Terri Osburn - Up to the Challenge

Dollar bills filled Lucas’s pickle jar to the halfway mark by mid-afternoon, but how much Sid had tucked in her apron was a mystery. His suggestion they count when the action slowed between lunch and the early dinner crowd resulted in her suggestion he take a flying leap.

The friendliest suggestion she’d made all day. Sid Navarro could make a sailor sound like a nun in comparison. If she hadn’t been blessed with the tongue of a viper, the termagant might actually be attractive. Her dark hair was once again pulled up in a ponytail, and he’d caught that whiff of watermelon again. He’d never have pegged her for the fruity shampoo type, but that scent reminded him there was a woman beneath those shapeless clothes.

The T-shirt was obviously cut for a man, and the baggy shorts hit at knee level. The green high-top Converse should have made her look like a twelve-year-old boy, but the shapely olive-tone calves above them were unmistakably female.

The woman was a walking contradiction, leaving him torn between anger and unexpected arousal throughout the day. Pushing her buttons had quickly become addicting. Watching her every thought flit across her face, he had a feeling she didn’t get flirted with often, since she had no idea how to flirt back. And though he could see she’d wanted to run every time he got close, she always held her ground and fired back.

In fact, arguing with Sid gave him the same rush as entering a courtroom. Both required a clear head and quick thinking. Both made him feel more alive. From what he’d seen so far, Sid would prove a formidable opponent.

“Jack and Coke, two sweet teas, and a Bud for table twelve. I got any appetizers up yet?” Sid asked, eyes on the stack of tickets in her hand. “Table ten is getting antsy.”

“Nothing on the window right now,” he replied.

Coffee-colored eyes met his. “You holding this shit up to mess with my tips?”

“Darling,” he said, lifting his jar from under the counter. “As you can see, I don’t need to cheat to win this little challenge.”

“What I see is a lawyer talking out his ass,” she mumbled, loud enough for him to hear but not the customer four stools down. “I’ll expect those drinks and the appetizers ready when I come back.” Sid grabbed a pitcher of tea and returned to the floor.

Talking out his ass. If she wasn’t careful he’d make her wear the drinks when she came back.

“So you’re the other Dempsey brother.” Lucas turned toward the feminine voice carrying a hint of New England. “Not quite what I expected.”

He didn’t know what the slim brunette expected, but she didn’t sound disappointed. He took that as a good sign. Extending a hand, he said, “Lucas Dempsey. And you are?”

“Will,” she replied, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear as she slid her tall frame onto a bar stool.

“Not the name I’d expect with a face like that.” He leaned onto the bar, ignoring the half-filled glass of tea he’d been pouring. “Tell me that’s not short for Wilhelmina.”

The woman gave a low chuckle and leaned in herself, bangle bracelets tapping mahogany. “Short for Willow. No one told me you were the charmer in the family. But then compared to Joe, a honey badger would seem charming.”

A negative opinion of his brother. He liked her already. “Someone had to redeem the family name. What can I get you, Willow?”

“I’m headed to my next job, but I have time for a soda. Tom always adds a shot of cherry.” She shifted on the bar stool. “Can you do that for me?”

“One cherry soda for the pretty lady.” He was reaching for a glass when Sid slapped her tray on the bar.

“Where are my drinks?”

“You’ll have them in a second. I’m helping a customer here.” Lucas smiled at Willow, who was facing Sid.

“Hey,” Willow said, “Beth mentioned you’d be covering here for a while. Must be better than baiting hooks all day.”

“You two know each other?” Lucas asked.

“Will lives on the island,” Sid said. “And she tends bar better than you do. Cut the kissy face and get me my drinks.”

Lucas slid the cherry Coke to Willow, then wiped his hands on his towel to keep from wrapping them around Sid’s throat. “Keep your pants on, sweet cheeks. I’m working on them.”

“Order up!” came a voice through the service window.

“That’s your appetizers.” Lucas dropped the stuffed mushrooms and fried cheese sticks on Sid’s tray. “Take those out. I’ll have the drinks ready when you swing back around.”

“Add two Millers and two diets for table fifteen. And don’t call me sweet cheeks again unless you want to lose the ability to reproduce.”

Sid stomped off and he turned back to his new friend. “She’s a breath of fresh air, isn’t she? Where were we?”

Willow stared back, wide-eyed. “She must really like you. Nobody would ever call Sid a name like that and live to tell the tale.”

“I’m pretty sure she hates me, but I’m not taking it personally.” Trying not to anyway . “So where do you tend bar?”

“O’Hagan’s,” she said, looking over her shoulder. “You two know each other well?”

“Who, me and Sid?” He shrugged. “Not really. I mean I’ve known her since high school, but we never ran in the same circles. How long have you been on Anchor?”

“Little less than a year.” Willow took a drink, then glanced over her shoulder again. She seemed oddly nervous about something. Before he could ask, she said, “Sid’s coming back.”

Maybe there was something up between the two women. Sid was throwing so much animosity his way, he couldn’t tell if some of the current irritation might be aimed at the tall brunette or not.

“You brewing the damn beers back there?” Sid asked. “What the hell?”

“Relax. I just have to pop the tops off the Millers and you’re good to go.” Lucas snagged two bottles from the next beer cooler down, then caught a look between the ladies on his way back.

“Dude,” Willow was saying, “you should have told me.”

“Tell you what?” Sid replied, piling the drinks on her tray. Lucas took his time with the bottle caps, pretending he wasn’t listening. “I bet I could outearn him in tips so he’s holding up my orders on purpose.” Raising her voice, she added, “You’d suck as a PI, Dempsey. Get your ass down here and give me those beers.”

“You two have a bet going?” Will asked.

Lucas put the beers on the tray. “Her idea. Fifty bucks she could earn more than I can.”

“A hundred.”

“Right, a hundred.” Lucas shot Will his best smile. “At this rate she’ll be lucky if she makes the fifty.”

The look Sid sent his way should have put him on life support. “Shift’s not over yet, fancy pants.”

“We’ll see,” he said.

“I know how you can win,” Will said.

Sid and Lucas gave her their full attention. Sid asked first. “You talking to me or him?”

Will snorted. “As if I’d help him.” He raised a brow and she added, “You’re cute and all, but she’s my friend.”

“I didn’t realize the banshee had any friends.”

“You’re lucky there’s a bar between us.” Sid dropped an order pad into her apron pocket and leaned toward Will. “So how?”

“Easy,” Will shrugged. “Take off your shirt.”

“Take off my what?” Sid blinked, certain she’d heard wrong.

“I’ll second that suggestion,” Lucas said, his solid brows wiggling over dancing green eyes.

“Shut up, preppy.”

“You’re wearing a tank underneath there, right?” Will said. “I can see the white at the bottom.”

Sid tugged at the hem of her tee. “I always wear a tank. So?”

Will rolled her eyes. “So take off that T-shirt that’s two sizes too big and I guarantee your tips will triple.”