Page 61 of Raging Fires

“Okay.” He set down the tray of empty bottles and glasses that he’d been collecting. He laced his fingers together and stretched up as far as he could, his T sliding up to reveal a slice of his flat stomach. A tingle ran through Kelli, and she quickly turned away. “Thanks for all the help tonight.”

“Sure.” Jake dropped his arms and strolled over. “The Blue’s my responsibility, too. I can’t make you do all the work.”

It was the first time Kelli had heard Jake say anything about the bar except that it belonged to her. She smiled, somehow warmed by the idea of Jake displaying any interest in the Blue. “You’re right. I should go over the financials with you, teach you how to run it.”

“Numbers?” Jake looked pained. “That I will leave to you.”

“And that’s exactly how that business manager took advantage of you,” she reminded him.

He rolled his eyes. “Yes, Kelli, you were right, and now I keep a close eye on the new guy. And I don’t invest capital in every cool business that comes along. But, see, I trust you. I know you’re not going to screw me over.”

“Well, you’re right about that. But if you’re going to help out, you might as well learn a few things. Enough to tend bar.”

“Kell…” He gave her a disdainful look. “I’m as good as your guy at pulling the handle.”

“There are cocktails too. Like our ‘world famous signature, on the rocks, no mix ever margaritas,’ which you provided the limes for.”

“When did Pops’ margaritas become world famous?”

“When I decided to call them that. And I put in some high-end tequila.” She nodded toward one of the cash registers. “Come here. I’ll show you what we do with the money every night.”

“Now that is interesting.” He came around behind the bar to stand behind her. He was close enough that she could feel the heat from his body, and yes, damn it, there were still faint traces of that cologne. No wonder all the women kept flirting with him. His breath drifted over her hair, making the back of her neck prickle.

“Okay,” she said crisply, stiffening her knees so they wouldn’t start to bend and send her leaning back against him. “This is the money pouch.” She pulled out a large leather envelope, worn and marked from years of use, and set it on the counter. “The register is locked because the bartender always does that at the end of his shift, so you take this little key and unlock it.”

“I can handle that.” Jake rested his hands lightly on the side of her hips, a gesture so familiar that she was sure he wasn’t even aware he’d done it. She wouldn’t have noticed it herself except for the fact that his slightest touch sent sparks all through her.

“You open the cash drawer.” She backed up a bit as the drawer popped out toward her, which put her flush against his body. God, his body was always so warm. She could feel his muscles through his soft thin T-shirt, and her butt rested against him. She felt the immediate tell-tale pulse of his body against her. Long ago, he would have wrapped his arms around her waist and settled his chin on the top of her head, and she would have snuggled back into him, enjoying the low throb of anticipation despite the fact that it made her thoughts scatter.

Now she gave him a nudge with her elbow and said, “Good grief, would you give me some room here, Jake?”

And he did, though he moved back only an inch, so that she was still incredibly aware of his nearness. She forced herself to ignore him—and the heat forming between her legs—and went through a demonstration of the nightly routine of counting cash and sticking it in the leather money pouch, and relocking the machine.

“Now, why don’t you do the other one?” Kelli suggested. Doing was better than watching, but mostly she wanted to get him out from so close behind her. He followed all the steps, and she said, “Hey! First time around.”

He shrugged. “Yeah, well, I watched Pops do it all my life.”

Kelli made a face. “Why didn’t you tell me you already knew how?”

There was a mischievous glint in his eyes, and a corner of his mouth quirked up. “Maybe I just wanted to watch you demonstrate.” He trailed after her as she turned around and headed for the office. “Besides, I thought maybe the process had changed over the years.”

“Nothing changes around here. You know that.”

“Except that Pops is gone.”

“Yeah.” Kelli sighed, sorrow blossoming in her chest for a moment. “Except for that.”

After she put the night’s haul in the safe and stood up, Jake said, “Hungry?”

“Starving. I haven’t had anything except a power bar since lunch.”

“Go sit down and put your feet up,” Jake told her. “I’ll make us a couple of sandwiches.”

“That sounds great.” Normally, she thought, she would have insisted on making her own, but she was tired and, really, what was the point? “Turkey and—”

“Sharp cheddar on wheat,” he finished. “I know.”

She pulled out a chair at a table that was clean except for a few sticky circles. She put her feet up on the nearest chair and let out a little groan. It felt good to be off her feet, and yet it made her realize just how really sore her soles were. Closing her eyes, she sank into a daze of weariness, vaguely aware of Jake clattering around in the kitchen. At one point he let out an “Ouch! Damn it.” And for some reason it made her smile. It was all just so… cozy.