Page 104 of Hard Rain

“Need anything?”

“I’m good.”

“You sure?” Her smile widened just a little. “If you’re in town for a few days, you’ll have to come back.”

“Maybe.”

“I’ll hold you to that.”

She flashed him one last smile before turning away.

“So…” Whip watched her go. “Are the rest of us invisible?”

Knox snorted.

Alvarez laughed. “You’ve just been hit on, my man.”

“Miss?”

The bartender stopped and turned, her attention immediately shifting to Whip.

“Yes?”

“We’d like to order drinks.”

“Oh!” She laughed and pulled out her order pad. “I am so sorry. Where was my head at?”

“In obvious places,” Knox snickered.

“Knox,” Boone warned.

Axel looked at Whip.

Whip’s expression hadn’t changed.

But the hand Whip settled on his shoulder said enough.

Axel smiled to himself.

He leaned into the touch.

The bartender took their drink orders and disappeared toward the bar.

“So,” Alvarez said around a bite of pizza, “you two always give each other this much grief?”

“All day,” Knox answered.

“Sometimes before coffee,” Beth added.

Whip pointed his slice toward Axel.

“He’s worse before coffee.”

“Sitting right here,” Axel said around half a slice of pizza.

“We know,” Whip said.

Cho laughed.