I raised a brow. “Yeah? From the floor?”
“I was working on something,” he said. “Then you had to go full hero.”
I rolled my eyes. “You're welcome for the save.”
He grinned and clapped me on the back, but the moment still buzzed under my skin.
Trace turned to us. “Sorry, guys. You’re gonna have to go, too.”
“Why?” Luke asked, frowning.
“Rules are rules,” Trace said. “Can’t let y’all stay or others will think they can get away with it.”
Luke cursed under his breath, but I was already turning toward the door.
“It’s fine,” I said. “Let’s go.”
I hadn’t even made it ten feet into the bar before everything went sideways. Didn’t even get a drink before I was throwing punches and getting kicked out. I should’ve kept walking. Should’ve let the door swing shut behind me and left the whole damn night behind with the rest of the noise. But just before I stepped outside, I turned.
Norah was guiding the waitress toward the back, her arm resting gently around her shoulders. Her hair had fallen loose from her ponytail, dark waves spilling down her back.
And even from here, something in me reacted.
Still, I couldn’t stop watching her.
And I hated that.
I’d sworn off women. Love, lust, all of it. Swore off the drama, the mess, the wreckage they left behind.
But something about her…it pulled me in. And I didn’t know whether I wanted to shake it off or chase it down.
I didn’t need this. I didn’twantthis.
But as I shoved open the door and stepped into the humid night air, I knew I was in trouble…because I was trying my damndest to convince myself to forget her and not having the least amount of luck.
Yeah…
I was fucked.
Chapter Nine
Andi
Red twistedthe cap off a longneck and took a slow sip. “So, Andi,” he said, leaning back against the bar, “how was your first night?”
I lifted a finger to my chin and tilted my head. “Let’s see…spilled beer on myself, broke a few mugs, got felt up by a drunk jackass, and witnessed a bar fight before I’d even learned everyone’s name.” I cracked a grin—one I’d quickly recognized was a default reaction forged by survival. Smile through the pain and all. “Honestly? It wasn’t the worst night I’ve ever had.”
Red barked out a laugh and Norah shook her head, chuckling into her beer. “You handled it like a champ,” she said.
“For the record, though,” Red said, his expression turning serious for the first time that night. “I don’t tolerate that kind of crap in my bar. Anyone who puts their hands on my staff, or any woman, without permission getsonewarning, if that.” He took a pull of his beer. “He tries that shit again he’s outta here for good.”
“Amen,” Norah cheered, tipping back the rest of her beer before looking over at me. “You did good keeping your cool, but if you ever want to learn how to shut that kind of thing downfast, I can teach you a few tricks. Two very over-protective older brothers made sure I can drop a guy twice my size if I need to.”
A small laugh bubbled up from my chest. “Seriously?”
She nodded and shrugged. “Doesn’t hurt to be prepared.”
“A little know-how can go a long way,” Red added with a nod of his own. “Not that I think you’ll need it much around here. Folks usually have better sense and manners than Gus displayed tonight, but still. Better to have it and not need it.”
