Page 63 of Slide

Finally, his friend said, “Where’d you go?”

“Pardon?” Adam knew exactly what he meant.

“You had a few days off. Where’d you go? Who went with you?”

“I went to visit my cousin, you know that.” He took a deep pull of his drink.

“Something happened to you when you went away. Come on, spill.” Joe spotted someone over Adam’s shoulder and lifted his hand. “Luce!”

Adam stiffened. “Lucy?”

Joe didn’t hear him because he was too busy hollering his sister’s name. Then Lucy was there, at Joe’s side.

“What the hell do you want?” she hissed. “This is only my second night. You’ll get me fired.”

She didn’t look at Adam. Didn’t acknowledge him at all. It pissed him off. He wanted her to fucking look at him.

“Congratulations on the new job,” he murmured, trying to get her to do just that.

Even though it was noisy, she heard him, like even though she pretended not to see him, she’d been fully aware, focused on him the whole time.

“Luce, look at Adam and tell me there isn’t something different about him,” Joe said before she could answer.

Her brows flew up. “You called me away from my tables for that? I don’t have time for this.”

Joe had his arm around his sister’s shoulders now and he tugged her closer, planting a sloppy kiss on her cheek. “Humor me.”

Her eyes darted Adam’s way then back to Joe. “He looks the same as he always does.”

Adam could see the vein in her neck fluttering like mad, could see her chest rise and fall rapidly. It was hard, but he kept his ass planted on the seat and didn’t stand up and yank her out of her brother’s arms and into his. He wanted to kiss her, feel those lush, soft lips under his one more time. Wanted to feel the heat of her skin burning him through his clothes, and out of them.

“No, look at him properly,” Joe was saying. “I think he’s met someone.”

Lucy’s shoulders stiffened. “I wouldn’t know.” She jabbed her brother in the side and he let her go.

“Ow!”

“Don’t be a baby.” She backed up. “You two have a good night.” Her eyes slid back to Adam’s. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“That doesn’t leave much!” Joe called after her.

But she was already gone, walking into the crowd.

~ * ~

Lucy did her best to ignore Adam. Easier said than done when she was positive she could feel his eyes on her, following her around the bar. This being her second night on the job was hard enough without him sitting there all damn night. She felt overly aware of her body, the way she moved around the room, the way she smiled and laughed, talked. In the past, at family get-togethers or at the garage, she could hide behind the animosity they fired at each other—but not anymore. Now she knew what it felt like to be desired by Adam Grady. And though she knew crossing that line was a serious mistake, she wanted him still.

Damn Joe for bringing him there.

She’d hoped to avoid him for a little longer at least. Yep, total coward. She’d even gone as far as staying in a cheap hotel last night so she wouldn’t see him at the garage this morning. Not something she should be spending her dwindling savings on. Thankfully, she was now making money again. Next step was finding a place away from her brothers, and Adam. A place with very low rent. There had to be a place, right? Somewhere that wasn’t falling down around her ears, infested with cockroaches, or in the worst part of the city.

Shit.

She delivered her drinks, and then took an order from the guys at the next table. They were a bit rowdy, out for a good night, teasing and flirting with her. They weren’t being assholes; they were kind of funny, actually, so she teased and laughed back. Plus, that was part of the job, right? She needed the tips if she wanted to get out from under Hugh’s massive oppressive thumb. She was still chuckling when she turned to head back to the bar to fill their drinks order. Without wanting them to, her eyes drifted back to where Adam and Joe had been sitting. Joe was nowhere to be seen, but Adam—he was out of his seat, eyes locked on the guys behind her.

His gaze slid to her. Her breath jammed in her throat. His eyes were dark, stormy, teeth gritted.

What the hell was going on?