"Naw, give me my usual," he replied.
"One lager coming right up. One of these days, you're going to surprise me and get some whiskey."
"Keep dreaming, darlin', keep dreaming," he said with a laugh. He took his drink, went to his booth, and sat. When the waitress came by, he ordered a burger and fries.
Two hours later, Frankie was sliding into the booth across from him. "How was the burger?"
"Delicious as always. Now tell me, what's got you so upset?"
"What makes you think I'm upset?"
"Darlin', you're as tense as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs." He reached over and caressed her cheek. "Now spill."
She sighed. "I should have known you'd see right through me."
He watched as she took something from her pocket and slid it across the table to him. He realized it was the note that came with the flowers and when he read it, he saw red. "Son of a bitch. When I find him, he's a dead man," he growled.
"Can you do it? Can you take a life?" she asked quietly.
"His? Yes, and I won't lose an ounce of sleep or feel a smidge of guilt over it," was his reply.
"Then all we need to do is find him," she said. "I need to get back to work. Thank you for making me feel better just by being here."
"You're welcome, darlin'." He watched her go and some of the tension had eased from her shoulders.
At the end of her shift, he escorted her out to his truck and helped her inside. "Let me stay tonight. Just so I can hold you. I think you need it," he told her once he was in the truck, too. He was half expecting her to argue with him.
"I'd like that," she said instead.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. You sound surprised."
"I was expecting an argument, to be honest."
"What can I say? I like being in your arms," she admitted.
"Good, because I like having you in them." He got the truck in gear and headed out.
Once they were at her house, he pulled her into his arms and held her for a moment. "Go get ready for bed. I'll make sure if that sick fuck shows up he won't see anything again." He swatted her gently on the ass as she moved away from him.
While she was in the bathroom changing, he went to the window and closed the curtains, making sure there wasn't even a seam to peek through.
When she came out of the bathroom in sleep shorts and a tank top, he groaned. "You're killing me, woman." He stripped down to his boxer briefs. "Come on, let's go to bed."
They crawled into bed together and he pulled her close. "Goodnight, darlin'."
"Goodnight, Yaeger."
He caressed her side until he felt the tension leave her and her breathing evened out. He kissed her temple and finally drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Fifteen
Bryce
It was early, but there were a few patrons in the Tasty Skull. He was one. He knew his precious gem would be in soon. He knew her schedule by heart. She worked the same days every week, which made it easy to follow her.
He watched her saunter into the tavern in those jeans that hugged her hips and felt himself get hard. She was the only woman who affected him that way. That's how he knew she was meant to be his. Not that lion's.
