“Some more than others,” Sam muttered, noticing that his other cop buddies were engaged in a conversation with each other.
“Want to go get a drink?” Sam asked Nicole, eager for time to get reacquainted.
“Why don’t you go get this round and one of us will grab the next one,” Rob not so smoothly suggested.
Sam forced a smile. “Since I can’t remember the last time you actually put your hand in your pocket to cover any of us, why don’t you get this round for the guys? I’ve got Macy and Nicole covered.”
Macy raised her eyebrows and an amused smirk lifted her lips.
“I’ll go hang with the boys. Go on, Rob. Fetch our drinks,” she said with such a silken laugh that no man in his right mind would deny her.
Flirting and teasing were part of Macy’s charm, but no man ever got past her walls, whic
h didn’t stop even those who knew her best from wanting to please her.
Burnett scowled but realized he’d been caught in his own noose. “Beer for everyone?” he bit out.
Even the other two guys nodded at that.
“Works for me,” Macy said, placing her hand on the other man’s shoulder. “Thanks.”
“Yeah,” he muttered, and stalked off.
Sam shook his head and laughed. “Subtle, Mace.”
“You’re no better.”
He did his best not to flush. He knew damn well he’d been proprietary, knew how out of character his behavior had been. And he couldn’t control it worth a damn.
Nicole watched his byplay with Macy but remained silent. Sam wasn’t sure if she’d caught on to his intent or if she thought he was just giving Burnett a hard time.
“I got rid of Rob,” Macy said, leaning close so she could whisper for Sam’s ears only. Obviously she hadn’t missed a thing. “Now go take my new friend and show her a good time.”
No sooner had Macy spoken than Joe grabbed a microphone and announced the start of karaoke night. He hadn’t had the theme in a while and obviously thought with the bar full of regulars, it was a good time to start.
“Karaoke isn’t my thing,” Sam muttered.
Nicole met his gaze. “Mine either.”
That made up his mind. “Want to get out of here?”
She appeared startled at the suggestion but nodded, much to his relief.
A few minutes later, they were outside Joe’s.
“Where are we going?” Nicole asked.
“With a little luck? Some place quiet.” His fingers itched to take her hand, but the maxim too much, too soon ran through his head, and he refrained.
Nicole fell into step alongside him and they walked across the street to the center median, which was covered with a multitude of colorful flowers.
“These are incredible,” she murmured and went on to name a variety of flowers she obviously recognized.
He blinked at her knowledge. “Are you a florist?” he asked, realizing he’d never found out what she did for a living.
She shook her head. “No. But my mother was always very specific about flower orders when she planned her dinner parties. Many, many dinner parties.” Her voice droned with the memory.
“Sounds painful.”