her body, followed quickly by a wave of apprehension.Am I ready for this?she wondered.Can I really let myself be so daring?