“Yeah, yeah. Corny, I know,” I reply before he can crack a joke like Griffin did the day I met him.
Griffin gets an odd look on his face and chimes in before Camden can say anything else. “Camden is the cook. Don’ttouch anything hot, but you won’t have to worry about that. You won’t be back here much anyway.” He places his hands on my shoulders and steers me back out into the bar.
“I know not to stick my head in the oven. I’m not five.”
“Trust me, Sunshine. I’ve noticed.”
My stomach flutters at his implication.
Damn. I’d climb this man like a tree.
He keeps pushing me until I’m back where we started, standing opposite Benny.
Whirling around on him, I place my hands on my hips. “What was that about?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Griffin makes an innocent face and changes the subject. “I’m sure you’ll meet Knox at some point tonight. He might be held up in the office all night, though.”
“Knox?”
“My partner.”
A light goes off in my head. “Oh. Ohhhhhhh.” Of course, a man as good looking as Griffin is already taken.
Reading my expression, Griffin shivers. “Uh, no. Knox is mybusinesspartner.”
I raise my hands in a defensive gesture. “Hey, I’m not judging. Live your life. Seriously. There’s nothing wrong with loving who you love. I know we’re in Texas, but I’m not that kind of Texan.”
Folding his arms, Griffin adds, “Knox is also my brother.”
So there are two people in this world who look likethat? Heaven help me.
Even though I know he’s telling the truth, I decide to have some fun. “Okay, dating your brother is weird,” I tease, making a disgusted face.
“Ha, ha. Very funny,” Griffin says sarcastically.
Griffin reaches to pinch my side, but I swat his hand out of the way, wagging my finger at him. “Nuh-uh.”
“Ticklish?”
“No,” I respond too quickly.
“Right,” he replies, disbelieving. “I got your number, Raven. Remember, payback’s a bitch.” He winks, and on his way to the back hall, he turns and walks backward. “Poke around the bar. Familiarize yourself with where everything is. There’s a cup of quarters right there by the ice machine if you want to change the song on the jukebox.”
“Does it only play country?” I shout back, but he’s already turned the corner.
“Unfortunately,” Benny grumbles.
Placing my elbows on the counter in front of him, I tilt my head and give him my best endearing smile. Now that I have a moment, I take in his features. Weathered skin, salt and pepper hair, hazel eyes.
“It’s Benny, right?”
He grunts his affirmation.
“We haven’t been properly introduced. I’m Raven.” I stick my hand out to him. He stares at it like he forgot what a handshake is.
When he finally takes my hand, he gives me a half-hearted comment, “Nice to meet you, Raven.” Then he goes back to staring at the TV behind me on the wall.
Ignoring his dismissal, I continue, “I take you for a soft rock kind of guy.”
