Page 14 of Family Bonds- Emma & Warren

Most women he was around didn’t drink beer. Fancy martinis, wine, shots.

Nope, not into that either.

“Acquaintances,” he said. “Distant ones. Half the time I’m not sure of their names.”

“Oh, something tells me you’re more prepared than you want me to believe.”

She was calling his bluff with her smirk. “You’re right,” he said. “Do you come here often?”

“Nope,” she said. “I rarely do much more than work. I like to keep to myself.”

“So you’re single?”

“I am,” she said. “Are you hitting on me?”

He laughed. “Just a conversation. And it’s loud in here. I’m trying to figure out if there is a place to go where I don’t have to worry about someone taking our picture together. At least no cameras are allowed in here.”

“If you want a private room, I’m sure you can ask for one.”

“Are you familiar with private rooms here?” he asked, lifting his eyebrow. “How heavy of a gambler are you?”

She laughed. “I believe there are rooms not used for only gambling.”

He lifted his hand to the security guard assigned to him. “Is there a private room where the lady and I can go and talk quietly?”

“Of course, Mr. Showers. Give me a minute to locate one for you.”

“Mr. Showers,” she said, tongue in cheek. “Fancy. At least he didn’t call you The War Show.”

Warren rolled his eyes. “I got that nickname my rookie year and it stuck.” He leaned down close to her ear. “It’s stupid, but I can’t very well say that and I hope you don’t rat me out.”

She turned a key in front of her lips. “Never. I’m good at secrets.”

There was laughter in her eyes and he wasn’t sure what that was about and hoped he wasn’t about to be played. He wasn’t even sure what it was about her that let him say what he had so far.

“Right this way, Mr. Showers.”

He put his hand out for Emma to follow and noticed the head of security catch his eye, drop down to Emma, and the two of them exchanged a glance, and then Griffin moved away.

When they were in the room, he said, “Don’t worry about anyone saying anything about you being back here with me.”

“I’m not worried,” she said. “Why do you say that?”

“Griffin Zale, the head of security. He always assigns someone to me to keep people away. I saw him look at you and didn’t want you to think you were being judged.”

She laughed loudly. “I doubt he’d do that.”

The room they were in was small. It had a couch and two chairs, a table in the back of it if they wanted to eat. “Are you hungry? We can order food.”

“I’m always hungry,” she said. “But it’s fine.”

“No,” he said. “We can order.”

“Sure,” she said, picking up the menu. “I’ll take some nachos. Nice pickable food.”

“My arteries are clogging just thinking of that,” he said, laughing. He placed the order and got an avocado dip and some raw veggies.

“You must take your diet seriously,” she said. Her eyes were looking him over. “That even on a Friday night at ten you’re not giving into late-night nachos.”