“Are you back in town permanently?” Jessica asked between making drinks.
“Just here for a work gig.”
“What are you doing for the holidays?”
“I’ve got family in the area, so splitting time between my mom and dad.” She shook her head. “The back and forth never ends.”
“At least they’re in the same town. My folks live five hundred miles apart. Thanksgiving with one. Christmas with the other.” The lights brightened a bit, then dimmed. “Hey, everyone,” Jessica called out. “Last call.”
The next fifteen minutes kept Jessica super busy, so Evangeline chilled with her drink. The woman sitting beside her left, revealing the guy from earlier sitting on the next barstool over.Ah, crap.Evangeline couldn’t look away fast enough.
The guy grinned. “Kismet, baby. That’s all I have to say.”
Evangelinewishedthat was all he’d say, but she had a feeling she was in for an earful. Turns out, she’d called it.
The man did not stop talking. One long run-on sentence. Where he worked, what he did, where he lived, and what his weight lifting routine consisted of. Motor mouth was giving her a headache. When he began pestering her for her name and suggested they hook up sometime, she’d had enough. She was about to leave when Jessica stopped in front of her.
“Whew, that was insane. Okay, so tell me everything.” She leaned forward. “Seeing anyone?”
“Me, if I play my cards right,” blurted the guy.
Jessica flicked her gaze to him, then back at Evangeline who just rolled her eyes.
* * *
Sin escorted the teary-eyed woman out through the employee-only entrance and made sure she got to her car safely. He hated being the heavy, but the young woman had screwed a patron while on her shift, so he let her go. The last thing he needed was to be accused of running a brothel.
On his way to the lounge, he did a sweep of the first-floor playrooms. Fortunately, they were all empty. Then, he asked one of his staff to check the private rooms on the second floor.
After entering the lounge, he counted over thirty members and guests. The place wouldn’t clear out for another thirty. As he made his way toward the bar, he spotted her, and heat suffused his chest. Evangeline was speaking with his GM while some douchebag ogled her.
An unexpected possessiveness came over him and a low growl rumbled in his throat. He stood behind the vacant barstool between Evangeline and the member. Jessica shot him a smile. “Whiskey or club soda?”
“Club soda.”
Evangeline looked over her shoulder. He loved how her eyes lit up, how she couldn’t hide her surprise. But it was the undeniable spark in her eyes that made him smile.I feel the same way.
“Mind if I join you?” Sin asked her.
“Hey, man, I’ve been talking to this fine lady. You need to find your own chick.”
As Sin steeled his spine, he glared at the man.
“Oh, God, not again,” Jessica said.
The man extended his hand across the bar toward Evangeline. “Can I get your name? Stalk you on social media?”
“No,” Evangeline replied.
“Can I call you a ride?” Sin asked him.
“I’m good, man, really. I’ve got this.”
“I’m the owner and I say you aren’t good. If the lady said no, she means it. Donotpress your luck with me.”
Big D sidled up beside Sin. “Hey, boss, I called him a ride. Car is out front.”
The guy slid off the stool and backed away from both men. “I don’t want no trouble.”
