Linc
I bringmy bike to a stop in the small parking lot behind the bar. With my helmet hooked under my arm, I walk in through the back door.
The hallway is dark, other than the light coming from the far end that opens into the bar itself.
Kane’s at home with Oliver, so I walk into his office without knocking, leaving my helmet and jacket on the couch in the corner.
During our first week in town after buying the bar, Kane offered to share the office space with Wyatt and me, or even remodel other rooms in the back hall into separate offices.
Wyatt and I both laughed. Neither of us would have a need for it. Wyatt spends way more time working on the front lines, bartending.
Kane and I split the paperwork and admin, but I won’t sit behind a desk to do it. I usually end up on the couch in his office or taking the work home with me to do there.
Being behind the bar, around a ton of loud people, isn’t my favorite thing in the world. Working a quiet shift in the middle of the week is more up my alley.
It’s Friday night, though, and I know Wyatt is going to need some help. One of our regular bartenders called in sick, so that leaves me to help out.
I’m relieved when I step into the main bar area. It isn’t packed, and the groups of people milling about the room seem to be of the quieter variety.
Maybe tonight won’t be too bad.
With head tilts to a few regulars, I round one of the pool tables and turn to the bar. My steps falter, seeing a gorgeous woman sitting there.
I can’t even see her face, and I already know. The thick brown waves running down her back, partially covering her leather jacket, is all the information I need.
She throws her head back, laughing. It’s a raspy-sounding laugh that sounds like it comes from the depths of her soul.
She turns to look at the man beside her andfuck. My initial assumption was spot on. She is fucking stunning.
The smile she’s sporting sets off a radiant glow that reaches everyone around her. Hell, I’m halfway across the room, and I can still feel it.
She says something to the man at her side. An unwarranted wave of jealousy passes through me.
I don’t even know this woman’s name. I never laid eyes on her until a few moments ago. I have no right to feel jealous of a man who gets to hold her attention like that.
I should keep walking and go do what I intended by coming out here, but I can’t make my feet work.
It doesn’t take but two more minutes of watching them to realize she is definitely not romantically involved with the mystery man.
They don’t look anything alike, but I might wager to say they are siblings. Their interactions reek of familiarity but not intimacy.
I’m sure it sounds insane to say this about two people I’ve never met, but I have become kind of an expert at analyzing people.
I have been quieter my whole life. Watching people kind of became a coping mechanism to escape whatever I didn’t want to think about.
Wyatt always says I’m terrifyingly good at nailing things about people without actually knowing them. I wouldn’t need this ability, though, to see how enamored Wyatt is with the very same woman.
I don’t know how long I have been standing here now. I don’t want to know. That would just be embarrassing.
As if on cue, Wyatt taps the side of his head and says something to her. He starts to walk away, then glances back over his shoulder. Whatever he says has a blush creeping up her neck.
I want to bury my face in her neck, kiss and lick that fevered skin.
Fuck. No.
My teeth clench painfully as I drag in a deep breath. Needing something to do with my hands, I redo the bun I have my hair pulled back into. The sides are still cropped short, but it’s long enough on top now to pull back.
I walk to the far side of the bar, opposite to where the gorgeous woman is sitting. Wyatt’s eyes lock on mine.
