Luke's smile never wavered. "No worries, Mabel. It happens. I've been here three months now, so I know what it's like to be the new kid on the block."

As we chatted, a customer with brown hair approached the bar, his eyes lingering on my figure in a way that made my skin crawl. "Can I get a Sex on the Beach cocktail, please?"

I felt a shiver run down my spine, but I tried to ignore the customer's suggestive gaze. "Coming right up," I replied, expertly mixing the drink.

As I handed the ...