Page 23 of Pink

“I need time to think about it. No offense.”

Lev figured he should tack that onto the end just because. The money Andino offered a month just for the position of a bodyguard was more than Lev made in a half of a year. He had the distinct feeling he’d earn every fucking penny of it, too.

How could he not?

It was the mafia.

Andino nodded. “No offense taken. I’d think long and hard about it, too. Enjoy your day, Lev Arsov. I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other again. You’ll find me in Manhattan—can’t miss my restaurant—when you’re ready to give me your answer.”

Pushing off the car, Andino whistled low under his breath, and the man across the parking lot came jogging over like a puppy ready to do tricks for his master. Lev said and did nothing until the black Benz backed out of the apartment parking lot. And even once the car was gone, he still didn’t move. He had a lot to think about now.

There was a lot to consider.

• • •

“No fights or cops tonight?”

Lev tensed at the familiar voice, but quickly smiled when he turned away from the liquor shelves to face the woman waiting on the other side of the bar. The last person he expected to see on his first night back working at Nickie’s was Gigi. He wouldn’t have been surprised if the woman tucked her tail and ran as far as she could away from this place after what happened.

Yet, there she stood.

Lips painted red.

Dark blonde hair high in a messy pony.

As sexy as ever.

His gaze traveled down what he could see of her body, admiring the way the shiny black material of her mini skirt hugged her hips and the patch of toned stomach she showed off with her pink crop top. He popped the gum in his mouth. It didn’t hurt him a bit to look at her, and frankly, she didn’t seem bothered by his perusal, either. Unfortunately, he couldn’t see much beyond where the skirt fell mid-thigh because of the damn bar in his line of sight.

Shame, that.

“Hey, yourself. Now, I know you’ve got better places to be than here. Don’t try to tell me different.”

She tossed a small purse to the bar top and took a seat on one of the stools. “Might have been in the neighborhood and noticed that the police tape had been taken off the front door. Or maybe I just wanted to come and say hi—you didn’t leave your number. Actually, you left before I even got up.”

“Wasn’t that the point?”

They had a night.

Some fun.

Lev found things like that were easier when a clean break was made at the end. Just because the two of them could make each other smile, he liked the way she looked, and they worked in bed together didn’t mean very much. They didn’t knowone another. They weren’t even friends and most of the time, it was better that way.

At the same time, he knew he wasn’t being one hundred percent honest with himself, either. Leaning a little over the bar, he gave her a smile when he said, “Truth is, I got up early, was going to order some breakfast and wake you up, convince you to jump in the shower with me, but then I got a call.”

Her tongue peeked out to wet her lips.

A dangerous thing because it only sent memories flooding through his mind in the best and worst way possible.

“That so?”

“My boss—about the shooting. The cops were hounding him about employees. Someone mentioned my name, so they were already rabid about finding me for a statement. Anyway, I thought maybe it was better if I didn’t linger anyway. You didn’t ask me to stay, and I didn’t want to assume I should.”

“You’re right, I didn’t.” Gigi grinned. “And maybe I’m lying.”

That had his attention.

Lev stepped closer to the bar, tossing the rag over his shoulder. “About what?”