Page 75 of The Temptation of Truth

By the time I’m stepping up to the bar, my stomach is in knots. I’m already dreading the conversation I’ll likely have to have with Brady. And after the Melbourne boutique and the clothes?

Ugh.

I close my eyes and inhale slowly, then I open my clutch to fish out my wallet. I just want a buffer. I want something to take the edge off. To quiet my questions and slow down my brain. That’s all. What’s a cocktail go for these days? Twenty bucks? Just twenty dollars. Twenty dollars won’t upset him.

“One drink. It’s just one.”

“A’right, just one, then.” The bartender’s voice is playful as I meet his eyes, his lips curled into a conspiratorial grin. “But if ya fancy another, I won’t stop ya.”

He winks, and I can’t help the laugh that bubbles out of me.

“Careful flashin’ that smile. I might forget how to pour.”

I laugh again. He’s cute. Long blond hair and a clean-shaven, sharp jaw. I bet customers swoon over him every night. Too bad it won’t work on me.

“Are your drinks as strong as your flirt game?”

“Stronger.” He smirks and leans closer, resting his arms on the bar top. “What’s your poison?”

I hesitate. I don’t even know what to order. I don’t think I’ve ever ordered a drink at a bar before. What do people drink at nightclubs? I say the first beverage that comes to mind.

“A martini? Please.”

“Gin or vodka?”

“...Gin?”

“You like it dirty?”

I blink. “Excuse me?”

The bartender laughs, then leans even closer. “Ya ever had a martini?”

I blink again, feeling my face flame red, then shake my head no. “I don’t drink much, honestly.”

“Ah. Just one, then.” He nods knowingly, his face softening. “D’you trust me, love?”

“No. I just met you.”

He barks out another laugh. “Fair enough. No worries, though. I’ll fix ya right up.”

I watch as he grabs a tall silver tumbler and gets to workfixin’ me right up. He mushes up a lime wedge and some other sort of orange fruit, adds a clear syrup, vodka, and some orange liqueur to the tumbler, then puts another silver tumbler on top of that one and shakes it up. He slides a cocktail glass in front of me, plunks in some ice, and pours his tumbler mixture over it. It’s yellow and smells sweet.

“Passion Fruit Caipiroskafor the lady.” He pops a lime wheel onto the side of the glass, then gives me a wink. “G’head. Try it.”

I pick up the cool glass and bring it to my lips, and my eyes flutter shut the moment the sweet cocktail hits my tongue.

“See? I mix as good as I flirt, yeah?”

I smile and nod. “Better.”

I take a deep breath and give him my credit card, eyes trained on it the entire time he runs my payment. One drink. Just one. Twenty bucks, tops. That’s it. It’s just one?—

“Did you just pay for that?”

I turn and find Sav beside me. “Uh...yes?”

The bartender slaps my card down in front of me, and Sav turns to him.