Test Drive by Marie Harte Page B

approach Lara, she stepped into the back, and Rena took her place.
    When Rena saw him, she gave him a wide smile. “Hey there, sweetcheeks. What’ll you have?”
    He loved Del’s cousin. She was always a bright spot with a ready smile, dimples, and a gorgeous face and body to match. If she wasn’t related to Del, he might have taken a turn with her. But he knew better than to screw with the boss’s family. Literally or otherwise.
    He grinned at her. “Aren’t you too pretty for words?”
    “I am. I really am.” Rena preened. “Need a refill?” She glanced at his empty bottle.
    He nodded. “Two.”
    She grabbed them and angled her head in the direction of the preppy jerk who’d been smiling at Lara. “See that guy?”
    “What guy?”
    She frowned and turned directly to look for the loser. “He was just there.”
    “I saw him earlier.”
    She turned back to him, her smile one he could only describe as smug. “I’ll bet you did.”
    “So the guy…?”
    “Lara’s almost ex-brother-in-law. A cheating, sniveling, rich worm who won’t give her sister a dime unless Lara deals with him. The scum sucker has had the hots for Lara for years.”
    “Is that right?”
    “Probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep an eye on him, just in case he tries to give her a hard time.” Rena leaned closer over the counter. “You could even mess him up a little. Just for fun. He’s clearly out of his element in this place.”
    “But I’m not?”
    She laughed. “Johnny, you live and breathe trouble. You’re practically a Ray’s staple.”
    “That’s so sweet.” He winked at her. “No wonder I like you best.”
    “Yeah, that’s what they all say.”
    “But it’s true.” Well, pretty much. Most of the guys around the place had a real hard-on for Rena, but for Lara too, especially because it was well known she didn’t date at all. A good thing, in his opinion. The woman could do so much better than the idiots around Ray’s. Except for him, of course. “So, Rena, if I handle your boy, will this be considered a favor for her or you?”
    “For me. You know Lara. She shies clear of the pretty ones.” Rena gave him a pointed once-over.
    “Fine. For you then. But you owe me.”
    “Okay. But only because it’s you.”
    He chucked her chin, and she flirted with him some more. He paid for the beer, slipped her a generous tip, then returned to his dad.
    “Now that is one good-looking girl. Think she’d like to dance for me?”
    “No. Just no. Rena’s a sweetheart. So hands off.”
    “Fine.” His father raised his hands in surrender before chugging down his beer. “So you’re good to help out this weekend? Bobby’s off, and I need someone to fill in. And if you could rearrange some of the schedules for me, that’d be great too.”
    “I thought you wanted help behind the bar.” Bobby was a bouncer at his dad’s club.
    “I do, but I need security more. You’re good with your fists, even if you do try to talk everyone to death first.”
    Johnny sighed. “You really need to replace your general manager, Dad, because I can’t keep popping in to help you when you’re down a man. Get someone to replace George already. And trying to charm my way out of trouble has kept my record clean for years. I’d think you’d be happy about that.”
    “True enough.” Jack shrugged. “Look, if you’d rather bartend, can you nab me some security help? What about your friends from work?”
    Knowing Foley and Sam, Johnny had no problem pledging their services. The guys treated the dancers well and would easily walk away if told no.
    Johnny half-listened to the club gossip, a rampant epidemic his father spread like the plague. He couldn’t help noticing that the guy at the bar hadn’t yet returned. And neither had Lara.
    “Be right back. Gotta hit the bathroom.”
    “I’ll be here.” His dad ordered a plate of fries from a passing waitress.
    Johnny casually strolled past the guy’s still-empty seat at the bar and