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Tall, dark, and handsome was sitting there staring at her with the hint of a smile tugging at one corner of his mouth. When had he walked in? A while ago, apparently.
    She nodded before hurrying to the counter and placing the order. She told herself to calm down. She would explain how busy she’d been and he would surely understand why she hadn’t called. She squeezed her eyes shut. Was the money for the damages what she was worried about? Or was it…
him
?
    This was the first time since before her parents died that she had been so attracted to a guy. Of course, she had been attracted to Austin. Looking back, she could admit that the attraction to him was more about stability and the need to be with someone. What she’d felt for Austin had been nothing like this hot, fiery urgency. She dreamed of sex with the detective.
    A groan welled inside her. Her life was a mess. The last thing she needed was an affair with a cop. She had never been the casual sex type. Julie had spent all her time in high school, college, and grad school studying or reading. Maybe it was all those romances she’d devoured in her meager spare time.
    This was a hell of a time for her wanton side to suddenly appear.
    The plunk of a longneck bottle of beer landing on the counter yanked her from the puzzling thoughts. Taking a breath, she reached for the beer and smiled for Terry, the bartender who’d gone above and beyond to teach her the names and contents of all the drinks. “Thanks!”
    Stay calm
. She would explain everything to Detective Duncan. All she had to do was keep her hands from shaking and take slow, deep breaths. She would never admit this to a soul, not even Marie, but she’d listened to the detective’s message a couple more times just to hear his voice. It was pathetic, but she just couldn’t help herself. His voice was...
deep, rich and sexy
.
    As Mr. Roberts said, she hadn’t received the attention she needed in a long time. She couldn’t even remember the last time Austin had kissed her. Fury whipped through her when she thought of how he’d cheated on her.
    She’d kept her figure and dressed well. She’d tried hard to maintain at least a little air of mystery for her husband. Rather than just sit around the house, she had acquainted herself with the staff and helped with numerous projects. They all loved her. Why couldn’t her husband? Oh, and she never nagged. It wasn’t in her nature. He couldn’t accuse her of nagging. She always deferred to his judgment, never making a fuss. Even when he’d insisted that children were out of the question, which had turned out to be a blessing.
    And what good had it done her?
    Not one bit
.
    She grabbed the tray and wheeled around to make the delivery of both the beer and the apology she owed the detective. Julie froze. Standing near the entrance, Austin surveyed the place. I’m-too-sexy-for-a-brain Barbie, clad in the shortest, tightest black dress Julie had ever seen, clung to him like an errant vine in an otherwise meticulous garden. Astonishment and disbelief rushed through Julie with such force that it took her breath away.
    The shock and disbelief instantly morphed into outrage. How dare he! Someone had to have told him she was working here. Austin would never have been caught dead in a place like this otherwise. He considered himself well above mingling with the regular working Joe’s.
    “How about I get that one for you?”
    Marie moved up beside her. As if things weren’t bad enough already Austin chose one of Julie’s tables to occupy. His girlfriend all but climbed onto his lap.
    “No.” The single, icy word came from Julie. “I can handle it.” She passed the bottle of beer to Marie. “The hot, dark-haired guy at table nine is waiting for that one.”
    Julie didn’t look at her friend before she headed across the room. If she even glanced her way, Marie would know that Julie was in no way prepared for this encounter. No matter, she had to face the ugly