Page 28 of Duty

Turning around, Haven found Andino approaching the bar. He didn’t take a stool, but rather, stood on the other side of the bar with a grin that said he was happy he found her there.

“No dancing,” Haven returned. “I’m filling in elsewhere tonight.”

“That’s the mark of a good boss, then.”

Haven shrugged. “You could say that.”

“You work often, don’t you?”

“Never stops.”

“I know that life.” Andino muttered, glancing away.

Haven was quick to search the floor while she had the chance to. Surprisingly, she found that Andino’s bookie friend—or employee, or whatever the hell he was—wasn’t in the club. The bookie sat in the same spot whenever he came in, and currently, that table was empty.

That told her two things.

Andino hadn’t come for the bookie.

He had come for her.

Maybe she liked that a little bit.

“Twenty-three,” Andino murmured.

Haven glanced back at him at the sudden drop in his tone when he spoke. She realized then that he had been looking at her again while she searched the floor, but she had been too distracted to notice.

Huh.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Twenty-three stars so far. I missed one behind your ear.”

Her heart stopped for a split second—she swore it did. How was he still keeping track of how many stars she had tattooed on her body? Hell, she had stopped counting four years ago when she got her twentieth.

Subconsciously, she moved to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, but forgot she had pulled her hair up into a high, messy bun to work the bar. Which explained how he had seen the star behind her ear, considering the last time they met, her hair had been down.

Andino grinned lazily.

On another man, she might think that cocky look wasn’t her thing. On him, though? It looked divine.

“You could save me the trouble,” Andino said, “and just tell me how many stars there are.”

Haven really shouldn’t be flirting while she worked. It was a rule she had for all the girls that worked the place—it was fine to smile, and whatever else, but lap dances, private rooms, and meets outside the club were strictly forbidden. They weren’t that kind of joint, and she didn’t even want to give the appearance that they were to begin with.

And yet, all she wanted to do in that moment was play with Andino—tease him a little, and give it back to him just as much as he was giving it to her. He made it easy, and fun. God knew it had been a long damn time since a man came around to perk her interest.

Haven always had too much to do.

Too much work.

Too much responsibility.

Too much everything.

Valeria was always telling Haven to take a break, or do something fun. To try something new, and get out of her comfort zone. Maybe this was something she could do that with—what would it hurt?

“Where’s the fun in me telling you how many stars are tattooed on my body,” Haven asked, “when you seem quite intent on finding them yourself, Andino?”