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“Just waiting for my friends,” I say, sticking with the lie I told Enrique and Taylor earlier. I down the shot, hoping it will help me relax and maybe give me an idea of something witty to say. A shudder runs through me at the burn, but I try my best not to show it or how over my head this whole situation is as I turn toward the guy and smile. “Mind keeping me company?”
“Of course not. A pretty lady should never be left alone. How about I buy you another drink, and we can get to know each other?”
A hand touches mine on the counter. It’s big and slightly damp as it envelopes mine, his thumb stroking the back of my hand as he leans in closer. So close I can smell the alcohol on his breath. It’s not the fruity drink I had, nor is it the beer, but something different entirely. Strong and rich, with a bite to it that’s unfamiliar.
I was pretty sure another drink wouldn’t be a good idea. I was already flushed and feeling warm from all the drinks I had tonight, but the last thing I wanted was to offend him.
I must take longer to answer than expected because he asks again: “C’mon, one more drink while you wait?”
“I—”
I don’t get to finish before I hear the low growl coming from behind my shoulder that has the hair at my nape rising.
“How about you get your hands off of her?”
CHAPTERNINE
SEBASTIAN
“How about you get your hands off of her?” I whisper, my gaze meeting the dude sitting next to Penelope from under the rim of my baseball hat.
His eyes widen slightly, but I’m not sure if he recognizes me or if it’s because of the murderous stare I’m shooting his way.
His Adam’s apple bobs visibly, so I imagine it’s the latter.
“Now,” I grind out, flashing my teeth at him as I lean forward.
He jumps out of his seat like somebody set it on fire. The chair falls down with a loudbang, his face going beet red as he mumbles something before rushing away.
I glare after him until the front door of the bar shuts behind him.
Good-fucking-riddance, asshole.
“Why did you do that?” Birdy turns around and glares at me.
For a girl who can’t see, she has the mean scowl mastered to perfection and knows exactly where to direct it. I’d know since it’s always focused on me.
“I was doing you a favor. You really should be thanking me.”
“A favor?” she huffs. “You chased away the guy I was…”
She bites her lower lip, her cheeks glowing red under the bar’s dim lights.
“The guy you were, what?” I ask slowly, my gaze glued to her like it’s been since the moment she entered the bar, one of those girly dresses of hers that’s playing around her knees, teasing all that pale skin. She looked so out of place, with wide eyes as she tried to take in her space. It was laughable. I had a hard time imagining her going to bars, so I watched her. As if I needed the excuse.
But I took it anyway.
Not like I had an option. If Birdy was in the room, I would find her, and I couldn’t look away even if I tried.
I’m not sure what it is about her that draws me in and holds such a tight grip on me, but it’s undeniably there. Maybe it’s her music that I still can’t get out of my head. Or maybe it’s that innocence that surrounds her. It was like a pure light calling out to my black heart.
So I sat there and watched her from the shadows, trying to figure out the best way to approach her, but the whole time one of her friends was with her, and I didn’t want company for this conversation.
I didn’t want company, period.
The only person that remotely interests me is Penelope.
Of course, the damn mutt was with her, too; can’t forget about him. He was guiding her through the busy space and earning more than one curious look from the patrons.
