Chapter 4

Roman was almost done with the first margarita as Lana returned to his table. “Lightweight, my ass,” she said.

“I’m hoping large amounts of alcohol will help me come up with the right line to sweep you off your feet.”

“Oh, you already found it. When you told me you had tons of cash and I could have my way with you, it was a done deal. I’m kind of a gold digger that way.” She feigned a serious expression.

Roman roared with laughter. “Excellent. Party on.”

This time, Lana rolled her eyes without having to think about it. “Did you just quote a movie that’s, what? Twenty-five years old? Did that actually happen?”

“I’m old school,” he responded, without missing a beat.

“I can see that.”

“So, then, we’re on for after your shift? You get to rob me, and I get to spend quality time with you?” He was still being flirtatious and playful, without a note of desperation in his voice.

God, I miss being around shifters. She shoved the thought down deep and moved back to flirting. “Where would we go?”

“This is your turf. I’ve been gone for a while, so I was hoping you’d recommend a place.”

“So now I have to pick the place, too? Do I have to do everything?”

“Occupational hazard for a beautiful lady thief who likes to abduct helpless, infatuated men, I guess.”

“You’re funny. Okay, tell you what. I’m in the mood for shots, so I’ll let you take me to my favorite bar. We’ll see if you can keep up.”

“Well, if I can’t, you can always dump me in a back alley.”

“Definitely funny,” she responded as she turned back toward the bar to retrieve her other table’s drinks. As she finished taking their large order, two more parties came in. Cursing her turn of luck, she stopped by Roman’s table on the way to the kitchen.

“I’m sorry, but it looks like it’s picking up. Do you know what you want, and I can get it in before these other orders?”

“Oh, beef enchiladas would be great. Thank you, Lana.”

“Sure thing,” she took his menu, not liking the businesslike tone the interaction had taken. To lighten it up, she winked at him. “And I’ll keep bringing you two margaritas at a time.”

“Is there any other way?”

She moved on to the kitchen, keeping her word to put his order in front of the other table. For the next hour or so, her night was extremely busy. Roman was the only low-maintenance table out of the four she was working. The other three kept her on her toes. Carla’s night picked up, too, and the two of them didn’t really get to catch up much—though the bartender did have a few more comments about the hot man taking his time eating his enchiladas, by all appearances waiting for Lana to finish her shift.

Roman was still at his table even after the group from Nebraska left, replaced by another group. He’d downed four margaritas and finished his food by the time she returned to him. “Listen, I’m going to be here another couple of hours, so if tonight’s not a good night, it’s fine. We can catch up another night.”

“Not on your life,” he objected, still full of energy and cheer. “Just let me know what time I should come back and get you.”

She allowed herself one final frisson of anxiety—but if he was one of Trevor’s men, she would have to deal with him eventually, one way or another. “I should be done by 10:30. I can meet you there, so you don’t have to come back.”

“Oh, I don’t mind. And what kind of gentleman would I be if I let a lady walk alone at night on the River Walk?”

“Thanks. I appreciate it. Here’s your check, unless I can get you anything else?”

He merely grinned.

“Okay,” she laughed, realizing she’d set herself up. “Meet me out front at 10:30, then, and we’ll see what you’re made of.”

As Roman got up, Lana thought for a moment that he was going to lean in and kiss her on the cheek, and she was surprised by how tempted she was to let him, despite their environment. When he dug into his pocket, she felt suddenly foolish. Of course he was merely getting ready to pay.

“I’ll see you after my shift, then,” she concluded.

“Looking forward to it.” He flashed that irresistible smile again as she headed toward another table.

He was gone fairly quickly, and when she made it back to the table, she discovered that Roman had not only paid in cash, but he tipped her more than a hundred percent. “Well, that’s a first,” she mumbled, shaking her head and trying to decide whether to be amused. In the end, she simply rolled her eyes.

Flashy tiger.