Page 8 of Last Call at the Doghouse

Maybe he wouldn’t recognize her. His view had been less than ideal, after all, so it was unlikely…

As he passed by, he looked directly at her, smiled crookedly, and winked. Shit. He had piercing blue eyes that were filled with humor. She’d always been a sucker for blue eyes.

Andrew’s eyes were brown.

The man who’d seen her in her underwear and been unimpressed ordered a drink from Stella and asked where the restrooms were. Stella pointed to the back hallway and the hunk headed in that direction.

Armi watched him walk away. She really shouldn’t notice the way his jeans fit…

Carlton drained his tea and patted her on the forearm, in much the same way she had his just minutes earlier. After he placed his glass on the bar he said, in a lowered voice, “If you looked at me the way you looked at that guy I’d stick around, but I think I’ll head home. Tomorrow morning, bright and early, I’ll check out the tackle shop.”

With his back to her he finished with, “You might need to take your own advice, Armi.” He paused by the door and turned his head to look at her. “I’ll be back in a week or two to check on you.”

“I don’t need…”

“You need someone to keep an eye on you, I suspect.” He didn’t give up easily. “Might as well be me. Maybe you don’t need a man, but I suspect you could use a friend.”

She watched him leave, watched the door swing closed behind him, and was overcome by a wave of unexpected desolation. If she’d been a balloon, all the air would’ve slowly seeped right out of her. She had friends and didn’t need any more. That thought came and went. Could anyone have too many friends?

“He’s cute,” Stella said. “You should throw the guy a bone. Smile at the poor bastard. Flirt a little. And if a touch of chemistry hits you, go with it. There’s nothing wrong with a little sex for the sake of sex alone. Just for fun, Armi.”

“No, thanks.”

“He’s probably still in the parking lot…”

Armi laughed. “I’m not chasing after Carlton!”

“Maybe when he comes back to check on you, I’ll volunteer to ease his pain of rejection.”

“Stella!”

“At least I’m not afraid to admit what I want. You, on the other hand…”

Stella glanced toward the back hallway, her dark eyebrows dancing again.

It was just a few minutes before that guy sauntered back into the main room. Armi rotated on her stool so she wasn’t looking right at him, but he didn’t take the hint. Instead he grabbed his drink and took the stool next to hers.

The man hadn’t been around for days. At least, she hadn’t seen him. He might’ve been working inside one of the motel rooms, or out back. There was plenty to do to make the place ready for business, and most of the work was not right outside her window. Still, nothing for days now here he was, in her space, in her place.

A part of her new life had to be a newfound fearlessness. She wouldn’t hide in her office, or her apartment upstairs. She wouldn’t pretend that he hadn’t winked at her.

New life, new Armi. Fearless.

Well, almost. She was going to ignore the fact that he’d seen her half-dressed a few days ago. With any luck he’d have the good grace to do the same.

Apparently good grace wasn’t one of his attributes.

He took a sip of his drink, then looked at her, straight on. “Since I’ve seen you naked, I figured I should say hello.” Naturally he had a deep, gravelly voice that made her spine tingle.

Yeah, he had no grace at all. “Half naked,” she responded in a surprisingly calm voice.

“I have a really good imagination.”

Stella mouthed an appreciative wow in Armi’s direction, before turning on her heel and walking to the other end of the bar, where a customer waved a lazy hand.

“I’m Duncan,” he said.

First name or last? Could be either. She wasn’t going to ask. “I’m Armi.”