She nodded, giving her friend at least a partially honest answer. If all went according to plan, Chriswouldget her out of this mess. Her eyes roamed to the door and her smile grew as he walked inside the club.
Tina’s head turned around then back. “Is that him? He’s been here every night this week.”
“Yeah, his name is Chris Martin and heissuper nice, Tina. I promise I won’t get hurt.”
Tina glared at Chris then back at her. “You’d better not, girl, ‘cause I don’t have time to fix you all up again if he breaks your heart. But he’s been sitting in my section and I have to agree, he is nice. Keeps his hands to himself and doesn’t ogle the waitresses. Tips well too. Can’t fault him for that.”
Tina raised her tray to her shoulder. “We better get these drinks served or we won’t get any tips from anybody.”
Meg threw a sly glance at Chris then hefted her own tray and sauntered to deliver the drinks.
* * * *
“Hey, gorgeous, what can I getcha?” Dave glanced at Tina as she approached the bar. He hated seeing her wait tables here and put up with all the groping and lewd suggestions. She was too good for this place. But she needed the money and the later night hours were perfect so she could be home during the day with her brother in the summer. She was saving up to go back to school. He always made sure to make the drinks perfect for her so she’d get better tips.
Tina rattled off her order and Dave started with the bottles of beer. As he put them on her tray, she reached over and touched his forearm. His heart thumped quicker. It always did when she was around. In his situation, he couldn’t do anything about it though.
Her gaze was focused on the undercover FBI agent who’d been coming in lately.
“What do you know about that guy? His name is Chris Martin. I’ve seen you talking to him at the bar a few times before he sits at a table.”
Dave narrowed his eyes at Martin. Why did she want to know? Did she suspect something? That wouldn’t do.
“He’s not from around here. He’s staying down the street somewhere for a month or so while he tries to start up some business. Why? Is he giving you a hard time?”
He better not be or Dave would pop him one. FBI agent or no. He’d grown close to Tina and always kept an eye out for her. If he wasn’t undercover he might have tried to get even closer, help her more.
“No, no. He’s been real nice to me and he leaves great tips. It’s just that he and Katie hooked up. She moved out of her dump and is shacking up with him.”
Tina leaned in closer and touched his arm again. “You know Katie. She’s so innocent she doesn’t get how guys can use you and abuse you. I don’t want to see her get hurt again.”
“Shacking up with him? Did she say that?” What was Shaunessy up to? He’d met the man a few times outside the bar when the FBI were first called in. Aside from the few conversations he’d had here, he didn’t know that much about him. He better not be seeing Katie for his own amusement while he was working the case. Katie was far too trusting. Or at least she had been. She should have learned by now.
“She said he offered to let her stay with him while he was here. It’s not like her to take a guy up on that kind of offer. I know she’s had propositions before and just been pissed about them.”
Tina sighed and squeezed his hand. Dave gazed into her chocolate brown eyes, wanting to make everything better for her.
“Would you chat with him, Dave, please? Just find out what his intentions are. He seems real nice but looks can be deceiving. He might open up to you a bit more, you know, guy talk.”
Dave smiled at her so she wouldn’t worry. He had an idea what Shaunessy was doing but he wasn’t sure he liked it any better. They’d have a word or two. It might not be the word Tina wanted but he’d find out one way or another.
He covered her hand with his. “I’ll check it out, gorgeous, and let you know. If he has any bad intentions toward our Katie, I’ll kick his ass out of here.”
Tina reached up and touched his cheek. He battled to keep his eyes open, fighting the urge to close them and enjoy her touch.
“Thank you so much.”
Her hand slipped away, leaving him bereft. She hefted her tray into trimly muscular arms and walked away. He loved seeing her walk. It was graceful and feminine. And it was all he could have of her while this operation was in play.
Dave filled a few more orders then moved to the corner of the bar the FBI agent was sitting at.
“Hey, Dave, how are things?”
“Mr. Martin,” he greeted, his response uncharacteristically cold.
“Chris is fine. Everything okay?”
Dave glanced around the bar making sure no one was paying any attention to them.
