Page 64

“Then who?—"
“Hey folks,” Joe intoned enthusiastically to Mel and Cameron. “It’s nice to have you back at the Local Moose. What can I get for y’all?”
Mellie looked smug and pointed to Mike. “Why don’t you ask him what he’s here for, first?”
Why did Mike think that Mel was in for a major surprise, Joe-style?
And sure enough…
Joe gave Melanie the biggest, most sunshiny smile Mike had ever seen. Any brighter, and it would have blinded him. He’d been singed by her joyous heat before, but this brilliant display put her into super-nova territory.
“Oh. I know what he’s here for, hon.” Joe threw her whole heart into the performance. “That would be me.” She shimmied over, bent down, and laid a hot, wet one right on Mike’s mouth.
He could have sworn he heard titters from the table of women next to him. And who was he to discourage them? They were clearly enjoying the new entertainment.
“Nice,” Mike rasped, not quite as in control as he’d been a few seconds before.
“Sure is, sweet lips,” Joe purred in a sultry voice. “I’ll bring you your water, once I…” She bent closer and…
Oh, no, she did not just stick her nose in his ear.
Before he could bring his brain back online, the snarky woman bounced back up with a grin. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friends, sugar?” she asked, playing up a dumb-blonde routine that Mike hadn’t seen before.
Mike almost couldn’t form words. Joe was looking pleased with herself, and Mel was appearing like she’d just sucked an entire mouthful of sour candies.
He cleared his throat.
“Sure thing, baby.” Mike added the last word purposely. He wasn’t normally the kind of guy to call a woman by anything other than her name, but Joe had set the table with her act, and he’d follow suit.
He sent her what he hoped were goo-goo eyes, just to cement what needed to appear like an over-the-top attraction.
Not difficult to do.
“Elle, this is my ex-wife, Melanie, and her current boyfriend, Cameron.”
Let Mellie eat that one.
Mike had purposely made it sound like his one-time wife was known to flit from flower to flower, when as far as he knew, she’d only stepped out on him. But he knew the comment would twist Mellie’s short-hairs for at least its one-time veracity.
He continued before she could unclench her jaw.
“Melanie, this is Elle. My girlfriend.”
“A waitress, Mike?” his ex questioned haughtily after semi-regaining her aplomb. Although her retort made her sound like a twat. “Seriously?”
Joe, listening to the interplay, sniffed loudly, looking totally offended before ramping up her airhead persona. “Shows what you know,” she mocked. “Get it right. Geeeze. I’m called a server these days, you know.”
More snorts from the table next door had Mike almost losing character. The ladies listening already had Joe’s real number.
“Oh. I’m sorry. Server.” Mellie rolled her eyes. “Where did you two meet? The police station, perhaps?” she added snippily.
“Oh!” Joe pretended shock. “No ma’am. I’m not a criminal. I met Mikey at the gym.”
Oh crap. Mikey. Now she was laying it on a little too thick.
“You wanna see my muscles?” Joe continued with an eagerness that wouldn’t be denied. She plunked her empty tray on the table, hiked her T’s shirtsleeve up until it was hooked over her shoulder, and flexed.
Damn. Mike hoped he wasn’t drooling. The woman had incredible biceps.