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Shane-boy wasn’t here. Yahoo! She glanced at her watch. Five minutes before seven on a Tuesday night and the twenty or so tables were nearly filled. A few stragglers sat at the bar.
    While the place was small, it made it easier for her to play off the audience. Chatting with people as she moved from table to table was well within her comfort zone. She worked her way into the audience as she sang, teasing and flirting along the way. It was what she did best.
    She perched her backside onto the corner of a table and crossed her legs, bouncing the top one up and down. “What can I sing for you tonight?”
    “How about ‘Turn Me On’?”
    Perfect. She glanced at Donna, who nodded in confirmation. “I can do that.”
    A sultry tale ripe with passion, the song winds its way through the ups and downs of a relationship as a woman waits for her man to come back to her. Definitely something she’d done a few million times.
    Judging by the hearty round of applause, she knew she’d captured the essence of the song, which made her feel on top of her game. She gave a polite bow and said, “I guess I can relate to that song more than I’d care to admit.” She laughed. “But heads up fellows. When a woman says turn her on, she doesn’t mean a tongue and a tweak, if you know what I mean.”
    A few snickers rose from the audience. One man shouted, “Don’t worry, Gabriella, I know exactly what I’m doing. How about a date?”
    Intimate spaces made people feel free to voice their opinions. She excelled at repartee. As long as things stayed flirtatious and friendly, she was in her zone.
    She began strolling towards the man’s table. By now Shane had arrived and taken his usual position behind the bar, relegating Mack to ‘gofer’ duties. If the influx of customers surprised Shane, she couldn’t tell by his expression.
    Reaching the table, she said, “Now that’s a mighty tempting offer, sir, but I don’t date customers.” She ran her fingers down the man’s shoulder. “Besides, I’m only going to be here for a couple more weeks. Just until the end of August.”
    She gave Shane a quick glance to make sure he hadn’t decided to fire her on the spot. He just glared at her from behind the bar. Which was normal. So far so good.
    “But if I left, I wouldn’t be a customer, would I?” the man countered bringing her attention back.
    She sashayed a little closer. She’d worked in bars so long she’d developed her own breathalyzer system, ranging from zero for sober to ten for being inches away from passing out. She figured this guy at about a five and therefore safe. Anything above a seven, and she steered clear.
    She paused to give the impression she was contemplating his suggestion. “That’s true, but I also don’t date bankers, too boring. Lawyers—do I really have to explain that one? Managers, too anal. Accountants, ditto on the boring. Doctors, that God complex and all. Salesmen, too slick. Anyone in the construction field, too flirty.” Figuring she’d covered all professions, she let out a smile. “That only leaves cops.”
    “I’m a cop.”
    “Hmmm. But I also don’t date married, engaged, or otherwise attached men, and I’m betting you’re one of those.”
    The guy gave a guilty nod while she shimmied away. “Am I good or what?”
    “You didn’t say anything about teachers.” The room acoustics were so right on nobody had to shout to be heard.
    “Oh, honey, I’m a high maintenance gal. These shoes are four hundred dollar Manalo Blahniks.” She pointed toward her feet, a wicked smile on her face. “Not meaning to sound shallow, but I know what teachers make. That would never work.” She sauntered over and gave him a peck on the cheek. “But you’re mighty cute.”
    Another guy spoke from in back. “We don’t have to date. I could be one of your groupies.”
    God, this was fun. “Shane frowns on those.” She pointed towards him as he stared at her from behind the bar. Speaking in a