He grinned. “We’reheaded to Rounders in an hour. Hell, we could leave now, then you’d get a forty-five-minute ride on my bike before we have to be there.”
With Savannah’s arms around his abs and her chest pressed to his back, Punc guided his Harley off State Route 23 and exited onto Argyle Forest Boulevard. If her joyful laughter was any indicator, Savannah loved being on the back of his bike and riding fast. He always loved riding. It made him feel in tune with who he really was deep down. Having Savannah behind him made that sensation hit deeper.
He pulled into the lot for Rounder’s and parked next to Brian’s pick-up truck.
Savannah climbed off the bike, and he swung off after her.
He slung his arm around her shoulders. “Seems Brian’s already here, that’s his truck.”
“Are we late?” Savannah asked, falling in step beside him.
“No. He mentioned ending things with his girlfriend last night, so my guess, he’s already a beer ahead of us.”
“That stinks for him. You should have left me home and come by yourself.”
He gave her shoulders a squeeze. “No way, woman. You’d meet him sooner or later anyway.”
They waded through the throng of people at the entrance waiting to get a table. The blond oak bar ran almost the entire length of the restaurant. As they wandered past the patrons, Punc spotted Brian sitting at a high-top table.
Brian caught sight of him and raised a glass in the air.
Punc made short work of introducing Savannah to his friend.
Brian’s smile at Savannah lingered before he said, “You look nothing like your sister.”
Savannah turned her head and shot him a mild dose of side-eye.
Punc’s anger kept him from noticing more of her reaction. He stepped closer to the table, his eyes narrowed on Brian. “What the fuck, man?”
Savannah put her hand on his bicep. “Ted, I’m sure it’s—”
Punc turned to Savannah. “Why would he know what she looks like, when he was supposed to be watching the houseat night?”
Brian moved the pitcher to the side of the table and leaned toward Punc. “I showed up at dusk more than once because that was when she was alone. For whatever reason, she walked her dog out in the front yard instead of the back. If I didn’t know any better, she did it specifically so she could talk to me. I told her not to parade around in front of the house, but she claims the dog doesn’t like the back yard.”
Punc kept wide eyes on Brian. “You should have told me about that shit. I’d have—”
Savannah hiked herself up on a barstool across from Brian. “It wouldn’t have mattered, Punc. She wouldn’t have listened to youor me about it. She can be headstrong in certain circumstances. Like thinking a guy assigned to watch the house is really hot.”
“He’s twice her age,” Punc clipped out.
Brian’s head reared back. “She’s sixteen?”
Savannah shot him a sweet smile. “Seventeen. Her birthday was last week.”
“Fuck,” Brian hissed.
“You knew that shit, asshole. I told you she was in high school—”
Brian poured beer into one of the empty pint glasses, then turned irritated eyes at Punc. “I’d never go there, Ted. It’s just she doesn’t look seventeen, she looks older.”
Savannah patted the barstool next to her. “Sit down. Your anger is starting to draw attention.”
Brian set the pint glass in front of Savannah.
She put it on a coaster in front of Punc. “No, thanks. Let Ted have this one.”
An impressed look crossed Brian’s face and he looked at Punc. “Wow, a woman who gives up a beer to you.”
