Cash nods and offers a polite but small smile. “We’ve met. Nice to see you again, Quinn. I didn’t know you and my wife were friends.”
Uh-oh.
Red flags.
Big ones.
When I told Jordyn I’d be her bestie, I didn’t realize her husband was my boss. And also my asshole neighbor’s sister-in-law.
Jordyn giggles. “He’s teasing. I told him I made it up. But I also told him I really like you. I want you to be my friend.”
Cash smirks but looks down lovingly at Jordyn, his gaze so possessive that I think every man in the room can feel it.
“Can I get you something to drink, Mr. Savage?” I ask, hoping my cheeks aren’t as red as they feel.
“Just call me Cash. And can we get four whiskeys, neat, and another drink for my bratty wife?”
Jordyn just laughs at that, and it’s adorable. It’s obvious she’s as obsessed with Cash as he is with her.
I pour the whiskeys and slide them over to Cash.
“Thanks, Quinn.” Kian steps up to grab one of the glasses.
How is it possible for all four of these men to be so insanely good-looking? And the best part is, they aren’t perfect. They’re tatted and scarred. They’re intimidating, but they’ve always been nothing but kind.
Well… that’s not true. Xander’s an asshole. But Kian and Cash are great. And Beckett seems nice as he raises his glass to me and smiles before he takes a drink.
Meanwhile, Xander is still at the other end of the bar from where he tried to talk to me earlier and I ignored him.
“So, is there a reason our brother is over there sulking after speaking to you?” Cash asks with amusement.
Shit. I didn’t realize his family was watching. And what am I supposed to say to that? It’s not like I’m going to tell him that their brother is an asshat who assumed I was a manipulative twat. So instead, I smile as brightly as I can.
“I’m not really sure. I’ll be back in a few to check on you,” I chirp before moving along to another customer.
That’s the best part of this job. I always have an easy escape from a conversation since there’s always someone waiting for a drink.
As I work my way back down my side of the bar, I feel Xander’s eyes on me the entire time. When I’m within earshot, mixing a drink, he clears his throat.
“I’m sorry, sunshine. I was a cruel asshole. I don’t deserve your grace, but I hope you’ll find it in that beautiful heart of yours to forgive me.”
When I flick my gaze to him, my heart constricts. There’s something about Xander I can’t quite figure out. He’s been hurt for sure. You don’t get that haunted look unless you’ve been through some shit. It took me a long time to lose that after what my mom did to me. It made what Jason did to me seem like a fairytale.
He stares back at me, his jaw tight. After what feels like an eternity, I turn my attention back to the drink I’ve made and start going down the waiting customers at the bar in the opposite direction.
Just because he’s apologized doesn’t mean I’m going to make it easy on him. I forgave my mom and Jason repeatedly. And after Jason fucked me over, I decided I wouldn’t allow that to happen again. It doesn’t matter how much I’m drawn to Xander.How everything with him feels different. There’s a rawness between us that I’ve felt since the first time we met. Which was totally random, and the asshole had to go and ruin it by accusing me of something I didn’t do.
So Xander can just sit down there and sulk all night for all I care.
CHAPTER 15
Xander
YOUR WISH IS MY COMMAND, BABY GIRL
If I haveto watch Quinn smile at one more guy in this bar, I’m going to burn the whole fucking building down.
I take a sip from my glass that Kian brought over to me and continue to stare at her like I’ve been doing for the past two hours. Cash and Jordyn are still at the other end of the bar. My older brother is standing guard while his wife continues to get drunk and laugh with Quinn about who-the-fuck-knows-what. I need to know what they’re talking about. What is my sister-in-law saying that’s making my sunshine so happy?
