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“Not as much as you.” She gestures toward the stage. “Great performance. I might not have a front row seat from this vantage point, but you’re a natural.”
And I know flirting when I hear it. “As attractive as you are, I’m into men,” I tell her lightly, winking.
“Oh, I saw.”
“Guess this is my lucky place, though.” I cross one leg over the other. “This isn’t the first time I’ve been hit on by a sexy, leggy blonde here. Someone else did the other night and I am flattered. It’s always nice to be noticed.”
“Yeah?” The bartender leans closer. “Seems you have the start of a fan club, then.”
“Her name was Candy and she looked just as sweet,” I say, sensing my in.
The bartender considers the name for a moment before recognition dawns. “Ah, yeah. Candy is her name while she’s here. Her real name is Mallory. Real sweetheart. A little rough around the edges, if you know what I mean, but sweet.”
Something in the woman’s face softens when she speaks about the vic. She doesn’t know about the murder yet. Which gives me an advantage. If the bartender knows Candy’s real name, then she’s bound to know more.
“What’s this, now?” Gabriel saunters up, leaning on his elbow on the bar top and piercing the bartender with his gaze. “I didn’t realize we were in the market for a third, sweetheart.”
The woman blanches but grabs the bottle he gestures to with his nose.
Iwantto make a comment about how his charm must be slipping, but I say nothing.
“Here.” The bartender slides the shot his way. “Sorry, I’ve got other customers to ring up. I’ll be right back.”
“Great,” I gripe to him once she’s out of earshot. “I was making headway.”
“Leave it to me. I’ve got it handled. Drink your drink.” He’s too cocky for his own good.
I do as he says before realizing it, downing the rest of the drink then glaring at him. “Please stop telling me what to do.”
Gabriel grins. “Make me.”
The bartender returns when she sees my empty glass.
“Maybe the three of us can take this to a private room and explore. If you’re up for it…” Gabriel purposely trails off.
I watch his throat bob, moving the lines of the tattoo banded around his neck. The dark promise excites me. The bartender? Not so much.
“Maybe another time.” She’s clearly spooked by him and does her best to keep a smile on her face as she sets another drink down in front of me. “Enjoy, sweet girl.”
I’ve never been called “sweet girl” in my life. Something about the look on the woman’s face has me mentally shifting her from one category to another. From scum I need to interrogate to a person I need to protect. Which isn’t good for the rest of this investigation.
She set the drink down on a napkin this time rather than the bar itself. Lifting the glass reveals writing, nestled within the circle of condensation. I down the drink in a couple of gulps and crumple the napkin, shifting closer to Gabriel.
Against his ear, I say, “We need to go.Now.”
It’s gotta be my real lucky day because for once he doesn’t try to argue with me. A break. We’ve got our first break.
We’re safely on the road again with my heart beating a million miles an hour before either one of us dares to speak.
“She passed you something,” he says. “What is it?”
I pry the edges of the napkin apart and read the lines of text scribbled there before turning it to Gabriel. “It says Docks on Markee.”
SEVENTEEN
gabriel
Somehow,Layla has managed to shock me. Three little words and the clarity returns, the situation back in focus rather than my desire for her.
