Page 7 of Beyond Enemy Vows

I turn slowly.

And there he is.

Niko.

He stands behind me, dressed in black from head to toe. His hair is slightly damp at the edges, curling against his temples. His eyes are fixed on mine, and the intensity in them makes my stomach drop.

"I think the lady was enjoying her evening," Connor says, but his voice has lost its confident edge.

Niko doesn't even look at him. "She was. Now she's not."

He then takes a step forward and looks directly at Connor, who backs up further.

"I need to check on some tables," he says, and I watch him go, then turn to Niko.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I ask, my voice coming out more aggressive than I intended.

"You told me Ireland." His voice is calm. Steady. Like he hasn't just invaded my life without permission. "That was enough."

I shake my head, stunned. "Are you serious?"

He doesn't answer.

"You could've waited, you know," I say, my fingers curling around the base of my glass. "To see if I texted."

"Would you have?" he asks, and then with the ease of someone who's never been denied, he steps forward and takes a seat next to me.

I stiffen as his coat brushes lightly against my side. I'm stunned. Floored. Angry, and a bit used to it. Men have a tendency of showing up randomly in my day-to-day life. Normally they're working for my brothers, but still.

"Sorry," I snap. "I didn't invite you to sit."

He glances around the pub, then back at me.

"You didn't stop me either."

God, he's infuriating.

"Look," I say, rising from the stool, "I came here to get out of my own head, not start any kind of scene."

"I'm not making one."

"You're not not making one," I say with a scoff. "You think because I took your number, you get to just show up and intimidate people?"

He turns to me, his knees close to touching my thigh.

"Do you still have it?" he asks.

"Have what?"

"The napkin with my number."

I hesitate for a moment and then take a sip of my wine. "Maybe."

He smiles. "I think that's a yes," he says and leans in slightly, "and because you didn't throw it away, maybe part of you wanted me to come."

I have nothing to say to that. Mostly because it might be true.

Niko glances at Connor, then back to me. "It's late. We should go."