Turnaround by Cassandra Carr Page B

Damn. Of course, if she drank faster
he might have to suggest a cab. He hated doing that. Few people were happy to
have their keys taken away.
    James sighed. Batting a black streamer out of
his way, he scooted back behind the bar and took up his position, ready to
lubricate the masses.
     
    *****
     
    Becca watched James work out of the corner of
her eye. Even though he was mainly filling orders and making change, it was
infinitely more interesting than suffering through yet another reenactment of
her friend Annie's divorce. She loved this whole anti-Valentine’s Day thing The
Ale House had going on, but if she had to hear how Annie’s now-ex-husband Chad
had tried to take her Monet print with him when he left her one more time, it
was going to be eighteen times too many.
    There is not enough vodka on the planet for
this.
    She’d discovered The Ale House four years ago when
another friend, ironically now blissfully married, had invited her to the
first-ever “We Hate Valentine’s Day” party. Since The Ale House was situated in
Austin’s crowded Sixth Street area and she wasn’t a big partier, Becca didn’t
often get down this way, but every year on Valentine’s Day she dressed in all
black and came to commiserate with the other unlucky-in-loves.
    James’ card was tucked into the pocket of her
slacks, and she fingered it now, as Annie continued to rave. In some ways Becca
was oddly jealous of her friend. At least she had a relationship to stir up
some emotion, even if it was mostly steeped in rage. Becca was nearly
thirty-five and had, sadly, had only one boyfriend in her life, a guy she’d
dated briefly in college. She wasn’t ugly–she knew that much—but after watching
her friends either get treated like shit or falling madly in love only to get
divorced a few years later, she’d become picky.
    “Hey!”
    Becca whirled around. James stood there, a
bottle of water in his hand.
    She smiled. Saved by the water. “I’ve
still got a drink, but thanks.”
    James leaned in and shouted in her ear, “It’s
not for you. I’m on break. Wanna get some air?” He jerked his head toward the
front door.
    There were plenty of people out on the streets
at this time of night so, after introducing him to Annie, handing over her
drink for safekeeping and telling her friend where they were going, she stepped
outside with him. As soon as the door closed the noise level decreased by about
a thousand percent and Becca exhaled.
    “So is this a good night for you or are people
in too shitty of a mood to tip well?” Nice going, why don’t you ask him
about his annual salary at McBain? None of your business how much money he’s
making.
    James shrugged. “It’s a decent night. More than
a regular Thursday but we also bust our asses, so it evens out.”
    Standing this close to James, Becca could see
that even without heels she had a couple of inches on him. That wasn’t
surprising, since she was five-ten.
    “You know, for a long time I wouldn’t date
someone who was shorter than me.” Becca clapped her hand over her mouth. “I
didn’t mean, I don’t think this is a date or anything. And I don’t feel that
way now. And you’re not short.”
    James grinned. “Good to know.” He took a sip of
his water. “I was curious about where you were going with that.”
    “Yeah, well.” Her face heated. Yeah, you’re
definitely impressing him with your sparkling conversation.
    “No biggie. I can’t do anything about my
height.”
    “I wish I could be that Zen about mine.”
    “But you’re beautiful. So what if you’re taller
than some guys? If they don’t have the ego to handle something like that they
don’t deserve you.” James’ ears and cheeks pinkened, and Becca found herself
charmed by the prospect they were both tripping over their words.
    Becca laughed. “With lines like that I’m
surprised you’re still single. Wait, you are single, right?”
    “I am.” A small smile crept up from the corners
of his