Catch of a Lifetime: A Cricket Creek Novel by Luann McLane Read Free Book Online

that you can work a room,” she replied darkly, and reminded herself that he was a womanizer and she shouldn’t fall for his abundant charms. She was thinking of how to politely back away when he reached out and tucked her arm through his. The warmth of his smooth skin made her fingers tingle, and the steely, hard bulge of his biceps made her want to squeeze the muscle and sigh with feminine appreciation. He smelled divine too . . . clean with a hint of something expensive and masculine.
    “Relax, Jessica,” Ty said in that low and soothing voice that made her want to lean against him and purr. But instead she held on with a light touch and tried to appear cool, calm, and collected, even though she was none of those things.
    Friends smiled, waved, and gave her high fives as she headed to the bar. She wouldn’t lie. It felt great to be on thearm of a sexy, handsome man.
Not too shabby for a fortieth birthday,
she thought and told herself to relax like Ty had suggested and simply have a good time.
Really, what harm is there in that?
    When Pete Sully spotted her, he slapped his dish towel over his thick shoulder and hurried over to her side of the bar as fast as a guy his size could manage. “What can I get for you, sugar?”
    “I’ll have a Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale,” Ty answered with a grin.
    “You ain’t anywhere near sweet enough to be called sugar, Mr. Triple Threat,” Pete said in his sandpaper-rough voice, but then reached over and shook Ty’s hand. “I was talkin’ to the beautiful birthday girl. Sugar, another beer or anything you want is on the house.”
    “Thank you, Pete,” Jessica replied, and then looked at Ty with surprise. “You know about Bourbon Barrel Ale? It’s a favorite of Kentuckians, but only well-known throughout the Commonwealth. Kentucky Ale, Kentucky Light, and Bourbon Barrel are considered the triple crown of beer around these parts. I’m going to serve it on tap at Wine and Diner. Pete, instead of a martini, I’ll have the same.”
    Pete nodded. “Excellent choice, if I must say so myself. Kentucky Ale just took the silver medal in the World Cup of beers, I’ll have you know.”
    “It sure deserves it,” Jessica agreed.
    Pete gave her a wink. “Beautiful and knows her bourbon and her beer.” He gave Ty a look that said he’d better be a gentleman, before turning to fill their order.
    Ty arched a dark eyebrow. “Apparently, Pete thinks he’s your bodyguard.”
    Jessica shrugged one shoulder. “It can get a bit rowdy around here on any given night. But he looks out for Madison and me.”
    “Good for him.”
    “Not that I can’t take care of myself,” she felt the needto add, along with a lift of her chin that she hoped conveyed that she did not need a man for protection or anything else, for that matter. So what if he smelled divine and she really wanted to touch the golden skin exposed by the three open buttons of his shirt? The image of him bare-chested slid into her brain, and she physically shook her head, making her ponytail flip back and forth. It landed playfully over her shoulder, and she hoped it was a flirty move. She reached up and touched the whippy ends, adding to the flirt factor, but then felt silly and folded her hands on the edge of the bar. “So, you like the Kentucky Ale, huh?”
So much for flirting . . .
    Ty nodded, and she envied how at ease he seemed. Did the man ever get intimidated by anything? “Noah turned me onto it a few weeks ago when we were debating what beers to have on tap at the stadium. I understand it’s a microbrewery out of Lexington, but is really becoming popular.”
    “You’re right,” Jessica said. “It’s being marketed in some grocery and liquor stores and is popular at festivals and events. Many high-end restaurants now carry it on tap. It’s my plan to use as many Kentucky products and recipes as possible and showcase them on my menu.”
    “Sounds like a great idea.” He nodded, but Jessica wondered if