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 Doesn't matter. We have dollar-drink night on Wednesday, and then on Friday we're
hosting that private party for the radio station. I'd rather have my best waitress on both days. He
popped the cap on his bottle and took a long swing.
 I'll be back in a second. Kate lifted her full tray. She made a quick round, taking orders
from two tables and collecting empties, and returned to the bar more determined than ever.  All
right, so I'll do Friday but not Wednesday.
Mike turned his bottle of beer in his hand and eyed her.  So you're telling me you're not
coming in on Wednesday.
 No, I'm recommending that I don't come in on Wednesday because I've trained such a
capable staff of waiters that you can count on them to do a stellar job in my absence. Can I get
my order? Five green lizards and a fuzzy martini; three hard lemonades and a Diet Coke with
Malibu.
 I'll get it, Mike said, and Chris moved down the bar to greet a group of newcomers.
Mike had stated in the past that getting behind the bar relaxed him, and at the moment she
could see how much he loved it. He wore a little smile as he worked two glasses at once, and
there was a funny little spring in every move he made.
He looked so at ease, so damned sexy.
She'd been working hard at keeping those dirty little thoughts about him from invading her
headspace, but so far it had been an abysmal failure.
Did she usually brush up against him that much?
Did she always work so hard to catch his eye?
Was it always so damned hot in the bar, or was it the memory of him moving inside her?
 So if I give you the time off, what do I get in return?
54 Annemarie Hartnett
 Do I need to remind you how much I've done for you lately? she said and immediately
caught her unintentional double entendre with a wince. Never one to let an opportunity go to
waste, Mike mocked her with a shocked expression as he lined up five shot glasses on the bar.
 Are you kidding me? I do believe that I have more than made up for all those things
you've done for me.
 Mike, she said with a meaningful glance down the bar to where Chris was mixing.  Not
here.
He looked genuinely remorseful as he scrunched his nose at her.  Sorry. And I'm sorry,
Kate, but I can't let you go those two nights.
 What difference would it make compared to my calling in sick? How many times have
you told me that you'd rather work a little harder than have me running around here with a snotty
nose? She slid her tray forward and placed the shots in a neat circle.  I'll tell you what the
difference is: if I call in sick, you just lose me for a day. If you give me the night off, I have to
make it up.
 Then you shouldn't have said anything to me. You could have called in sick, and I would
have been the one scrambling while you basked in all your free time.
 What if I wiggle for you?
He shot her a dubious look and placed three bottles of lemonade in front of her, then leaned
forward and lowered his voice.  I've seen the full-body wiggle. The wiggle has lost its power
over me. You've gained other powers, but since you seem to be so determined to keep what
happened this weekend separate from what happens when you put that uniform on, you're
screwed.
 Then I quit. I can't work under these conditions, she countered and fluttered her lashes at
him. She went silent as she watched him work.
Every atom of common sense in her body told her that she was up against a volatile
arrangement, and it still stung to think of what he had said to her about the direction she was
leading her life, but she was willing to let it lie as long as he did. It was like their friendship had
been a limp, lifeless balloon, and now that they'd jumped headfirst into something more, the
relationship was bobbing up in the air with no real direction. It terrified and elated her with every
The Company of Fools 55
breath she had taken since he had left her the night before. The promise of every weekend spent
like the one that had just passed was too much temptation.
 Wednesday, no. Friday, yes, he said as he placed the last of the drinks on her tray.
 You're not doing another summer semester, so you've got seven days a week free. I don't want
any flack if I put you on the list for weekends. Forget about making up the time. You can take it
as a personal day.
 Thank you, Mike. She beamed at him as she balanced her tray.  And I don't care what
you said. My wiggle is just as good today as it was last week.
 You're wrong; it's better. Hey, before you go, let me ask you something can I take you
home again?
This was what she'd been waiting for, what had been implied with every look that had
passed between them. She hesitated long enough to look down the bar to make sure Chris was
still out of earshot, and then she nodded.
 My place?
He nodded and relaxed his shoulders a little, as though he had actually worried she'd say
no.
Kate narrowed her eyes but couldn't disguise her smile.  The power of the wiggle.
* * * * *
The rest of the evening passed with a steady flow of customers but spiked for an hour after [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]