“Coming up,” Kyle told them.
After he poured their drinks, he returned andleaned against the bar to talk with them until a waitress arrivedwith an order for him to fill. Another hour passed before Julianand Aida arrived. They settled in with Preston and Dante at ahigh-top table in a corner near the bar while Cassidy continued toweave her magic over the crowd.
Kyle was about to check his phone again whenthe scent of spring hit him. Lifting his head, his nostrils flaredas he stared at the empty doorway. Time crawled while he waited tosee if Melanie would enter.
Then, Lucy stepped inside, and shefollowed.
His heart leapt into his throat as he drankin her beauty. The light spilling over her cinnamon-colored hairbrought out its vibrant shades of red and illuminated the freckleson her nose.
When some of the guys closest to the doorturned to stare at them, Kyle’s hands fisted as he resisted theurge to storm across the room and throw all of them out the door.His fangs lengthened, and he ground his teeth together while herestrained his murderous impulses.
CHAPTER 10
Melanie couldn’t takeher eyes off the woman on the stage. Not only was she strikinglybeautiful, but her voice was mesmerizing. She’d never heard anyonesing like that before. For some strange reason, the haunting melodybrought tears to her eyes as it weaved its spell over thecrowd.
The voice so ensnared her that she didn’trealize the song wasHurtuntil it was almost over. When thefinal word faded away, the place erupted into applause that Melanieand Lucy enthusiastically joined.
The woman on the stage beamed at the crowdand gave a cute little curtsy before the piano started playingagain.
“She isdefinitelyas hot as herbrother,” Lucy said.
Melanie laughed and turned her attention tothe bar, where she spotted Kyle instantly. He stood behind the cashregister, grinning at her. She couldn’t stop herself from beamingback at him.
“Let’s go,” she said.
She and Lucy weaved their way through thecrowd until they arrived at the bar. Kyle walked over to greetthem.
“You made it,” he said.
“We made it,” Melanie replied.
“What can I get the two of you to drink?”
“I’ll take a shot of tequila and a glass ofwater,” Lucy said.
“I’ll have a Coke for now,” Melanie said.
She drank a little too much at the bar beforethis to bolster her courage about coming here. Now she could feelthe effects of that alcohol, and she’d prefer not to be drunk.
“Coming right up,” Kyle said and walked awayto fill their order.
“There are two seats,” Lucy said and pointedat the end corner of the bar as a couple vacated them.
Used to having to move fast to get what theywanted in a bar, they hurried through the crowd to claim the chairsbefore anyone else noticed them. Once settled on the chairs,Melanie turned to survey the crowd. The place was packed, but itwas an older crowd that was different from the college bars shefrequented.
She enjoyed the hustle and bustle of thosebars, the loud music and the dancing, but sometimes it was good tosit, relax, and talk with friends.
Kyle returned with their drinks and set themdown before leaning toward her. “Are you having fun tonight?”
“We are,” she said. “Your sister isreallytalented.”
“And she knows it.”
He talked with them for a few minutes beforeleaving to fill some drink orders. Almost half an hour passedbefore he could return to them, and by then, Cassidy was gettingready to take her break. He’d hoped to have more time with Melaniebefore his sister descended, but that wasn’t going to happen.
“Let me apologize in advance,” he said toher.
“For what?” she asked.
