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“Hey,” I say, keeping it casual. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Her eyes widen, flick to the window, then snap back to me.

“Ray! Wow, didn’t expect to see you here.”

“I bet,” I say, sliding into the chair opposite her.

The frown on her face says everything but I’m not going to let a frown deter me. I’m on a mission and I’m going to save her whether she wants it or not.

“Ray… I’m… uhm… waiting on someone,” she says, choosing each word with care.

The air between us tightens. I catch the scent—musk and heat, low and coiled. She feels it too, no matter how she pretendsotherwise. She darts her eyes to the window and back, pursing her lips.

“Yeah,” I say, putting my elbows on the table. “I know.”

“You know?” she asks, arching an eyebrow. “Ray there’s nothing between us?—”

“Look, I’m not here to ruin your night,” I say, cutting her off, “but you’re making a mistake. A big one and I can’t stand by and watch it happen without at least saying something.”

“Ray, if you want something, you have to?—”

I hold up my hand, shaking my head.

“You’re a grown woman and you do what you do,” I say, but I can’t keep my eyes from dropping along her body. It’s the briefest of moments but the tension in her body and the hesitant smile on her face tells me she definitely saw it. I barrel ahead before I can get more distracted than I am. “Ronnie’s married. Are you sure you want to wait for him?”

Her smile falters. “What? Married? Shit…” She leans back, like the words hit her chest. “I had no idea.”

“Well, now you do.” I say, lowering my voice and reaching across the table with one hand. “Let’s get out of here before he shows up.”

She looks at my hand and I think she’s going to take it. Her arm starts to move then she stops it and shakes her head.

“No,” she says, pursing her lips. She narrows her eyes and her open hands ball into fists. “I’m sorry, Ray, but I’m not leaving until I get some answers.”

I had all my attention on Stacy and barely register the sound of the door opening until it slams into the wall. A voice shouts, slicing through the music.

“You!”

The instant I turn Kelly, a brunette, is barreling toward our table. Her face is twisted in fury and she’s waving her fists through the air as if she’s fighting it on her way over.

“You fucking bitch!” she screeches. “Ronnie’s mine! My goddamn husband.”

Shit.

The chairs of those gathered scoot and a table clatters to the floor as they scramble to get away. Stacy lurches to her feet, unsure, hands half-lifted—but her legs don’t move fast enough. She’s about to be scratched by those carefully manicured claws.

I leap between them, catching the brunette’s wrist mid-air. It halts her cold. Her death glare shifts to me as she screeches.

“No, this isn’t happening,” I say, calm and cold. “You think your husband’s cheating on you—with her?”

“Let me go, asshole!” she spits, yanking her arm. “Yeah, he is! Ronnie told me everything!”

I glance past her to Tiffany behind the bar, but don’t let go.

“You hear that, Tiff? Apparently Stacy’s been sneaking around on me—with Ronnie freaking Keller.”

The barkeep laughs, long and loud. “That’s a good one, Ray.”

“What do you mean she’s cheating on you? You’re what? You’re her?—”