“Amazing. You can say the word without gagging.”
I stuck out my tongue at him. In a flash, he grabbed me and bit my tongue.
“Uhmm…” I half-protested and half-groaned.
His teasing expression vanished, grew intense, and then he was pushing me against the wall right there in the corridor. “You, sweet bug, will drive me insane,” he rasped against my lips.
“I likekitten—”
“If you insist, my beautiful bug.” He kissed me deeply, drawing my tongue into his mouth. A whimper escaped, desire stirring.
The urge to drag him to the bedroom took hold, but I had my last night at the bar. With a groan of frustration, I put my palms on his chest and pushed. “We can’t. We still have to check in on Nigel, and I have work later.”
With a low growl, Jack stepped back from me. “You’re going to be the death of me, Ray-bug, from blue balls.”
* * *
The bar was jam-packed as usual. I waited while Petra filled my order. She appeared paler than usual.
“You okay?” I asked her.
She nodded. “Thank you for what you did, Ray. But you should have told me straight away Oscar hurt you—”
“It’s nothing, a mere scratch,” I brushed it aside. Naturally, she’d come to know since Jack had pressed charges of assault. “The cops said he’ll be behind bars for a while. But my brother and sister-in-law are staying with me until we know for sure what’s happening.”
That gave me some relief if the idiot ever got out on a technicality.
“Jude told me you’re leaving?” Her dark, worried gaze slipped to me.
“Yes. I have another job.”
“Okay.” A smile of relief lit her stunning face. “Now I don’t feel so bad because Jude asked if I wanted the extra days. I took them. So, you and Jack, huh?”
Man, I shot her a wry smile, drumming my fingers on the counter. “With the paper announcing it, I suppose everyone knows now.”
“Being who he is, you can’t hide it,” she added. “But as long as you’re happy.”
“I am,” I said, smiling. And hoped Petra would find someone who loved her for herself, not for her beauty, or to use her. “No regrets about leaving the other job?” I asked her.
She sighed. “The money helped a lot, but it wasn’t something I liked doing. I mean,” she lowered her voice, “I was still selling myself. I have to think about Cara now. She’s two. If Oscar says things like that, she’ll grow up thinking it’s true. I don’t want that.”
I nodded and glanced around the busy place. Jack had dropped me off for my shift before heading off to see Max. Best yet? The drunks left me alone. Of course, the women gave me;what does he see in herlooks, which I ignored. The bar door opened, and more people swarmed inside.
Jack strolled in a second later. I wasn’t surprised, considering he usually came back and hung about with War or Max while I worked. In his typical way, those striking light eyes did a quick sweep of the place, finally settling on me. He didn’t smile, but that intense stare said it all.I was his.
Yes, and he was all mine.
Max followed, with War, Tanner, and Leland Sinclair.
Whoa. They were all here?
Man, they sure were a feast for feminine eyes. They were still dressed in their suits or at least partially, like Jack, who’d gotten rid of his tie and coat. Even War sported dark dress pants and a matching shirt.
They strolled to their usual table in the back, one of mine. The suited guys seated there rose and nodded before leaving. Guess when you were a bigwig like Leland Sinclair, your presence said more than words could.
“Did our bar just get a boost from the rich and the famous?” Jude asked, a smile wreathing his lean, whiskered face as he got a beer on tap.
I snorted. While Jack and Max often jumped off the elite orbit to the common folks’ side, Leland Sinclair and Tanner Harding never deviated from that path.
