Chapter 2
Istuck my head out the car window. Noah scoffed at my silliness, but I loved the unbridled feel of wind in my face.
“We’re here.” He grabbed my arm and pulled me back in. “Put your head in the car and roll up the window. You’re not a golden retriever.”
“Woof.” I smiled at him as we turned in to the parking lot.
Noah didn’t get my sense of humor.
When I saw the cars, my amusement buried itself in the catacombs. I fidgeted with my charm bracelet. “Is it normally this busy at lunch?”
Noah squeezed my thigh. “You need to get used to crowds. It’s okay to be cautious, but you don’t want to wind up like your crazy old man.” Noah leaned to the side and reached into his back pocket. “Fuck! I left my wallet in my other pants.”
Worried this would ruin our date, I gripped his hand. “I’ll save us a seat while you run home and get it.”
With the engine rumbling, he stared at the entrance. “I don’t know.”
If we both went home, Noah would change his mind and collapse in his chair.
“I’ll pick a private table and have our drinks ready. That’ll give me time to look at the menu so you’re not waiting on me.”
“Fine.” Noah cupped my face and gave me a crushing kiss. “This won’t take long. Be a good girl.”
After exiting the vehicle, I waved at Noah as he sped away in his black Camaro. I touched my lips, thinking how when he kissed me, it wasn’t desire I felt on his end but possessiveness. Part of that was animal instinct. In the wild, a male tiger would bite the female’s neck during sex.
“Welcome to the Rabbit Lounge!” the waitress said while crossing the room to deliver beer to customers.
I froze when eyes turned in my direction. Noah and I had stopped here once for a drink, but we hadn’t come back since. That was months ago.
The bar area to the right only had two customers—a beautiful redhead at the end, who was reading a book, and a blonde sitting dead center. The gruff bartender wore a sleeveless leather vest that favored something a biker would wear, and his long grey hair covered a missing ear. I remembered Noah talking about it after our last visit. The bartender turned a sharp eye at me for a second while listening to the blonde, whose voice carried across the room. I took one look at the saddle barstool and turned my attention elsewhere.
No way am I sitting on that thing.
The tables ahead of me were full, and almost everyone was eating. A few empty booths along the left wall were available, but that meant passing the billiard tables where all the men had clustered together. Some were giving me a hawkish look.
I gave the trousers hanging on the wall a cursory glance before choosing a tall table by the door.
“Y’all let me know if you need anything else.” The waitressheaded toward me. “Hi there. Is this your first time in here?” She was definitely a country girl.
I recognized her short silver hair and petite frame from the last time. Wondering if she’d recognize me, I hesitated to answer.
“Did you come in for the lunch special?” She toned down her enthusiasm a hair. “My name’s Mercy.” Resting her arms on the table, she gave me a tight-lipped smile. Her pretty grey eyes were expressively big, with long lashes framing them.
“Is there a menu?” I asked.
“We only serve one meal at lunch, and it changes every day. Today we’re having slow-cooked pot roast and savory vegetables. The sides are white rice, grilled corn, and French bread. If that doesn’t make your tongue roll out of your mouth, I don’t know what will. Sound yummy?”
“I’m waiting for my boyfriend.”
While Noah and I weren’t officially mated, sometimes it felt like we were. Noah believed mating was nothing but a piece of paper.Should I have called himmy loverormy man? What do most immortals call their significant others who aren’t officially significant?
Stop overthinking everything.
She winked. “What about starting you off with a drink?”
“That would be great.” I glanced down at my bracelet while fiddling with the charms. “I’d like water. Is it free?”
“Water’s always free. Anything else?”
