Page 29 of Keeping Zita

“Probably smart.”

He stared at her for a long minute, before dropping his arms. “Come on, let’s go find out what happened in our absence.”

“You really think she’s gone?”

“Yes.”

“What if she’s not?”

“She is.”

“You can’t know that, Sage,” Zita insisted.

He chuckled under his breath once more. “Trust me, Edge was one second away from escorting her out. And I thought Laryn was going to get the heavy-duty wrench she likes to carry in her purse. Not to mention, the owner of the bar wasn’t happy at all that Carmen’s goon took that chair from right under the poor woman next to us. The entire bar might’ve been in awe when she walked in, but after just a couple of minutes, they were all ready to physically throw her out.”

“How do you know all that? You were giving Carmen a death stare when she was talking to you.”

“Because I’m observant. I have to be in my line of work.”

“I have to say…it surprises me how upset you think everyone was. I’m sure chairs are stolen all the time in bars.”

“Not while people are still freaking sitting in them. And Anchor Point is special. This isn’t Hollywood, Zita. No one’s impressed by status here. Which is mostly why we like it. My friends and I are well aware that our reputations precede us sometimes, but we’re simple men and women who want a place to unwind and just be who we are…much like the rest of the patrons who come here to have a beer and a burger.”

Zita liked that. A lot. She was way too used to LA and how people would bend over backward to suck up to anyone who was even the smallest bit famous, in the hopes it would further their own career.

“I think Anchor Point is my new favorite restaurant and bar.”

Sage grinned. “I’m glad you think so.” Then he took her hand in his and led her back to the door.

“It would suck if that door locked behind us,” Zita said with a smile.

In response, Sage took hold of the handle and tugged.

It didn’t open.

Zita’s mouth fell open in shock. She’d totally been kidding.

Then Sage laughed and pulled the door open.

Shaking her head at how easily she’d been duped, Zita found herself smiling. It was amazing how just ten minutes ago, both she and Sage were struggling to control their emotions over Carmen’s appearance, and now they were both laughing.

Sage walked her down the hallway, past the restrooms and back into the bar. As he’d promised, there was no sign of Carmen or her bodyguard.

Sage held her chair for her as she sat. Then he pulled his own closer than it had been before, grabbing his glass and taking a sip of beer. “What’d we miss?” he asked, after he’d swallowed.

Mandy leaned forward with a smirk, and, after pushing her empty lemon drop glass out of the way, said, “It was awesome! Carmen stood, like she was going to go after you, but Laryn hopped up and grabbed her arm, preventing her from leaving. That made her steroid-riddled, puffed-up bodyguard lose his mind, and he took a step toward Laryn. Which, as you can imagine, didn’t go down well with Casper or anyone else.

“Casper stood, as did the rest of the guys, and they forced Mr. Muscle back against the wall. Then the bartender arrived—you know how big he is. But he was acting all gentlemanly, and he took Carmen’s hand as if they were at a freaking English ball or something.”

Zita laughed at that.

“While our guys were all up in the asshole bodyguard’s face,” Mandy continued, “the bartender tucked Carmen’s hand under his arm and led her away. I think she assumed he was hitting on her—but instead, he escorted her to the door, opened it, and kind of pushed her out! Told her that she wasn’t welcome here ever again, and to take her ‘skank Hollywood ass’ back to where she came from! Said people around here weren’t interested.

“Her bodyguard probably would’ve stayed to get his ass kicked by our guys, but when he saw Carmen get that tiny little shove out the door, he busted his ass to get to her side. It seems to me that if the bitch wants some dick, she should look to her sidekick to get her jollies. Not a guy who obviously isn’t interested and who, in fact, is on a date with another woman.”

Zita grinned. It was obvious Mandy was feeling the effects of the drink she’d consumed in the short time she and Sage had been outside. Then she turned to Laryn. “Are you okay?”

The other woman snorted. “I’m fine. Bitch didn’t touch me. But I kind of wish she had, because I would’ve kicked her ass. She might tower over me, but in those heels and that tight skirt, I would’ve had the upper hand for sure.”