“What? Being with two people?”
I nodded.
“If you’re in it for the right reasons, sure.”
“What about five people?” I mused, thinking back to Rule’s friend Journey and the reverse harem thing she had going on.
“I wouldn’t know.”
“Me neither.”
The waitress returned, passing me one of the drinks and another of those little cocktail napkins. “Thank you.”
She nodded, then handed the stranger the other. “Here you are, Mr. Montgomery.”
“Thank you, Lilly.”
“Wow. You must come here often if they know you by name,” I told him when she walked away.
“I own it.”
I choked on my drink.
Coughing and spurting, I did my best to stop my esophagus from revolting, but I couldn’t. Mr. Montgomery, as Lilly had referred to him, moved closer, his concern radiating from him.
I held up a hand and tried to swallow. “I’m good,” I wheezed.
It took a minute or two before I really was, but he simply took a step back and gave me my space.
When I finally stopped coughing and clearing my throat, he stepped forward and held out his hand. “Knox Montgomery. And you are?”
I shifted my glass to the other hand and took his. “Laikyn Quinn.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Laikyn.”
“Yes.” I nodded. “Same.”
He released my hand, and for a second, I thought he would walk away, but instead, he sat in the chair beside me. He didn’t get comfortable, instead leaning forward, resting his elbow on his knee as he regarded me.
“I’m fine, really,” I assured him in case he was worried I might hack up a lung again.
His eyes twinkled with mirth as his lips pulled upward.
“Why are you smiling?” I asked, feeling awkward and wondering when Jinx would return. I could use him right about now.
Knox laughed. “I’m hoping we can be friends.”
I forced a smile. “It’ll have to be a short friendship, I’m afraid. I’m only here for a couple of days, and I live in Los Angeles. So…”
“Something tells me that won’t matter.”
Okay, so now it was getting creepy. I mean, he wasn’t coming onto me or anything, but it felt like he knew something I didn’t.
Determined to ensure he understood I wasn’t interested, I tried to stand. It didn’t work as planned, and I ended up back on my butt. The signal that should’ve gone from my brain to my legs appeared to be interrupted by too much vodka.
“Easy now.” Knox held up a hand as though he might help me if I tipped forward onto my face, but he didn’t touch me.
I was attempting to come up with something to let him down easy, but I looked up and saw Rule and Jinx walking toward me. They were watching me intently.
