I hadn’t meant to lethimhear it.
“She doesn’t seem to think much of her own influence,” I said.
“That’s because she’s played the role of Sisyphus most of her life. As have I, at least in the shifter world. Eventually, that shit gets to you. If you don’t know that yet on a personal level, you will.”
“I think that’s what she’s trying to save me from. I think that’s what she’s trying to saveallfemale shifters from. And I’m damn well going to help her.”
Also, I was going to look up who the hell Sisyphus was.
“That’s my girl.”
I huffed. “If you think I’m anyone’s girl you have not been listening.”
Titus’s laughter made me smile even as I hung up on him.
“On your own tonight, Charley?” Doug Myers asked as he sank onto the third barstool from the left—his favorite.
“Looks like it.” I slid a basket of snack mix toward him. “Whiskey?”
“I’ll start with a double. And a burger. That fancy one with fried onions on it.”
“Sorry. Kitchen’s closed tonight.” Mitch had gone home at five, and I wasn’t free to take over for him with no one else to man the bar. Figuratively speaking.
Tucker was stationed in my office, still looking for a lead on Cam Senet’s whereabouts with one ear turned my way, in case there was any trouble.
“Where’s Billy?” Doug asked. “And Davey? And…Vance?”
“They’re all busy,” Austin said as he pushed his way in from the kitchen through the swinging doors, surprising us both. “You’ll have to make do with me tonight.”
I’d been too busy to notice his car pulling up or hear him come in.
Austin assumed what looked like a practiced “bartender” pose at my side, bar cloth in hand. He looked thoughtful and ready. And pretty fucking adorable, with those blue eyes practically glowing at me.
Doug frowned up at him. “You work here now?”
“Just helping out in a pinch,” Austin said. I arched both brows at him, and he shrugged. “No cocktails, right?”
I snorted. “This is a simple cont’ry bar, sir. We pour shots and pull pints.”
“How hard could it be?” With that, Austin headed toward the other end of the bar to take an order.
“Just keep up with open tabs for tonight,” I called as he walked away. “Keep good records.” That’d be easier than showing him how to work the cash register or run a credit card.
Twenty minutes later, we hit a lull and I tugged Austin into the kitchen.
“What are you doing here?” I whispered.
“Tucker texted. He said you’d fired Vance and needed a hand.”
“With bartending?”
Austin shrugged. “In general. What happened with Vance?”
“Caught him sleeping with my sister. Well, I didn’tcatchthem, thank god. But theyarecaught.”
He blinked at me for a second. Then he smiled. “Told ‘ya.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
