I held up my drink. “Sorry. Blame it on the alcohol.”
Her beautiful green eyes narrowed. “Right. It’s all because of that fruity drink you’ve been sipping for two seconds flat.” She burst into a fit of laughter. “I’m sorry, but your drink looks prettier than mine. I’m used to guys drinking whiskey or rum. Straight.”
“Either would’ve been fine, but it’s been a while since I’ve had any alcohol so I wasn’t picky with whatever was handed to me.”
She took a sip from her drink. “Why’s that?”
That voice. It did things to me.
“It’s complicated,” I said.
She dipped her gaze to the crazy marble bar top. “I’m sure I could relate. Complicated seems to be my middle name.”
I started to ask what she’d meant but then remembered where I was—The Monster Ball. She probably would understand if I told her details. When she brought her big green eyes back to mine, I went for it.
“I’m a genie. That’s what makes my life so complicated.” I ran my fingers through my hair, never allowing my eyes to waver from hers. She didn’t react. Not really. I wasn’t sure why this surprised me. “And you are?”
“Intrigued.”
I flashed her a grin, impressed with her non-answer. She was definitely the kind of woman to keep me on my toes.
I took a swig from my drink. “Glad I’m holding your interest.”
“You have been.” She shook her head and smiled to herself. “I mean you are.”
“How many of those red drinks have you had?” I laughed.
“This is my second, but like you, I don’t get the chance to drink much. Tonight is a special occasion.” Her eyes fell to her cup, and the smile pulling at her perfect lips faded.
What darkness was she glad to be escaping from?
I took the final swig from my cup and was glad it was gone so I could get myself something stronger. Since hers was nearly gone as well, I nodded toward her cup. “Can I order you another?”
“Sure, thanks. It’s called Shifts and Giggles, and that guy makes it.” She pointed to the bartender with the long brown dreads I’d noticed earlier when Onyx had used her magic to swipe a bottle from him.
“Interesting name. Okay, I’ll see if I can get his attention. Be right back.” I headed in that direction.
I could feel her eyes trailing after me while I walked to the opposite end of the bar where the guy with dreads stood, cleaning a glass.
“Hey, I’d like to order a couple drinks,” I said.
“What can I get you?” He had a deep voice and an accent I wasn’t familiar with.
“I’ll take another Shifts and Giggles along with your best whiskey on the rocks,” I said, praying she hadn’t been screwing with me when she said that was the drink’s name.
“Are you sure? You say that as though it’s a question,” he said with a grin.
“I’m sure as long as the drink is real.”
The dude’s head fell back, and he laughed. It was loud, but not in an obnoxious or asshole way. Instead, there was something rumbly to it. Throaty and animalistic. This guy had to be a shifter of some sort. “Which is something we’ve all wished for a time or two in our lives, yeah? A little something real?”
I nodded and cracked a grin myself. “Yeah. I guess so.”
When he grabbed a metal shaker and poured various things inside, I watched. He moved so fast it was hard to keep up with what he was doing, clearly bartending was his element. I did notice when he poured some spiced rum in the shaker, though.
“The drink is real, and it also happens to be my specialty.” He sprinkled some sort of dust in the shaker before capping it and then giving it a good shake. “Should I make you one too? Or do you still want whiskey on the rocks?”
My lips worked into a smile. I couldn’t help it. This big, beefy looking dude with some serious dread’s had a specialty drink called Shifts and Giggles. It was funny as hell. There was no doubt he had a sense of humor.
“Nah, I’m good. Just a whiskey on the rocks, please.” I glanced down the bar, making sure the woman I’d been chatting with was still there. She was. She waved and smiled. I returned both. Her gaze drifted to the dance floor as a new song came on. She swayed to the beat, and I wondered if she wanted to dance.
“Here’s the first drink,” the bartender said. “I’m guessing it’s for her.” He nodded to the woman I’d been staring at—the woman I felt pulled to for whatever reason.
“Yeah.” I licked my lips, hoping to dim the stupid smile on my face.
“Smitten with her already, I see. Perhaps the magic of the ball drew you two together. The question is: for what reason, destiny or lust?” he asked. When his eyes seemed to flare in a protective way, I began to question if he had a thing for her himself.
“It’s too soon to tell.” I knew the comment made me sound like an ass, but I didn’t care what this guy thought of me.
“I know your type.” His nostrils flared as he poured my drink. “You’re cocky, arrogant, self-serving, and have a string of heartbreaks trailing behind you. But her.” He nodded in her direction. “Don’t hurt her. She’s been through a lot and deserves more than becoming a notch on your belt.”
The tie I wore suddenly felt too tight. My suit too itchy. Him knowing her well when I barely knew anything about her irked me.
“Questions are building in your mind,” he said before handing me my drink. A smirk twisted at the corner of his mouth. It amplified my irritation. “Even though you probably won’t ask them, I’ll still answer. No, I don’t know her personally. I only know what she divulged to me about herself an hour ago when she ordered her first drink. No, I won’t tell you her story because it’s not mine to tell. What I will say is that she deserves more than the cards she’s been dealt in life. Which means, if you’re looking for a quick hook-up, move on to someone else. Her heart is already fragile, and her story is sad enough without adding any hurt you might cause.”
I swallowed hard. Damn.
First of all, his first impression of me had been spot on. At least if we were talking about the human me from years ago. I’d been everything he listed and proud of it back then. Flash forward to genie me now. Not so much. All I wanted was to know who’d hurt her and if there was anything I could do to fix it.
I lifted the drinks in a gesture of thank you and gave the bartender a nod before turning to walk back in her direction.
She was swaying in her seat to the music, her high-heeled foot bouncing. Nothing about her would lead me to believe she had a fragile heart or shitty cards dealt to her. Then again, I knew how well some could pretend their life was a bowl of rainbows when, in fact, it was sour ass lemons. Maybe she was just letting loose tonight and enjoying being away from whatever shackles held her down back home.
Not only could I relate, but it was also something I had no issue drinking to.
“Hi, my name is Ryan. I’m a genie who loves long walks in the open air, whiskey on the rocks, and getting to know beautiful women,” I said when I made it to her. I held her drink out and smiled.
Her head fell back, and she laughed. It was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard.