I’m taking a sip of my almost empty margarita when Killian’s head turns, and he locks eyes with me.
The cold drink goes down my windpipe, and I sputter out a cough.
Jesus. Not again.This is the second time I’ve choked on my drink in front of him. He’s going to think I’m an idiot.
I excuse myself from the table, squeeze through the crowd and head down the hallway to the back restrooms, making sure I don’t look Killian’s way… which damn it, is harder than it should be. The man is supernaturally magnetic.
After I relieve myself and wash my hands, I wipe the bit of smeared mascara from under my eyes with a paper towel. Then I give myself a pep talk.
“Totally normal that you’re attracted to him. He’s hot. He’s got the body of a god.” I moan. He’s beautiful actually. His body. His eyes. His goddamn rule-the-world confidence. “But you are not letting your guard down for another man. Especially one that doesn’t like you for some reason. Focus on having fun, enjoying being with the girls for tonight.” I pull my hair up off my shoulders, pressing the damp paper towel against the back of my neck.
A brunette stumbles out of one of the stalls and hiccups as she comes to the sink. “Right on, sister.” She holds her hand up for a high five. “Fuck the men tonight. Assholes,” she mumbles.
I smother a laugh, my mood lifting. “Enjoy your evening,” I say, opening the door. When I step out into the low-lit hallway, a figure is standing there with one foot propped against the wall, arms crossed.
It’s the man in the Tampa Bay hat.
I try to hurry past him, but his arm snakes out and grabs me. “Where you going in such a rush, sweetheart?”
I whirl around and yank my arm out of his grip. His eyes are glassy, his smile not reaching them. He takes a step closer, his gaze oozing over my body like hot slime. “What’s your name?”
My heart is pounding. My body has locked, frozen. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not interested,” I say, surprised that my voice is steady.
“That wasn’t my question,” he says, his smile stretching until he’s baring his teeth.
I know this kind of man. He thinks he’s looking at prey. He likes my fear, just like Michael. So, I shove it down and stare him dead in the eyes. “I’m going to walk away, and if you touch me again, it will be the last time you use that hand for a while.”
His eyes flick up past me for a second. Then he’s lifting his palms in the air and taking a step back.
Wow, that worked?
The woman steps out of the bathroom behind him and assesses the situation. Her hand goes to her hip as she sways on her heels. “There a problem here?”
I give her a thumbs up, feeling so much stronger than I have a long time. “All good.”
She walks around him, glaring.
He doesn’t move as we walk back down the hall together.
Chapter 14
Killian
I’m trying to fill Shay and Pat in on what I need them to do for the opening tomorrow night, but my attention keeps wandering over to the girls. Specifically, to Sam. I cannot get the feel of her bare ass grinding against my cock out of my head. Or stop looking at her thick, shiny hair that I want to wrap around my fist, or the swell of her breasts exposed in that goddamn sundress. I order a whiskey and down it, my brain immediately conjuring up an image of licking whiskey from her cleavage. “Fuck me.” I order another.
“You seem kind of wound up tonight. You think your sister’s in danger?” Pat asks, glancing over at their table with a worried expression.
I shrug, trying for nonchalance. “I told Sandro I’d keep on eye on her. Until we know who the target was at the weddin’, we can’t be too careful.”
“Hope they find that fucker soon,” Pat says, taking a pull of his Guiness. “Can’t believe he accidently shot Mac. What an unlucky cunt.” He chuckles darkly.
When I glance back over at Sam, our eyes meet and a jolt of electricity shoots down to my dick. She begins to cough. Did she feel it, too? Out of all the fucking women, why is my traitorous body reacting to her? I watch as she leaves the table, pushes through the crowd and heads to the back hallway. ThenI notice the asshole in the hat who’s been eye-fuckin’ her get up and follow.
Where you goin’, fucker?
I knock my knuckles on the bar. “Be right back. Keep your eye on the girls.” Then I wait at end of the hallway, tucked into the shadows, watching to see what he’s gonna do.
A man can tell when a woman is easy prey. It’s the way she carries herself, if there’s eye contact or avoidance. Sam is not easy prey, and he chose her anyway. So that means this cocksucker would enjoy her claws. Get off on the fight.
