Free Some Like It in Handcuffs by Christine Warner

Playhouse. Hopefully I can keep up my act all night.
    “If you have any problems give me the signal.”
    The signal consisted of a fingerless whistle, which thanks to her brother Craig she had quite a talent for. “Will do. Thanks.”
    “Not a problem, girlie.” He saluted her.
    Sunny readied herself mentally for the long night ahead.
    ****
    Judson sat perched on the wooden stool in the corner at the bar. He took a swig of the bottled beer he planned to nurse and watched the doors from the back room swing open. Sunny emerged and the thin line of her eyebrows rose a notch. She inspected the people filling the stools around the horse shoe shaped counter.
    Her gaze slid over everyone until it rested on him, she bit her lip. He winked at her, and color rose up her neck to cover her cheeks.
    Judson placed his beer in front of him, and ran his ring finger and thumb from the center of his pasted on mustache to the tips. Her high heels accentuated her slender legs and he was drawn to the slight sway of her hips as she moved toward him. When she brushed a trembling hand down the front of her shorts, it showed her agitation. He made the decision to have a little fun with her.
    “Hey, baby.”
    “Don’t hey baby me.” She stopped in front of him. He grinned at the idea she had decided to play this off as the angry woman.
    He removed his baseball cap and wiped his hand over his freshly shaved head. “Surprised to see me?” he said loud enough for the guy following Sunny out of the back room to hear. He leaned against the row of cupboards just inside the bar, his eyes intent on them.
    Something about the older man’s almond shaped eyes and tall angular frame made Judson stop and stare. Benny suffered a stab wound years ago. The damaged nerves left him with a limp that would be a constant reminder of his troubled youth. Although it’d been quite awhile since he’d seen his mug shots, there was no denying the resemblance. No doubt this was Benny.
    “What the h—” Her mouth hung open for a brief moment before she snapped it shut. The fact he’d surprised her with his disguise increased his playful mood.
    “How about giving your guy a smooch?” He wiggled his eyebrows.
    “Drop dead.” Her pretend anger didn’t carry over as she leaned into the bar so only Judson could hear. “Don’t you think you’re taking your disguise a bit far?”
    Judson couldn’t resist, he leaned over the counter, placed his palm behind her neck and dragged her toward him. His mouth caught hers before she had a chance to react. Her body stiffened, but before she could pull away he brushed his tongue playfully across her lips. She moaned, the sound stopped his heart. Her lips softened, letting his tongue slip inside to mingle with her own.
    God, her mouth tasted sweet, like honey. His fingers slid up the nape of her neck to fan across the back of her head and pull her closer.
    When they broke apart, Sunny gazed at him doe-eyed. She teetered back before steadying herself by gripping the cabinets beside her. The rosy hue on her cheeks turned a brilliant red.
    Judson took several breaths. His heart started to beat again, but its rhythm was off. The kiss was supposed to be a joke, a ruse, done partly to convince anyone watching them of the role he was playing, and partly to piss Sunny off. He hadn’t expected her to taste so damn good, or to feed the need gnawing at his insides.
    His control over the situation had dwindled. Their brief kiss had affected him more than he wanted to admit, and more than he wanted her to know. He sat back, grabbed his cold brew and lifted it to his mouth. The spontaneous kiss to tease her when she couldn’t do anything about it had backfired.
    Fury creased her brow as she shot ice blue daggers at him, her surprise overtaken by anger. This time it was real. Benny limped to her side. Even with a bad leg he moved with surprising speed. His jaw ticked, his intense gaze rested on Judson.
    “Hey, don’t touch my