So far tonight, luck was with her: she found an open bar stool at the back of the counter, a spot almost guaranteed, in her experience, to get the most attention from the bartender. Seeing an ashtray nearby, she knew this was where he’d sneak over when he had a few moments to drag in a couple puffs of nicotine.

“Good evening. What are you drinking?” he asked hurriedly, barely glancing at her. This, Haley was used to. Story of my life.

“How about you surprise me? You look like a man who knows how to make a good drink,” she said with an open smile, and she pulled out her emergency cigarettes. She hated the smelly things, but she’d found they could be a great ice-breaker when she was with a smoker.

That gained his attention. He looked longingly at her thin white cigarette as she lit it with a flick of her cheap plastic lighter. Making sure she didn’t inhale — she hardly wanted to start coughing all over the poor man — she took a shallow puff while waiting for him to reply.

“Ah, an adventurous woman. I like that,” he said with a smile, showing he had one tooth missing in the corner of his mouth. It added character to his leathery cheeks.

Within a minute, he brought her a large layered cocktail with fruit on a stick. What fun!

“This here I call Marlin’s special,” he said with a chuckle. “Do you want to open a tab?”

“I’m assuming you’re Marlin?” When he nodded, she continued. “Well, Marlin, that would be lovely. Do you need my credit card or room key?” When his eyes drifted to her dangling cigarette again, Haley remembered to take a puff, before catching his eye.

“I’m being so rude. Would you like one?”

Marlin looked around to be sure nothing needed to be done at his bar, and then held out his hand. “That would be great, and your room key is sufficient.”

Gotcha! Haley thought. Yes, she knew how to speak to staff.

Within an hour Haley knew that Marlin had a wife he’d been married to for thirty years, two grown children, and two unexpected, but wanted, surprises. He’d moved to Catalina Island ten years earlier, and he was elated to be working at the Catalina Couture Resort, telling her it was the nicest bar he’d ever run. She had to agree with him there.

“Try this, honey,” Marlin said as he placed a bowl of soup in front of her.

Haley didn’t even bother asking what was in it. The intoxicating aroma made her stomach and her salivary glands sit up and take notice. With her first sampling, she couldn’t repress an ecstatic groan.

“That there is a chef’s special he only gives to the boss and staff. Don’t ask what he puts in it. Ignorance is bliss,” he said with a cackle.

“Can I get a bowl of that?” a man sitting two seats down asked as he eyeballed Haley’s soup.

“Sorry, we don’t serve food,” Marlin told him. The man raised his brows as he looked from Marlin to the bowl of soup in front of Haley. He obviously didn’t want to call Marlin a liar, but the evidence was right there.

“Um…” the man cleared his throat.

“Haley works here. She’s just on break,” Marlin lied with a perfect smile at the man, and Haley had to hide her giggle. Yes, she and Marlin were going to be great friends.

She fearlessly finished her bowl before reluctantly passing it back. It had took the edge off her hunger, but not taken it away. “Whatever his secret ingredients are, they are working for him. Thank you, Marlin. I know where I’m hanging out in the evenings from now on.”

“I won’t complain about that. You’re quite a treat to visit with. How long are you staying with us?”

“Well, I have two weeks that I won for free, but really as long as it takes!” When his eyebrows rose in question, she laughed before filling him in. “I’m looking for a man to teach me how to be the perfect seductress.”

Marlin’s jaw dropped and he choked on his coffee. Haley wiped the spray from her cheek as he looked her in the eye, obviously trying to figure out whether she was pulling his leg or not. When she stared back, he finally roared with laughter.

“Well, I’d offer my services, but then my wife would chop my head off,” he said between bouts of laughter.

“Oh, Marlin, I think you are way too much man for me to handle anyway,” she said with a wink.

“You are sure good for my ego, honey. Now, tell me about your plans,” he insisted as he grabbed another cigarette and leaned against the counter so their faces were close together.

“Well…” She hesitated. “My original plan was for your boss to teach me, but he isn’t cooperating,” she pouted.

Marlin’s eyes widened for a second before he burst out laughing again. “Oh, Haley, I’m so very pleased I’ve met you. I have a feeling you’re sure going to shake up things around here,” he guffawed.

Was he making fun of her? Haley wasn’t certain, but she had come too far to turn back now. “Tell me about him. How can I get Crew Storm to help me?”

Marlin looked down the bar, again making sure that his employees were doing their job and that his customers were all happy before he turned back to her and leaned in even closer.

“Crew is a good guy. Most places like this — kinda snooty, to tell you the truth — take one look at me and move on down the line. They want pretty young girls or studly young men to tend the counters, figuring they’ll draw in more people. They don’t look at experience; all they care about is the way a person looks.”

Sadly, Haley knew this was true.

