Calvin cursed.“Now you’ve done it.If you don’t get your hairy ass out of here, I’m getting the shotgun!”
Henry put his hand on my back and ushered me to the private rooms.“You shouldn’t be here.This is no place for a lady.”
“A lady belongs wherever she likes.”
Henry’s wavy blond locks and tight pants made him look like a character in a historical novel or soap opera.The way he strolled through the bar like the star of the show made me laugh quietly.
As he shut the door to one of the private rooms, he asked, “To what do I owe the honor?”
I glanced at the sofa and decided to sit on the armrest since we wouldn’t be here for long.“I’m sure you’re aware of what happened to Marcus Seaborn.”
Henry arched an eyebrow.“I’ve heard.”
“Calvin mentioned he worked for you.Have you had any recent trouble with him?”
Henry drew closer and put his hands in his pants pockets.“When he was arrested, I let him go.A man like that doesn’t belong on my payroll.”
“Do you mostly hire Mage employees?”
“I do what I can for my own kind.I’m sure you understand.Shifters dominate the beer industry, so that’s fewer jobs for us.That’s why my focus is on wine.”
“What did he do?”
“He was one of three sales managers who travel to different places to negotiate distribution deals.”Henry smoothed out his mustache with a slight look of annoyance.“Why does this matter?You have the killer locked up, and I replaced Marcus months ago.”
“It’s my job to investigate every crime and gather the details.Did you ever have trouble with Mr.Seaborn?Were there any disputes between him and anyone else in your company?”
Henry shook his head and shrugged.“A lot of people found him annoying, but he locked in enough sales that it wasn’t worth letting him go.Maybe it’s a good thing all this happened.”
“How do you mean?”
He drew closer.“It doesn’t look like that Chitah will be a problem anymore.I heard he was hanging around your house.”
“Installing security.”
Henry gave an ambiguous look I couldn’t read.“Why haven’t you responded to my messages?”
“I’ve been really busy.Now isn’t a good time.Like I said before, we look good on paper, but we’re not compatible.”
He towered over me, forcing me to look up.“I’m not a man who gives up easily, and I’m sure you’re a woman who knows she’s worth fighting for.”
I was beginning to regret having started this dating journey.Deacon was probably sitting on my doorstep, and what if the last four guys showed up?As much as I wanted to be brutally honest, my rejection had to be tactful enough to maintain a working relationship with a pillar in the community.
“Rumor has it you went on a date with that beta from the Macgregor pack.”Henry shifted his stance.“Is that true?”
“It’s no secret.”
He tilted his head to the side and stroked my hair.“When I want something, I get it.You’re a smart lady, and I’m sure you know what a powerful couple we’d make.We could do big things together, and I’m real protective of what’s mine.You wouldn’t have to worry about hiring security with me around.I take care of roadblocks.”
I got up to leave.“Thanks for answering my questions, Mr.Hightower.”
Henry blocked my path to the door.“I don’t like loose ends.Let’s not go back and forth over the phone.That’s a waste of time.”
My heart thumped loudly when I realized how alone we were in here.“I’m not interested in pursuing this.We don’t have chemistry.”
“You and I both know that you’re not pairing up for love.That doesn’t matter to me either.Got any more excuses?”He touched my arm before lightly clutching it.
I sighed with frustration.Why can’t he let this go?“I look after my father.He has all kinds of medical issues and needs care.My job is also important, and you alluded to wanting a wife who stays home.We’re incompatible, and I’m not going to change anything about me.”
