Page 144 of Bred

Lucas shrugs, but he looks decidedly mischievous.

I sigh, but don’t press him for more right now.

“Can I get a beer?” Lucas asks, drawing my attention back to him.

“Of course.” I grab a glass from under the bar and flick the tap, filling it with the IPA he used to drink when we were together. I place the glass in front of him. “It’s on the house,” I say with a wink when he reaches for his wallet.

He picks up the mug, looking at me over the rim holding the glass half-way to his mouth. “You won’t get in trouble?”

I shake my head. My voice is filled with pride when I tell him, “Actually, Bristol and I are in the process of buying this place.”

Surprise flickers across his face as he takes a sip. I watch his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows the beer, the action strangely erotic. His neck is corded with muscle, the white shirt he’s wearing pulling tight against his broad shoulders and strong arms.

Glancing down the bar, I see I’m not the only one who finds his whole vibe sexy as hell. He already has the attention of the women closest to him.

Jealousy flares green and ugly as I catch one ogling him with her teeth sunk into her bottom lip. She must feel my glare because she turns her attention to me, faltering when she meets my cool gaze.

Back off, lady. He’s mine.

Her gaze flickers his way one last time, but then she turns and quickly diverts her attention elsewhere.

“Damn, if that wasn’t the sexiest thing.”

I flush, looking up at his smirk and realizing Lucas saw that whole interlude. Judging by the heated look he’s giving me, I shouldn’t be too embarrassed. He liked it.

The band announces they’re going to be taking a break, and soon the speakers flood with hip-hop music. Knowing the bar is about to get slammed, I look for Hailey but if she’s come back on the floor, I don’t see her. My gaze fleetingly meets Bristol’s, who’s already rushing around to fill orders for her side.

“I gotta get back to work,” I tell him, leaning in to give him a quick peck.

“You do your thing, baby. I’ll be here.”

His words fill me with such peace, I don’t even understand it.

I give him one more kiss because I can’t resist that mouth, then I shift back into work mode.

Between talking to Lucas during the lulls in between sets, and keeping up with the bar, time flies. Hailey came back sometime during the rush, much to my relief. West came back too, talking with his brother when I couldn’t.

When closing time finally comes, I’m worn out and so ready to go home.

“God, all I want to do now is take a nice hot shower and pass out,” Bristol groans, taking off her sensible flats and massaging her soles.

“I second that,” Hailey mutters from where she’s lying on top of the bar, one hand on her flat stomach, the other arm thrown over her eyes.

“Is it normally this busy?” Lucas asks.

“It’s always busy during the weekend, but tonight it was on a different level.” I count the money in the till again before placing it in the bank tube and hitting the button, sending the tube flying to the back room where we keep the money. I turn around and head over to him.

Lucas and West both stayed after closing time to help us clean up, which cut the amount of time it would have taken us in half.

“I’m kind of hungry.”

Lucas pulls me to him, hugging me from behind and biting my neck. “Me too, but not for food,” he growls into my ear suggestively.

I shiver.

“Ugh, I’m out.” Hailey slaps her palms down on the bar, pushing herself up and swinging her legs to the side so she can hop down. She gives me a quick hug. “Call me in the morning. And by morning, I mean no sooner than two PM.”

“I know the drill,” I tell her.