I set my own back down on the table, wiping my mouth off on a forearm. “Where’d the birthday girl run off to?” I ask, sweeping a glance around the crowded interior of the bar. This place is typically lively since it’s within walking distance of the squad complex, but I’ve never seen it this busy on a Thursday. People have been showing up in droves to celebrate Lo Anderson’s birthday.
“Oh, she’s around here somewhere,” Avery sing-songs, smirking to herself. “Probably snuck off with Javi to get some.”
My brows shoot up. Lo doesn’t strike me as the type who would be down for a quickie in a bar bathroom, but I suppose Idon’t know her that well outside of the IT projects we’ve tackled together. She’s all business when she’s focused on work.
Speaking of work…
I swing my gaze back over to the bar, where Blair’s been perched on a stool ripping shots all night like it’s her damn job. She’s dressed all in black, per usual, with dark liner rimming her eyes and a vicious smile on those deep red lips.
Not for me, but for the bartender headed her way.
Dropping her chunky black heeled boots down to the footrail, she pushes up to stand on it as he approaches, looking like a damn pinup in her sheer black tights, leather miniskirt, and silk corset top. She fishes some cash out of her bra, tits spilling from her top as she tosses her hair back and leans forward to hand it to him.
“Is she still giving you a hard time?” Avery asks, picking up on where my attention has shifted.
I quickly look away, reaching for my beer. “Nah, we’re good,” I lie.
She arches a dubious brow, pinning me with a knowing stare as I take a long swig.
“We are,” I insist once I’ve swallowed, setting the bottle back down.
“Mhmm,” Avery hums, folding her arms over her chest with a smirk. “Go talk to her, then.”
My eyes widen, lips popping open.
“What’s wrong?” she teases.
I quickly school my expression, raking a hand through my hair with a low chuckle. “Nothing, I’ve been meaning to go over there and say hey,” I reply smoothly, easing off my stool.
“Good luck,” Cam snorts, tipping his beer bottle toward me in salute.
I wave him off as I turn away, squaring my shoulders and starting across the room with a purposeful stride.
It isn’t until I’m halfway to the bar that I realize I have no idea what I’m even going to say to Blair.
Talking to her is against the rules unless it’s work related, but with the way she looks tonight and the beer buzz rioting through my veins, work is thelastthing I want to talk about.
She’s raising a shot glass to her lips when I slide up beside her, leaning an elbow against the bar and flashing her a grin. “Hey, Blair.”
She flickers me a side-eyed glance, then downs her shot, slamming the glass down onto the bar and wiping her mouth off on a wrist. “What do you want, hunter?” she sighs.
“Formerhunter,” I correct, winking.
She frowns back at me, ever impervious to my charms. I swear it works on other girls, but Blair is the hardest of the hard to get.
“Can I buy you a drink?” I ask.
“No,” she replies flatly.
“Another tequila shot, then?”
She narrows her eyes on me suspiciously. “Are you stalking me or something?” she scoffs, as if that’s the only way I’d know what she’s been drinking. I may not have the enhanced senses of a shifter, but I can smell the tequila on her from here.
“No, Cam invited me out tonight,” I say, gesturing toward the table I just left.
Sure enough, both Cam and Avery are looking our way. I toss them a wave, then turn back to Blair, her scowl deepening.
“What?”
