“Don’t worry about it, darlin’.” Large, calloused hands stilled hers as the voice sunk in.
Her gaze drifted up tight, faded denim, cupping and hugging every inch of muscular thighs to a silver belt buckle. A dark T-shirt covered flat abs with just a hint of ripple and the pecs of a well-sculpted man. She gulped. God he was so damn fine.
It was the mouth, though, that made her pulse skitter into overdrive… How many times had she fantasized about those lips? Her mouth dried as her vision filled with the crooning six-foot-two man of dreams and desires.
She dared not look him in the eyes, though she could remember the color from staring at his CD covers so many times. The chocolate brown orbs matched his thick hair to a yummy T. Almost the color of the mess she’d made all over his worn boots.
“I…I. My shake. All over you.” Alex pulled her hands free and tried to clean the frozen mess, but the more she wiped the wider the frosty stain spread.
“Excuse me.” The woman from behind the counter came over with a mop and a big goofy grin. “I’ll get the floor.”
Alex stood. A handful of limp, wet napkins dripped from her fingers. Her gaze darted everywhere, anywhere that wasn’t Drew Hartford. “I am so sorry. It slipped.”
He chuckled and patted her shoulder. “It’s okay. Really. Things like that happen all the time.”
She finally zeroed in on his face. A smile crooked the corner of his goateed mouth. The dark brown eyes filled with merriment glittered—yes glittered—at her.
“Women dump their drinks on you?”
“No. That’s not what I… Hey, you’re getting it all over you now.” Drew reached over and took the soiled paper products from her and shoved them in the trash beside the Hulk. He pulled a clean wad of napkins from the dispenser. “For your hands.”
“Um, thanks.”
“Can I have your autograph, Mr. Hartford?” Mop tucked in the crook of her arm, the young girl in a paper Burger Barn hat stared up hopefully at the man.
“Sure.” Drew took the proffered pen and paper and looked down at her. “What’s your name, honey?”
“Okey dokey, ducky.” Celia came up behind Alex and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Did you get the drinks?”
“Celia. Where have you been?”
“There was a line. The woman in front of me started talking. She got her tattoo at the same place I got the cross last year—not the big Celtic cross. That was Lester’s place. The little purple one with the wings. Anyhoo, we started to compare ink.” Celia waved at her hip. “She had this huge, yellow—”
“Great. That’s really interesting. Grab your water, it’s right there.” Alex pushed Celia over to the counter. “Let’s go.”
Drew was signing a piece of paper for the mop girl when Alex looked his way. He glanced up and winked at her, but before he could give the young girl back her pen, Alex raised her hand in a weak good-bye. “I am so very sorry. I… Bye.” She turned and hurried out the door, dragging Celia in her wake, the woman’s stilettos clicking on the tiles.
“What bug flew up your butt?” Celia took a draw on her straw. “Slow down.”
“I just dumped a thirty-two ounce chocolate shake on Drew Hartford. I wanna get out of here before he has the police arrest me for assault with a frozen beverage.”
“You WHAT?” Celia whipped her gaze to the building and back to Alex. She tried to dig her heels in, but the stiletto sandals gave little traction as they crossed the parking lot to the car. “You have got to be kidding me. I wanna see.”
“Get in the car.”
“Alex. Stop.” Celia slammed her hand on the roof of the car. “Here’s your opening. Go talk to the man.” She bounced, set her cup down and clapped her long fingered hands together. “Oh, this is rich.”
Alex shook her head. “I covered the man with a shake. Get in the car.”
“Alex…”
“Please? I really need to get out of this freaking parking lot. Please just get in the damn car.”
Celia’s eyes widened before she gave a quick nod and lowered herself into the Honda’s bucket seat.
“Thank you,” Alex whispered and got behind the wheel and started up the car. She took a steadying breath and backed out of her spot.
Celia started to roll down the window. “My water.” She glanced at Alex. “Never mind.”
As Alex pulled from the lot toward the highway, she thought she saw Drew and his shadow run from the restaurant. That would be silly. Other than litigation, what would he want with her?
“The whole shake?”
“Yeah.” The two women burst into laughter.
