Page 32 of Igniting Sparks

“Something to take the edge off,” he replies with a wink. “Trust me.”

So, I do. After sampling his wares at Rum and Ruin, I know Zane is a damn fine bartender, and this drink is no exception.

Can’t taste any alcohol in it, though.

I perch on a stool at the far end of the bar and try to calm my nerves, but it’s no easy task, especially not after I spot Braden playing pool with a busty brunette.

It’s not that he’s not hanging on her, but if her purposeful expression is anything to go by, that’s her plan by the end of the night.

What am I supposed to do here? I don’t know these people and I’ve never been great with forced conversations and niceties. Plus, my life experience is pretty damn limited, so unless there’s anotheralmostballerinahere, I don’t bring a lot to the table.

Yep, I definitely need more alcohol.

“Zane, can you make me another drink?” I ask, leaning over the bar to flag his attention.

A smile quirks Zane’s features as he pours me another round. “Better slow down, little lady. These will put you on your ass.”

“Really?” I frown into the glass, poking the cubes with the straw. “I can’t even taste the alcohol.”

“That’s the idea,” Zane replies with a chuckle.

“Where did you learn how to mix drinks?”

“Years of drinking shitty ones at the local clubs. One night I complained to a bartender, and he told me I could always learn to mix my own. So, I did.”

“Well done, you.” I raise my glass to him, smiling when he clinks it with his own. “It’s delicious.”

Zane leans his elbows on the bar and jerks his chin toward Braden. “How do you like living here? Is he treating you right?”

“He’s great, obviously. You saw the dance studio.”

Zane cocks a brow. “I also saw somethingelsein the dance studio. So why are you sitting way over here?”

“Don’t want to interrupt him. He’s busy.”

Zane crooks his finger at me, beckoning me closer. “Let me tell you something. Despite what you think, men aren’t mind readers. Most of the time, we’re clueless about how you feel. A little confidence goes a long way.”

“You think so?”

He shrugs and finishes his drink. “What’s the worst that can happen?”

“So many things, Zane. Where do I begin?”

Zane reaches over to give my shoulder an affectionate squeeze. “Go rescue your man.”

“He’s not my man. Not really. And you know that.”

Zane shrugs before topping off my glass. “Sure looked that way earlier, but what do I know? You good here?”

A grin breaks across my face. “Yes, you can return to flirting now.”

Zane offers me a mock salute. “I’m here if you need me.”

With a sigh, I spin the stool around, gazing at the garage’s interior. I’ve been here before, for Ash’s birthday party, but I clung to the corners then, too. Even when Braden needed an escape plan from a handsy woman and asked me to keep himcompany in the greenhouse, I managed little more than surface-level small talk.

You know, those deep discussions about the weather.

Still, I’ve made progress since then. We’ve held entire conversations without me stuttering or tripping over myself once.