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

he was merely being polite. “Both tourists and locals should get a kick out of that.”
    “I’ll include the history,” she added, and then trailed off, thinking she was going to put him to sleep any minute now. Thank goodness their drinks arrived so she could quit babbling on and on! And yet when Pete placed the snifters in front of them, she thanked him, turned to Ty, and said, “Snifters are the only real way to serve Kentucky Bourbon Barrel. The narrow opening concentrates the aromas and the seductive nose of a smooth, aged bourbon. The glass also adds to the elegance, reminding you that this is a sipping beer much higher in alcohol content. I bought severaldozen for the diner.”
Babble,
Jessica thought with an inward groan, and then glanced away while she took a sip. She searched her brain for something else to talk about other than something Wine and Diner–related and came up empty. In a bit of a panic, she looked around for Madison and Olivia, but they were back on the dance floor, dancing to “I Will Survive.” Aunt Myra was in the middle of the circle, shaking it like a saltshaker and singing every single word at the top of her lungs. Noah, Owen, and Jason were at a nearby table, probably chatting about baseball, and were too engrossed in the conversation to allow her to catch their eyes.
    “You can taste the subtle flavor of vanilla and oak from aging in the charred barrels,” Ty surprised her by commenting. “This could actually pass for an after-dinner drink,” he added with an appreciative nod
    “I’ve thought the same thing.”
    “Why are you looking at me with such wide eyes?” he asked with a tilt of his head. “You should know by now that I appreciate excellent food and drink.” When he lifted his snifter to his lips, Jessica marveled at his long, masculine fingers cradling the delicate glass, and for some reason found it incredibly sexy. She had the sudden urge to slide her hand up the corded muscle of his forearm to the biceps that strained against the short sleeve of his shirt, but then frowned, thinking that the ale must be going straight to her head.
    “I suppose that’s why you eat at Wine and Diner several times a week,” she commented with a slight smile.
    “Not the only reason,” he answered slowly, making her heart beat faster.
    “You are one smooth operator,” she teased with Bourbon Barrel boldness, and would have put her hand on his arm, but his smile faltered and he glanced away.
    “You think so, huh?”
    “I know so. I’ve seen you in action.”
    Jessica expected a comeback, but after a moment of silence, he took a sip of his drink and then said, “Hey, I think I’ll head over and talk some baseball with Noah. I shouldn’t keep you from your guests anyway.” He pushed away from the bar.
    “Okay,” she said, and then swallowed another sip of her drink, thinking she truly sucked at the whole flirting thing. Had she offended him? “I should mingle,” she said with a nod that was more enthusiastic than she felt, and glanced down at her snifter.
    “Save a dance for me later?” he asked.
    Jessica looked up in confusion, but nodded and forced a smile. “I’m certain that Madison has a full playlist of dance music.” She lifted her snifter. “After I finish this, I’m sure I’ll be busting a move. Just don’t let me break-dance. Please?”
    “I promise,” he said, and Jessica held her breath when he seemed about to say something else. But he picked up his drink and turned away.
    Jessica wanted to grab his arm and demand to know what she’d said that bothered him, but maybe he had simply lost interest in her ramblings about beer and wanted to talk baseball instead. She sighed, thinking that she was pretty damned dull at the ripe old age of forty. Maybe she deserved some droopy-boob gifts and reading glasses, after all. She looked over at the dance floor, considering joining Madison and company, but just when she took a step away from the bar, a low,