"Hey, Lyssa. Nice hair cut."
Alyssa looked up. A big smile lit up her face. "Orly!" She ran around the bar and threw her arms around his neck. "I'm so glad to see you."
"Why?"
"Amy's been in a funk lately. Maybe you're what she needs." She slipped her arm through his. He led her over to the table his friends where sitting at. She stopped a few feet away. "You really know how to intimidate someone."
"What?" He grinned. "Dominic Monaghan, Sean Bean, Elijah Wood, Billy Boyd, Craig Parker, this is Alyssa. Need anything, let her know. Where's Amy?" he asked.
"In the office. First door on the right." She turned her attention to his friends. "What can I get ya?"
"How bout your number," Dom said with a smile. The others laughed and placed their orders.
"How bout not." She left, returning with a round of beers. "Just yell if you need anything else?"
They watched her walk away. "Now I know why he insisted on us coming to New Orleans," Elijah said.
*****
Amy threw the pen down in disgust. The numbers on the forms seemed to rum together. She glanced at the box sitting on the edge of the desk.
"Oh for Christ's sake," she muttered. She stood, grabbed the box and headed toward the door. A knock stopped her. Opening a filing cabinet drawer, she tucked the box out of sight and swung open the door.
Orlando stood on the other side. "Surprise."
"Oh thank God," she said as she moved into his arms. "I thought I was going to have to bitch at someone."
"That bad?" He closed the door, shutting out the bar sounds.
"Worse."
*****
Thianna looked over her shoulder at the table of guys Alyssa was waiting on. When she noticed one staring at her, she turned back to the bar.
"Ooh. They're cute," Beth said as she placed drinks on Thi's tray. "You know one's staring at you."
"Yes, I do. And your point is?" She left to attend her tables. Stopping by the office, she knocked on the door. "Amy, you're needed at the bar." She opened the door slowly. Amy and Orlando were straightening clothing. He kissed her on the forehead before returning to his friends. They watched him walk away.
"Damn," Thi said. "Is it as tight as it looks?"
"Yep."
"And his . . .?"
"Oh yeah."
*****
"It's the bartender, isn't it?" Billy asked. "Nice." He leaned out to see Amy better.
"Bloom, who's the redhead?" Sean asked.
"Mandy, I think. You interested, Bean?" He looked over at Orlando and winked.
"Who's Alyssa?" Dom asked. He looked around for her.
"She's Amy's sister."
Sean got up and walked to the bar. He watched Amy as she made her way to him. "So you're the reason we're here."
She glanced up at him. "Sorry?"
"When Dom and Billy made noises for a vacation, Bloom insisted that we come here. Now I see why. Very nice." He saluted her with his bottle.
Blushing she placed another in front him. "Thank you, Mr. Bean."
"Sean, please. Is your friend single?" He drained his beer in one sip.
"Which one?"
"Mandy."
"Yes." She cocked her head to the side, her braid falling over her shoulder. "Would you like to meet her?"
"Possibly."
"You'll get a chance." She nodded to someone behind him. "Here she comes."
"I am so ready to go home." Mandy slipped into the chair beside Sean and pulled out her tickets.
"Mandy, have you met any of Orlando's friends?" She shook her head. "Sean Bean, Amanda Jones."
Amy slipped to the other end of the bar where Beth and Thi were. They watched the couple for a minute.
"So who's that?" Beth asked. She loaded up Thi's tray again.
"Sean Bean."
"Who?"
"The guy that played Boromir in Lord of the Rings."
"Oh." She stared at him. "He looks better clean shaven." Amy and Thi nodded in agreement.
"Hey, Amy. I think my eyes are playing tricks on me. Do you recognize the guy in the corner?" Thi asked.
Amy looked at whom she was talking about. "The one peeling the paper off the bottle?" She looked closer. Her eyes widened. "Holy shit."
"What?" Thi and Beth leaned in closer.
"I think it's him."
"Who?" Thi growled in frustration.
"Matthew McCaunaghey."
"Holy shit."
*****
"Did you get her number?" Billy asked when Sean returned.
"She agreed to a drink."
"At least you're getting something," Dom said glumly. "All she does is smile and drop off drinks. She's . . ."