I force myself to turn away and look at Mike. “Been a busy afternoon?”
“Nah,” he says. “We’ve been fine with the two of us, though business has picked up over the last half an hour.”
Something I’ve come to understand about Kala is that there isn’t any time that’s truly busier than another. Not a time of day or a month or a day of the week. Because excursions and establishments stay open until one or so, and then reopen between five and seven later that morning, there’s a constant flow of people. Early risers, night owls, peak of day-ers. They’re here all the time, just a different crowd.
The only reason things close at all is for restocking or cleaning. Otherwise, I think everything would be open constantly.
“It was feeling a little rainy,” Beth says on her way past. “That might account for the influx. Even when it’s warm out, people don’t like to be in the rain.”
Huh. I must have been too caught up in thought to notice the weather.
Elijah’s laughter makes me glance down that way again. Grabbing a couple glasses, I mix two drinks, keeping the alcohol content light but the flavor strong. With a fresh towel over my shoulder, I head down to the end of the bar and set the glasses in front of Elijah and Cash.
The guys they’re talking to look over their heads at me. I’m sure they’re not receiving a friendly expression in return.
Elijah spins in his seat and gives me a big smile. “Hey, Laiken. Want to meet our new friends?”
Cash shifts so he’s facing Elijah, making it easy for him to look at the guys they’ve been talking to and me.
“No,” I say and push the drink toward him.
He likes my answer. His smile ticks up. “This is Bruce and Robert,” he introduces, ignoring my answer. “This is Laiken. The guys were just asking us if we wanted to dance with them.”
Nope. I’m not ready to jump over the bar and rip these strangers’ heads off.He’s Nason’s son, I remind myself.Not. Mine.
“Are you hungry?” I ask, ignoring his comment. I’m pretty confident he’s baiting me right now. Elijah wants my reaction.
“Not yet. I’m sure I’ll work up an appetite on the dance floor,” he says and hops off the stool. I watch as he reaches for the drink I brought him and takes a long sip. He hums and then turns. I’m left staring at his ass.
Fucking Christ, what is he wearing?! I groan at the way his shorts somehow make his ass pop. There must be an elastic or something that makes the back of them shape into his crack, so I’m looking at two perfect globes.
Cash follows, and the guys follow them. I try not to stare like a savage beast while I tend to other patrons at the bar. I’m not sure I succeed in that. In fact, I’m positive my eyes are glued to Elijah the entire time. Waiting for him to return.
Songs play. Several. Because I’ve been obsessively staring, ready to pounce, I see when they turn for the door.
My entire body stills as I watch them leave. Elijah glances at me, sends me a flirty smile, and then leaves.
A sour taste fills my mouth, making my stomach churn. The beat of the drums reverberates through me, making everything inside medun-dun-dun. I feel it like I’m in a tube.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell Beth and drop my towel on the bar. She doesn’t stop me as I push my way through the crowd and head for the door that Elijah walked through. I hurry so I don’t lose him.
I don’t know what I’m doing. I have no idea what I’m going to say. All I can do is follow where my feet take me.
It’s raining, though it feels more like a mist than rain. I look around, looking for the direction they headed. My muscles tense as I turn.
Elijah is leaning against the side of the bar with his arms crossed over his chest. He stares at me with an amused smirk. I don’t see the guys anywhere, but I do see Cash. He’s talking to a group of people I recognize as residents.
This fucker played me. He was looking for a reaction, and he got one. I have half a mind to go back inside. I need to go back in. I’m on the clock. I’m working.
Instead, I gesture with my head for him to follow me as I walk around the opposite side of the bar. As soon as he rounds the corner, I press him against the wall.
His lips part in sexy surprise as he stares at me. What am I doing?
“You don’t leave with strangers,” I tell him.
“Are you worried about me, Laiken?” he asks, voice breathless.
Worried.AmI worried? I’m about to go fucking feral.
