Free Miss Firecracker by Lorelei James

guy to be your dirty little barroom secret.”
    “Is that right?”
    “Yep. And Blake is too good a man to put up with that high school-ish bullshit, Will.” She granted Willow a once-over and French inhaled. “If you’re not woman enough to stake your claim on him…well, step aside for those of us who are.” Mandy stubbed out her cigarette and sauntered out.
    As soon as Willow regained control of her temper, she realized Mandy was absolutely right. She returned out front with renewed purpose. Instead of checking her section, she walked behind the bar and stopped beside Blake.
    He had a bottle of gin in one hand and the soda dispenser in the other, mixing the liquids in a lowball glass. “Something you need?” he asked, without looking up.
    “Uh. Yeah.” She set her hand on his shoulder and rose to her tiptoes, putting her mouth next to his ear. “To say I’m sorry.”
    Blake turned his head so their mouths were mere inches apart. “For what?”
    “For acting like there’s nothing going on between us.”
    “Is there something going on between us, Willow? Besides us havin’ a good time and enjoying each other?”
    She faltered for a second, but she didn’t look away from his mocking eyes. “You know there is.”
    “Yeah? Then prove it.”
    “How?”
    He shrugged. “You’re fast on your feet, remember? You’ll come up with something.” Then he sidestepped her and reached for a lime, finishing off the gin and tonic.
    Shoot. That hadn’t gone like she’d planned. Willow felt dismissed. And she didn’t like it one bit.
    Now you know how he feels.
    True. But how was she supposed to prove it to him?
    A sultry feminine laugh floated above the bar noise. Willow pinpointed the source: Mandy.
    Figured.
    Mandy would probably know how to “prove it” to Blake. Maybe Willow ought to storm over there and beg Mandy for help.
    Help you to do what? Show you how to seduce the gorgeous hunk you’ve already slept with three times?
    Yeah, not the best plan.
    Maybe you oughta step aside and let a real woman show you how it’s done.
    Willow paused. Now there was a great idea. One that didn’t reveal her ineptitude. She’d get a crash course in Flirting 101 from Mandy without Mandy knowing. Mandy’s tips were twice what Willow’s were the previous night, so if anyone had the flirting thing down pat and got the most bang for her buck, it was randy Mandy.
    So for the next hour, Willow paid very close attention to Mandy. Her mannerisms. Her habit of tease and retreat. Her loose-hipped stroll. Then Willow tried it out on a couple of unsuspecting customers. And wow. It worked.
    Willow zeroed in on her target. Blake. She added an extra swing in her hips, giddy with knowledge that he watched her every movement. Raptly.
    She ambled behind the counter. She timed it so when Blake stepped over to fill a glass with ice, she did too, forcing his groin to connect with her backside.
    He froze.
    Willow peeped at him over her shoulder. “Oh. Hello.”
    Blake blinked at her. “What are you doin’ back here?”
    “I needed ice and I didn’t want to bother you.”
    “It’d be no bother.”
    “That’s sweet. Just give me a sec and I’ll be out of your way, okay?” Willow bent at the waist and scooped ice from the back of the ice bin, pressing her behind more firmly into his groin.
    “Ah, no hurry, Will, take your time.” He didn’t move. At all.
    She jerked upright and pretended to lose her balance. And yep, Blake’s big hands landed on her hips and righted her. Just as she’d expected. And he left them there. Just as she’d expected.
    “Careful.”
    “Thanks.” Willow cocked her head at him. “Know what this reminds me of?”
    “What?”
    “Last night. When you were behind me on the bed.” She dropped her voice. “That was hot, Blake. I keep thinking about it. And wanting to do it again. And again.”
    “Willow.”
    “Sorry.” She straightened and pressed her mouth to his. The kiss was more than a simple