Tequila Midnight: A Jessica Watts Southwest Suspense Novel (Southwest Suspense Novels Book 1) by Kathryn Dodson

Author:Kathryn Dodson [Dodson, Kathryn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Renegade Reads
Published: 2023-07-12T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Built on stilts a few feet above the sand, the Treasure Trove’s wide wooden deck held colorful, scattered tables that reminded her of fallen piñata candy. Along one side, the bamboo bar had a drink specials sign that mirrored the one on the road. Dollar beers and dollar tequilas, Jessica’s preferred libations.

She approached the bar, a thrum of excitement running through her. Instead of being thrilled she’d found Doraliz, recklessness drew her forward. She’d come here chasing some other girl’s life. Now that she’d found her, Jessica had no magic way to make Doraliz’s life better. Jessica’s father had worked with the same people and gotten in too deep. She’d followed his example. She couldn’t be trusted with relationships. At least that freed her return to hard drinking and sex with strangers. She’d forgotten the excitement that came with the bleeding edge of drunkenness and danger.

“A beer and a tequila please.” She slapped three dollars on the bar. While she didn’t know the denomination of the local currency, it seemed everyone here took dollars. She’d become just another American slut on vacation.

“You bet.” The bartender had cinnamon skin and ocean blue eyes. Definitely a contender. “Are you here alone?”

“Yes,” she answered, trying to sound confident. People needed to learn not to ask that. Why should it matter if she traveled alone?

“Awesome,” he said, his smile lingering. “Let me know when you need a refill.”

He set the tequila in front of her. She picked up the shot glass and threw the liquid into the back of her throat, loving the burn that spread down her esophagus. Her eyes watered at the harshness. This was not sipping tequila. She set the glass back on the bar. “I need a refill.”

He cocked an eyebrow at her, clearly flirting. She enjoyed being back in a game she knew so well. She took her beer and second tequila to one of the bar-height tables on the patio where her view encompassed the beach and the patrons as they arrived. Whatever she wanted tonight, she could have. She deserved the consequences of morning.

As the night wore on, she found herself plied with cheap drinks. The line of men willing to spend a buck to see if they’d get lucky stretched as far as the liquor would last. She’d moved on from the overworked bartender and had several new targets in sight. A rowdy gang of guys in their twenties had taken over one corner of the bar, including a tall guy with ebony skin who eyed her stealthily throughout the night.

A sunburned geezer and his fishing buddy at the table next to her kept trying to start a conversation. She’d heard more than she wanted about their attempts to catch a blue marlin. One of them had bought her two beers already before personally delivering her a tequila and standing at her table like he wanted something.

“You can’t buy me enough drinks to go home with you tonight,” she finally said. She didn’t enjoy being mean, but she needed him to move on.

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