“How’s your girl doing? Seems like she’s settling in.”
I shoot him a look. “She’s not my girl.”
“Sure, Kill. Whatever you say.” The grin that spreads on his freckled face is fucking insufferable. “I’m just saying, you’ve been awfully protective of the little stray lately. People are starting to talk.”
“People can mind their own fucking business.”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
Sean’s question goes unanswered as the woman we speak of walks over, notepad in hand and glasses slightly askew on her nose.
If I’m being honest, she looks damn adorable like this, tiny frizzy curls haloing her brow.
“Look what the cat dragged in,” she says dryly. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen you. Years actually.”
“Careful, girl,” I grunt. “That’s no way to talk to a paying customer.”
Her right brow cocks higher than the left. “You haven’t paid for anything yet, Killer. What’ll it be? Whiskey neat?”
I lean back in the booth and give an impressed nod. “You finally remembered.”
“I always remembered. But it was more amusing to pretend I hadn’t.”
Jhene wanders off, stopping at another table on her way back to the bar. I spend a moment watching her go.
Sean lets out a whistle. “Holy shit, Kill. What was that?”
“Don’t fucking start.”
“That banter. The eye contact. You two wereflirting.”
“Sounds like you need your eyes checked.”
Sean opens his mouth, still with the grin spreading his lips wide, but he doesn’t need to utter a word to communicate what’s on his mind.
“Drop it,” I snarl. “Or I’ll drop you.”
He holds up his hands in surrender, though we both know it won’t be the last time he brings it up.
I’m half considering making good on my threat—maybe even slamming his head against the table—when the back of my neck prickles.
It’s the sensation you get when you realize you’re being watched.
I glance toward the bar and find Bridget staring.
She’s supposed to be working one of the larger tables. Some group of rowdy men out celebrating a bachelor party. They’ve all but lost her attention as she fixes me with a stare then pops on a smile.
I merely nod in answer before looking away.
“Need to take a piss,” I grunt to Sean.
I slide out of the booth and head toward the back of the pub. Bridget intercepts me halfway there.
“Hey, stranger,” she purrs, stepping into my path. “Long time no see.”
“I saw you a few days ago when I dropped by.”
“Too long for me. Besides, we haven’t had a chance to talk, and you’ve stopped texting me.”