“But not Crew. No siree. He doesn’t mince his words, though. He asked me flat out what happened to my missing tooth. I told him I was young and got in a fight. You want to know what he asked then?”

“Yes,” Haley said. She hadn’t a clue.

“He asks if I won or not,” Marlin said with a laugh. “I proudly told him the other guy went away without three of his teeth.”

Haley burst into laughter as she looked at Marlin’s gaping grin, but her amusement wasn’t complete. She already knew that she would miss this man when she moved on. She could choose to just live here, but then she’d never finish her degree. She felt a little heartbreak over the inevitable: people always said they’d write, but then friendship would slowly fade into nothing.

She shook herself out of her melancholy. “Wow! You must have been surprised,” she told Marlin.

“I knew as soon as he gave me that Crew Storm smile that he was a different kind of man — one of the good guys. He told me he’d both won and lost his own share of fights. Then, he got real professional and asked me what I could do to make this the best bar on the whole island. It took me a minute, then I just told him what I did best. He hired me on the spot, didn’t even hesitate. He said he just got a feeling about people, and he could tell I was the right man for the job.”

“How long have you known him, then?”

“Going on three months now. He interviewed and then I got to work figuring out how I wanted my bar set up. He had his ideas, and let me tell you, Missy, he don’t like anything other than the best. He’s got real nice taste. I’d’ve rather had a jukebox in the corner with some good ol’ rock ’n’ roll, but Crew insisted on a piano. I hate to admit it, but I like the piano. It’s real nice.”

“Does he pay you well?”

“Oh, yeah. I have no complaints there. He gives us more than any other place here would and he even offered me and the missus a honeymoon suite. Not right now, ’cause it’s gonna be too busy for a while, but in the off season we getta get away from the kids and come be treated to the life of luxury. He works hard and plays even harder. Wow, do the ladies love him! I ain’t seen him go a single day here without at least one hot girl trying to hang all over him. He doesn’t seem like he minds the attention. Not a lick,” Marlin finished with a knowing grin.

“I just bet,” Haley answered, her eyes narrowing. She’d learned that about him, herself. That’s why she wanted him to be her teacher so dang bad.

“Well, don’t you worry, honey, he simply gives them a little kiss, then a night of lovin’, then he slips right out of their grasp, and they never knew what hit ’em. They think he’s the man of their dreams, but they wake up and it’s all just been one big fantasy. Yet somehow they’re grateful for even just a night. He’s still available for ya. Maybe you can even make the rogue settle down,” Marlin said with a chuckle.

“I don’t want Crew for myself. I’m in love with another guy. I just want Crew to teach me his secrets — show me how to be one of those women men can’t resist. But, you know what, I see a bar full of men who would probably be more than willing to teach me what I need to know,” she said as she looked around the room.

The piano player was looking her way, and before she turned back to Marlin, the man gave her a wink. Oh yes, it was time to come out of her corner and fetch herself a teacher. Who said she couldn’t mix business and pleasure?

“Sure, missy, sure. That’s what they all say. If you think you can dance on a cliff without the wind pushing you over, then you just be my guest, but one night with a man like Crew and you’ll forget all about this other guy you’re trying to win.”

“We’ll just have to see about that,” Haley said with confidence. “I think I’m going to request a song,” she finished with a wink at Marlin. He just laughed and handed her a fresh drink.

As Haley stood up, feeling just a bit wobbly from too many of Marlin’s drinks, she wished she knew how to sashay like a model, how to sway her hips provocatively. Oh, well. She’d have to do her best. With glinting eyes and a determined step, she approached the musician, and he wasn’t taking his eyes off her.

Invisible? Not this time.

Chapter Six

Everything was running smoothly. Crew’s staffers, all of whom he’d handpicked, were efficient, unobtrusive, and expert at anticipating a guest’s needs. The customers were smiling and complimentary about his beautiful resort. On top of everything, they were spending — and spending plenty.

The kitchen staffers were working nonstop preparing stellar dishes, and room service orders were flooding in. This was a perfect grand opening. But somehow, Crew eventually found himself with a few minutes to spare.

He was drawn toward the bar, in part because he loved spending a few minutes with his head bartender. Marlin wasn’t a pretty sight, but he was shrewd and knew his business. Each time Crew passed by, business was in full swing.

Stepping into the dimly lit, smoky room, he closed his eyes for the briefest of moments and enjoyed the sound of ice clinking in glasses while murmurs, chortles, and titters filled the room. Spirits were high, and the cash register was working overtime.

Business was good.

When Crew’s potential buyer came in, he’d have nothing to fear in purchasing this establishment. It was a sure investment for anyone who was dedicated to continuing what Crew had started, because Crew didn’t do anything by half measures.