“You want a martini again, Annie?”
“Um…no.” It’s time to continue making changes in my life. “Surprise me.”
Her dark eyebrow arches, and she smiles. She whips up a beautiful-looking cocktail and with a jesting curtsey, presents it like I’m royalty. “Tequila sunrise for you.” She slides a glass to Ben. “Water I’m assuming?”
“Thanks. How’s the new girl?” He asks.
I drag my attention to the opposite side where a raven-haired woman is struggling to tap out a beer. “She’ll get there.”
“You hired a new bartender?”
Ben answers me as he monitors the activity around us. “Yeah. Kit’s gonna buy me out and take over.”
I feel…disappointed that I didn’t know that. “Oh, well congratulations.”
The corner of his lip tilts up. “It just happened today, but thanks, sweetheart.”
“I didn’t know you were going to give up the bar.”
“Until a few days ago, I didn’t either.”
I sip my drink and chat with Kit. She’s pouring me a second drink when Ben sits up straight and quietly swears under his breath. I look in the direction of his source of irritation to see Rome and Max coming this way.Shit.
Ben shoots to his feet as Max gets closer.
Max’s frame jerks back like Ben just knocked the wind out of him. He stops a couple of feet away from me and shakes his head. “You really think I’m gonna get in her face?” he questions my forever bodyguard.
“I don’t know what the hell you’re gonna do or how far you’ll go to protect your sister.”
“Not that. Christ.” He looks at me, and I flinch unintentionally. “Nice.” He scoffs. “I want to apologize to you for what my sister did. I have no explanation except she’s a spoiled brat with mental problems and parents who never got her helpbecause they thought it would make them look bad. Despite what the Almighty Lawless Brothers think, I have no clue where she is.”
Maybe I shouldn’t, but I believe him. “I appreciate it, but it’s not your fault.”
“Regardless, she’s family, and apologizing for her behavior is the least I can do. If you need my help for any reason, please don’t hesitate to call me. Ben’s got my number.” He offers me a sympathetic smile that is gone before I blink. “For some reason, I’m not feelin’ a beer anymore. Annie, pleasure meeting you.” He bumps into his partner when he walks away.
Rome sits in the stool on the other side of mine, unaffected. “Istill feel like a beer.”
Kit slides a bottle his way and I slurp the dredges of my drink, then start to slide off the stool. Ben puts his arm out, blocking me. “Where are you going?”
“I need to use the bathroom.”
“We’ll just go upstairs then.”
“I’m having fun.” I pout.
He hooks his arm around my neck and drops his forehead to mine. “You’re having fun?”
“I am. Everyone is so nice and I’m not looking over my shoulder. I can’t remember the last time that happened.” I hold my palm against his scruffy jaw. “I want to stay.”
“All right. We can stay.”
“Thank you.”
“You can thank me later.” He whispers against my ear.
I playfully shove him off me and he follows me to the bathroom. After making sure it’s all clear, I enter. “You can’t stand here while I pee.”
“I’m not moving.”
