A bar.

“Take me to a bar. I need a drink,” Alexa said.

Vinny had seen a number of bars around The Treasury when he’d arrived. Sophisticated wine bars, upmarket restaurants with a drinks area attached. He’d even seen a pretty big sports bar that was wall-to-wall big screens and glowing neon advertising signs. He didn’t think Alexa was in the mood for any of those. However, on the run into town, on the very outskirts, Vinny had seen a dive bar that looked just perfect.

Alexa was quiet on the drive over. She’d barely spoken a word when they pulled into the bar's driveway and parked around the side. There were three other cars already there, and out front by the bar’s entryway were half a dozen motorcycles.

A pair of doors led into the small local joint, and Vinny and Alexa’s arrival barely registered a look up from the already well-heeled locals. Inside, there was one main bar that ran the length of the dark and smoky room. Next to this was a series of tables and chairs that filled the space before a series of booths took up the wall opposite the bar. Less than a dozen old timers filled the place, most of whom had long grey beards down to their belt buckles. Besides the barmaid, Alexa was the only female in the place.

Vinny had expected Alexa to head for one of the booths, but instead she went straight for the bar, sitting down on one of only two open stools between two pairs of the biker-looking old timers.

“Welcome to Ale Marys,” the serving girl said, dropping two paper coasters down on the bar’s chipped surface. Vinny didn’t know why she bothered even using one for, the wood surface was scarred and scratched into oblivion. Still, she was cute, and Vinny could let that slide easily enough. “What will it be, honey?” the girl asked Alexa as Vinny took the place beside her.

“****. Lots of it,” Alexa answered back.

“Ale Marys got plenty of that. It’s about the only thing it’s got besides cirrhosis and piss stains on the rest of these old fucks.”

The four bearded, aged-out bikies at the bar all laughed a series of deep chesty rumbles, no doubt used to the banter from their much younger server. Vinny liked her; he made up his mind very quickly.

“How about a couple of spicy margaritas?” Vinny suggested it as an option.

“Vinny! You know what tequila does to me.” Alexa yelled, telling him off. Still, she was smiling, and Vinny was happy to see it.

The girl stayed waiting patiently with an eyebrow up for Alexa to make up her mind.

“One spicy and one normal, thanks.”

You could tell a lot about a place by whether it could mix a good margarita. Vinny watched as the barmaid got to work. His respect grew as he saw her take two different sorts of tequila and then two different orange liquors down for the drinks. It wasn’t just a spicy rim marking the difference between Vinny and Alexa’s margaritas. When she placed the drinks down in front of them, Vinny could see the skill that had gone into making them. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his credit card before taking his first sip. It was smooth, even with the kick of chilli catching at the back of his throat. Vinny was sure Alexa’s would be just as good in its own unique way.

“Cash only at Ale Marys, sorry slugger.”

Vinny nodded over the rim of his glass and reached into another pocket and pulled out a wad of crumpled-up bills. The girl picked through them and went and rang the drinks into her till. Had she known he was a boxer? His beaten-down nose was a giveaway if she knew what to look for.

One round became two and then a third as Alexa started to liven up and come out of the shell she’d fallen into with a few drinks. Vinny was watching the barmaid make their next round of drinks using the bar’s blender when Alexa elbowed him in the ribs. “You're supposed to be cheering me up, not eye fucking anything around us.”

Vinny smiled even though he’d been well and truly sprung. He leaned in and told Alexa, “The only fucking tonight is going to be you and me later.”

Alexa giggled and hit him once again. Vinny was aware that she had spun around in her chair, and her knee was now resting between his legs.

And very well, Vinny should have been eye fucking their server. He’d only seen the long straight brunette hair, a shade or two lighter than Alexa’s, and a black leather singlet top when he’d first walked in. Up close and with her facing away and leaning over, Vinny could see the short leather miniskirt that matched the top and the barmaid’s dark velvet, mid-thigh, high-heeled boots that completed the outfit. It was exceedingly sexy.

Alexa and Vinny stayed at the bar talking with the brunette server for a number of hours. Even after one of the regulars on the stool beside them had fallen drunk onto the floor and had to get carried out by his buddies. The waitress, Marika, as they found out, had joined them in drinking. A glass of straight bourbon was her poison of choice.

“So, what are you two doing in a shit hole like this? Yes, Bacchus, I called your bar a piece of shit,” Marika asked them as they talked.

Vinny learned that one of the old soaks still barely standing was the owner of Ale Marys.

“I ran away from my wedding tomorrow,” Alexa informed Markia

“Ran away or dragged away?” the girl asked, looking Vinny up and down pointedly.

“Him? I’ve been sleeping with him for years. It’s where I get my orgasms from.” Too many margaritas had made Alexa far too truthful.

“They’re good, I hope,” Markita said with a knowing smile at Vinny.

“The best!” Alexa leaned unsteadily towards Vinny and slapped her hand roughly onto his cheek, which was meant to be loving and tender. “Back at the hotel an hour ago,” it was closer to four, “he fucked me from behind and came all over my back before my fiancé nearly caught us,” Alexa hiccupped.

“Sounds like you should marry him instead.” Marika was openly staring at Vinny with a look of strong desire by now.

“Marry him!” Alexa threw her arms back over her head, and Vinny had to grab her legs to stop her from falling backwards off her stool. “This one would get your phone number the second my back was turned. Speaking, speaking of which, I, I, need to pee.” Alexa declared, getting up and staggering towards the toilets at the back of the bar. “Sorry,” Vinny and Marika heard as Alexa bumped into the back of one of the bikers, causing half of his beer to get spilled down into his beard.

With Alexa gone, Marika and Vinny stared, absorbed in each other, smirking. Each one daring the other to be the one to break and make a move on the other. Vinny fought a war with himself not to be the one to prove Alexa right. He hated it when anyone was right about him.