Page 21 of Darius

“Oh, I’m okay with you trying the drink out privately,” Mara said, eager to avoid attention. She’d never been one of the cool kids at school or work. Being the center of attention usually made her uncomfortable, but somehow being with Alessia and Carina changed that.

“Titus will create your drink with whatever amount of celebration you would prefer, Mara,” Darius assured her, overhearing the conversation.

“Of course, Mara. Want me to put my bartending cap on?” Titus asked.

“I’d love to try the Mara before it gets crowded in here.” Mara jumped on that idea.

“You’ve got it. With this small group, I can use the good stuff.” Titus lined three glasses up on the bar, scooped crushed ice into each, and whirled to choose a dark bottle from under the cabinet behind him. “All right! I need a big shaker.”

Titus filled the shaker with ingredients, announcing them as he added them. “Ice. Bourbon. Pineapple juice. Now, what else? I know. Amaretto. A hint of lime. Do you like cherries, Mara?”

“Only the maraschino ones,” she answered.

“Are there any other kinds?” Titus asked, tossing a couple of brilliantly red candied cherries into the glasses. “It’s time to shake.” Titus slammed a metal top on his concoction and vigorously rattled the container in the air.

To her surprise, Alessia and Carina cheered him on—loudly—as they mimicked his actions. Caught up in the fun, Mara danced on her stool like they did.

“One last umph,” he suggested and tossed the container into the air. The employees turned to look as the metal cup spun lazily on the way down. Titus caught the shaker and slammed it on the bar, releasing the suction and lifting the top off. Applause rang out around them as everyone celebrated Titus’s showmanship. Mara looked behind her to spot several people clustered around them while others watched as they prepared for Nightfall to open.

“Thank you,” Titus called into the room before carefully pouring the liquid into the waiting tumblers. He picked up the middle one and placed the glass on the bar in front of Mara. “Your drink, Miss Mara.”

Lifting the drink to her nose first, Mara sniffed the liquid. “It smells amazing—smoky, fruity. My mouth is watering.”

“Taste it,” Carina urged.

Mara took a small sip and closed her eyes as the delicious flavor spread over her taste buds. “That’s the most delicious cocktail I’ve ever tried.”

Titus winked and passed out the other glasses. Immediately, Carina and Alessia sampled the mixture.

“That’s amazing,” Carina said.

“Almost as good as the Alessia,” Titus’s mate said, taking another drink. “I like this a lot. Want to taste the Mara, Daddy?” Alessia asked, offering her glass to Titus.

“After we close,” he answered.

Darius also delayed his taste until Nightfall’s evening had ended when Mara extended her glass to him. “You enjoy the drink for me.”

“I’ll sample one,” a deep voice announced from behind her.

Mara glanced over her shoulder again to see a tall, handsome man with Nordic features. As Titus handed him the shaker with the extra Mara inside, Darius introduced him.

“Mara, this is Donovan. He’s the entertainment director.”

Donovan tipped the shaker up and drained the liquid. “I’m a fan of the Mara. Congratulations, Mara, Darius. If you’ll excuse me….”

He was gone before Mara could say anything. She looked at Darius, wondering if she’d imagined a strangeness about the interaction. He nodded and squeezed her arm to reassure her that everything was okay.

“Darius!” A call came from one of the bartenders, who lifted his cash drawer to indicate something was wrong.

“I’ll check back on you, Mara,” Darius promised and headed for the opposite side of the bar.

“Donovan is so quiet. He’s a beast with music. So many girls, and a lot of the guys, flirt with him all night long. He pulls away quickly. Self-preservation, maybe?” Alessia said.

“I could see that. I get overwhelmed with people after a long day at the bank,” Mara said. When she heard music, Mara saw Donovan behind the control panel adjusting the sound levels. Soon, everyone, including the three women at the bar, moved to the tempo of the infectious melody.

“Donovan always seems to know what the crowd needs to hear,” Carina said. “He has a way with music. I think he reads people’s minds. You’ll dance with me, won’t you, Mara?”

“I’m not a very good dancer,” Mara said. She was ready to refuse, even though the music made her want to get up and boogie.