“Ah, there’s my dark knight now.” I beam as AJ approaches, his tall frame towering over the bar.
“You’re going on a course for this,” he grunts, taking the cocktail shaker and practically slapping me in the face with it. “Watch,” he says sternly, his eyes fixed on mine. I follow his every movement, trying to commit it to memory as best as I can.
When he’s done and is in the middle of pouring, I earn a nostril flare when I say, “I need to take a piss.”
AJ raises an eyebrow, his stern expression softening
slightly. The eyebrow raise is his version of an eyeroll.
“I’ll be quick,” I add, I swear my bladder is not out to annoy him. I get it. I do. He has to go straight from here to the club later and won’t get home until about five in the morning. He’ll be lucky to scoff down some food in the back before he’s out the door and onto the Orion.
* * *
KATIE
“Don’t you know who that is?” Ciara’s eyes are wide and she’s basically sitting on my lip.
I turn to see Robbie making a bolt for the back and accidentally catch the gaze of the other barman. I quickly divert my gaze; I don’t want him to think I was openly gawking at him. Something about his face is familiar but I can’t place him.
I will say that I find him stupidly attractive with his dark hair, tattoos, high cheekbones, and strong jawline, which can only mean one thing: he’s a walking red flag. My alarm bells are not only ringing; they’re practically screaming.
I meet Ciara’s gaze again and ask, “No, should I?”
“That’s AJ fucking Quinn!” Ciara whispers as if she’s afraid he’ll overhear her. “Don’t you watch the news? He was all over it a few years ago for shooting a garda.”
“Firstly, my life is depressing enough as it is without watching the news. Secondly, shooting a garda? Seriously? Why’s he not locked up then?”
“Charges were dropped.” His voice is smooth and confident, with a hint of arrogance.
We both freeze and turn slowly to see him leaning on the bar, looking at us, a smile curling the corners of his lips. “They fingered the wrong guy.”
“Or you paid them off,” Ciara blurts out, and I want the ground to open and swallow me whole.
An arm slides around my shoulders, and I instantly recoil. I turn to see two blokes standing behind us, grinning. “Can we buy you ladies a drink?”
“Sure,” Ciara replies at the very same time I say, “no thanks.”
“What are we drinking?” the shorter of the two asks. He’s stocky and has greasy brown hair; his eyes are darting between Ciara and me.
AJ looks at them, casually drying a glass with a towel, as if he has nothing better to do. “The lady said no,” his voice is low, casual, but firm. He doesn’t look at me or Ciara, instead, he keeps his eyes fixed on the men behind us.
“Well, this lady said yes,” the taller man says, stepping closer to Ciara.
AJ sucks on his teeth; his gaze briefly falls on me before returning to the taller man. His smile is forced. It looks almost painful. “What can I get for you?”
I spot the other barman coming back and it is only when he stands beside AJ that I notice some similarity, I wonder if they’re related.
AJ turns and stalks off into the back, leaving thelads to repeat their order to Robbie, Ciara adds her order in because, why the fuck not? Free drinks, right? Robbie’s eyes fall on me expectantly.
I don’t like this. I really don’t like this. My skin feels like it’s crawling. If I were here alone, I’d just leave, but I cannot leave my sister with these two.
“Another Smirnoff?” Robbie asks kindly.
“Just water, please,” I reply, trying to hide my unease.
“So, what’s the plan, ladies?” The short one asks, pulling a seat up beside Ciara.
“We’re just waiting for our table to be called,” I mutter, hoping they get the hint. They don’t.
