Miranda could be protective, but she could also be provoking.Warning the guy off for me was fine.Making him apologize, though?No thanks.I’d rather he just stop talking to me altogether.
As the night progressed, I thought maybe I’d get my wish.However, the guy showed up about the same time the bar got too crowded for Uncle Jay to manage alone.I went to help fill orders and avoided Mr.Dangerous until the rush settled.
When I finally faced him, I didn’t see any signs that Miranda had beaten him.Probably because his face was too damn pretty to hit, which meant a stern warning had been all she’d delivered.
I applauded her choice as I drifted in his captivating gaze.
“What can I get for you tonight?”I asked.
“A second chance to make a better impression?”
CHAPTERTHREE
Mr.Dangerous’samber gaze held mine.Guilt flickered.Real or just performance, like my father?
“I’m sorry for scaring you.That was never my intent,” he said.“My office job in the district doesn’t leave much room for normal conversations.I think it ruined my people skills.”He hesitated.“I’d like a chance to start over.But I can understand and respect it if you don’t.”
Honestly?I wanted to, but only because he was so damn nice to look at.I liked beautiful things.Men.Jewelry.Clothes.But I was practical.Some things, no matter how tempting, weren’t worth the risk.
Yet, he’d just unwittingly given me a practical reason not to reject the olive branch he was holding out—he worked in the business district.
“Sure,” I said.“We can start over.”
He held out his hand and introduced himself.“My name’s Konni, with a K, and I’d appreciate a mocktail of your choice tonight.”
I took his hand and gave it a perfunctory shake.“Sophia.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Sophia,” he said as I started mixing his drink.“Does Lunar Pulse have a food menu?”
“No.We have the seasoned pretzels,” I said, nodding toward the basket at his elbow.
He glanced at it and nodded, but made no move to take any.
“Not your thing?”I asked.
“I prefer sweet over savory,” he admitted.
“Then you’ll like this,” I said, sliding his drink toward him.He passed me a twenty without my asking.
I grinned at him and went to the till.
The crowd lasted a little longer than the previous night, and so did he.He was still sitting in his place when I went to clock out and saw that my cake only had a few slices out of it.
Feeling generous, I cut a piece and brought it out for him.
“Where’d this come from?”he asked even as he accepted it.
“I brought it in.”
“Thanks.I appreciate you sharing.Any special occasion?”
“I got a new job,” I said as he took his first bite.
He glanced up at me and said, “Congratulations,” after swallowing.“When’s your last day here?”
“Who knows,” I said with a shrug.
“Never, if I can help it,” my uncle said, coming to wrap an arm around my shoulders.“Sophie’s a keeper.”
