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I slammed the pickaxe again. I needed to do something to get her off my mind. “You boys want to go to the Ruby Tavern tonight after work?”

Enzo’s eyes grew large. “You know I love me some Ruby’s tavern. I haven’t seen that little fae, Cana, in a few weeks. The things she does with her mouth.” He kissed his fingers.

“Barrett?”

“Not tonight. Last time I went there, I couldn’t walk for a few days.”

Enzo patted his back. “I’m telling you. Cana is where it’s at, although Gage likes those shifters. What was her name? Eloise?”

“Yes, but I don’t think I’m in the mood for her tonight. I need something more.”

“More? She’s a werewolf.”

“Yea. I’m thinking maybe two tonight.”

“Ooh, the Gemini sisters.” Enzo stroked his chin.

I smiled.

“My man. Something must really have you worked up if that’s what you’re going for. They are intense with a capital N.”

“You’re an idiot.”

“What? N as in I.N. Intense.”

I shook my head. He had no idea the problems I was dealing with. I didn’t want Scarlet at the house. I didn’t want her in my bed. I didn’t want her in my shower, and I certainly didn’t want her in my head. She needed to get out, and the Gemini sisters would help with that.

They had to.

The workday went by a little easier once I had my plan in place. After tonight, Scarlet wouldn’t be a problem for me anymore. This was going to be good.

We got home just after dark and had a quick bite to eat after we washed up. Scarlet was there as usual, always smiling and gliding around. After she found me watching her in the shower, she had been a little quieter around me, which was nice. I didn’t like the version of her that talked back to me. It excited the darkness with in- the challenge.

She needed to know her place.

I saw the way she was around Enzo, and it riled me up. She watched after him like a lost pup looking for a bowl of milk to lap. Why didn’t she understand he would hurt her?

We all would.

Barrett shouldn’t have let her stay, but the others felt bad for her.

We were not men to settle down with and have a family.

We were miners.

We had a job, and we did it.

The women in our lives were fleeting- no other purpose than to give us what we wanted, when we wanted it and nothing more.

I watched her eat the meat on her plate while talking and laughing with the rest of the men. Infuriating. I had to fight the urge to swipe her plate out from underneath her and-

She caught me looking, so I just glared at her, which was enough to cause her to dart her eyes away.

Good. Look away.

As we were getting ready to leave, I heard her ask Calix where we were going, and he looked uncomfortable. Enzo was already outside or else he probably would have felt guilty and stayed.

I stepped up, casually laying my arm on Calix’s shoulders. “Ruby’s tavern. You should come. You could probably learn a thing or two.”