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“Well, someone might be wrong.” I poked my chest. “This thing is a raisin. All dried out and shriveled up.”
“Raisins are still sweet,” he countered.
I wrinkled my nose. “Devil’s candy.” Then I knocked on the bar top. “See you later, old man.”
I wasn’t a flirt. Had Lloyd not been one-hundred-percent gay and happily committed to Duke, I wouldn’t have danced in that territory with him. But he was easy to tease since we both knew that was all it was. I was much more taciturn with people I wasn’t certain about.
I swiveled away from Lloyd to go get my tray ready and stopped short. Standing at the end of the bar was the new guy. One brow winged, his arms crossed, he was watching me.
Stupidly punchable face.
This guy wasn’t even my type, but looking at him made my cheeks burn. I had never seen anyone with such a symmetrical face. Thick, dark brows hovered over twinkling hazel eyes. His full, dusky lips were pursed into a mirthful smirk. His ebony hair was artfully disheveled, like he’d just rolled out of bed or a beautiful woman had shoved her fingers through it while he’d ravished her—
Nope, nope. Not thinking those thoughts about a guy I have no interest in.
He blocked the doorway to the back, thwarting my plan to ignore him.
“Hey.” He rocked back on the heels of his scuffed leather boots.
“Hi.” I nodded toward the door. “I need to get set up.”
“Sure, sure. Quick question: did you charge them for those cupcakes?”
“No. Why would I?”
“You wouldn’t, because they’re your friends.” His grin was bright. The pull of it raised his shoulders, giving his entire body a spring. He stuck his hand out. “I failed to introduce myself to you last night. I’m Miles.”
Wary, but not rude, I slipped my hand in his. His palm was warm against mine, and he squeezed with the right amount of pressure—not too hard, but not so soft it was insulting.
“I’m Daisy.”
His eyes widened. “Ah, so you’re the Daisy I’m supposed to leave alone.” He let go of my hand and scratched the back of his head. “I would have never guessed that was your name.”
This was neither the first nor the hundredth time someone had said this to me.
“No? What would you have guessed?”
His brows drew together as he raked his eyes over me. I was still in my sweats, so there wasn’t much to see, but he took his time.
“Lydia,” he stated with all the assurance in the world.
“Lydia?” I let out a small laugh. “Why that name?”
“The all-black clothes, prickly temperament, bangs—Lydia suits you.”
Something niggled in the back of my brain. A pop culture reference from my childhood. Who was Lydia? I couldn’t figure it out. I had things I needed to be doing anyway.
“It might suit me, but it’s not my name. Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m just Daisy.”
He held both hands up and chuckled. “I’m not disappointed at all, Daisy. You surprised me, but I love surprises.”
“That makes one of us.” I nodded toward the door he was blocking. “Now that we’ve introduced ourselves, how about you let me by?”
“Sure. One sec.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a twenty. “I need some more cupcakes.”
“Oh. Well…okay.” I plucked the bill from his hand. Money was money, no matter who it was from, even the suspiciously cheerful new guy. Miles. “Any flavors you’d like?”
He stepped aside with a wide grin, giving me room to pass. “You know me, Daisy. I like surprises.”
