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“Well, I was. I am,” Joe answered smartly. “But I met this handsome man at the gym, and…” She moued and shrugged. “…he tickled my fancy.” She rubbed her nose on Mike’s cheek. “As well as a few other things.”
Joe was having so much fun. Color had worked its way up Mike’s neck from her not-so-subtle innuendo, while Wendel gaped. But it was time to call the entertainment quits. Wendel had drinks to make, and Joe had tables to take care of.
She sashayed out from behind the bar, and gave both men a wink.
“Wendel, honey, I’d behave if I were you. Mike’s a lieutenant with the Bangor Police Department,” Joe drew out the word po-lice. “He’s also second in command of something y’all call your Downeast SWAT team, ya hear?”
That ought to do it.
Joe picked up a stack of clean napkins, but before she turned to head back to check on her tables, she paused. Mike looked a little deflated that she’d put an end to his reign of terror, because Wendel had smartly backed off and was attempting to placate Mike.
“Sorry, man. I didn’t mean any harm.”
Mike finally let go of the man’s wrist, but there’d be a bruise there for a few days, for sure.
Holding up both hands now that he was free, Wendel backed up a few steps and continued his apology. “I didn’t know she was yours,” he spluttered. “I was just having some fun.”
Mike schooled his features, and wordlessly took himself back to the patrons’ side of the bar before he turned to Wendel and spoke again. “Your apology should be to Elle.”
Mike waited, his jaw tight.
Wendel gave in after a short internal struggle. “Uh, sorry, Elle. Now that I know you’re involved with someone, I won’t touch you again.”
Joe smiled brightly. “Well, bless your heart, Wendel. I’m glad we could come to an understanding.”
Mike’s lips twitched at the backhanded compliment, but he grew stern when his attention refocused on Wendel.
“It’s not just Elle you won’t touch,” Mike ordered. “From now on, if you know what’s good for you, you won’t pursue anything with a nonconsenting female patron or employee. Do I make myself clear? I’d hate to have to report you to the local board.”
Wendel’s face lost all its color.
Joe had never seen the bartender quite so cowed. Apparently, his liquor license was pretty important to him because he backed off even more.
“We’re good here,” Wendel agreed. “Consenting women only. I promise.”
He then bent his head to making martinis.
Joe practically danced across the room. Not only wouldn’t she have to worry about getting groped in the future, neither would her fellow servers. And…
Mike was here!
The only way the night could get better is if her perps made a showing, but she’d take what she’d been given and be happy about it.
Mike made his way back to a table next to the female party where he sat down, watching her like a hawk as she checked on the rest of her patrons. Not one man so much as grinned in her direction, all of them having witnessed Mike’s scolding. It was almost as if they were all imagining themselves in the principal’s office.
Finally making her way to the ladies in the corner, Joe kept her back to Mike while she delivered their snacks and told them their drinks would be just a few more minutes.
The one Joe had deemed the leader of the pack, made no bones about eying Mike. She fanned her face with her hand. “That was so hot,” she sighed. “I mean the bartender isn’t bad on the eyes, but your boyfriend…” She blew a long stream of air from between her lips. “…smokin’.”
Joe chuckled because… Who could blame the woman? She thought the same thing.
The posses’ heads were all bobbing in agreement when another asked, “Does your boyfriend have a brother?” She said it loud enough for Mike to hear, of course, and Joe was aware that he snorted.
Joe laughed. “Sorry, shug, he’s a one and only. But some of his friends on the team…” Joe left that hanging, hoping Mike wouldn’t mind her throwing his besties under the bus. She could easily see Cisco in the midst of this bevy, making panties melt all around him.
“Oooh, that’s right,” another chimed in. “His team. And didn’t I hear you saying something about a gym?”
Joe wasn’t stingy. She’d share the bounty. “I did,” she twanged sweetly. “The SWAT people work out there during the week.” She mentioned the name of the place, and immediately phones came out to either record the info, or do a search on it.