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“Not even close.”

I take another order from the far end of the bar. When I return to draw the pints, I say, “I’ll give you that pair of earrings you like if you’ll serve them all night instead of me.”

Mari takes more interest, sizing them up and making no effort to hide her appreciation. “They look like they’d make a lovely lady sandwich. Are you sure?”

I roll my eyes. “Jared’s the school lush and Kincaid is quite possibly a murderer.”

Rather than being put off, her smile broadens until her dimples pop. “And which of those explains your bright red face, hm? Is the lady protesting too much?”

“She certainly is,” Kincaid rumbles, overhearing. “But you two beautiful women don’t need to fight. As Francesca can attest, there’s plenty of me to go around.” He winks at me. “Least she can once her jaw stops aching.”

The top of my head feels like it’s melting. I ignore Mari’s intrigued gaze, moving to serve the next customer in line.

“Don’t worry,” she says when we next cross behind the counter. “He said they’re on a pub crawl for Jared’s birthday, and once they finish their current round, they’re moving to the next bar on the list.”

“Thank goodness.”

Despite the assurance, I remain on edge until they leave, returning Kincaid’s wave to hurry him out the door.

“I can’t believe you attend school with guys who look like that,” Mari muses, staring after them. “Polytech really needs to up its game.”

Now they’ve gone, I find it easier to laugh and soon put him out of my mind. Despite being run off my feet, I enjoy the shift, not having time to think as I pull pints and pour shots until closing.

Ready to leave, I grab my jacket from the staff room and reach into my rear pocket. “Shit.”

Mari looks over. “What’s the matter?”

“My phone.”

I pat myself all over, then head behind the bar, checking the shelves, even unlocking the till to check I didn’t absent-mindedly drop it inside.

“Just a sec,” she says, dialling while my ears strain, listening for my call song. I have her try again after unlocking my car, but it’s not in there, either.

“You never know. It might turn up somewhere.”

I nod along to Mari’s statement, not believing a word. “Thanks for helping,” I say, giving her a hug. “You get on home. I’ll send an email to Mrs Singh, and she can let the other staff know to keep an eye out for it.”

And I will, even though I doubt it will do any good.

It’s when I sit in my car, I remember being groped by the boy who broke a bottle. May his wandering fingers rot forever in an early grave.

A shitty end to the night, but I can pick up another phone cheaply enough once next week’s wages come through.

After strapping myself into the driver’s seat, I sit for a while to let the windows defrost before heading home.

CHAPTEREIGHT

KINCAID

Jared gets refusedentry two pubs down the line, and I have my driver drop him at his place before continuing home. When I’m inside, I go downstairs to the basement and knock on Onyx’s door.

The moment he opens it, I ask, “Did you get it?”

“Course, I did.” He hands over a cheap phone, the cracked screen identifying it as Francesca’s. “She sure looked cute wearing your shirt, man.” He licks his lips and my jaw locks in irritation. “If you’re ever in the mood to share, let me know. That arse is—” he makes a chef’s kiss gesture.

My fists clench, but he’s done me two favours tonight—firstly the phone, second the tipoff that Francesca was wearing my number—and I might need another one in future.

Tyson’s room is next, but he doesn’t answer my knock. I leave the phone beside the door for processing, and send him a text to explain why he has shoddy electronics as a gift. I wait for a minute in case he’s pretending not to be in, then give up and go downstairs to my suite, walking straight into the adjoining bathroom.