Page 96 of Finley
BRANTLEY TURNEDAND saw that the bartender now standing across from them had his hands resting on the bar top and the second man, who was standing beside him, had his eyes pinned to Daniel like he wanted to murder him.
Unsure what was going on, Brantley looked back to Daniel. One of his eyebrows had risen in an arrogant fashion, and Brantley thought it telling. Whoever these men were, they obviously provoked something in Daniel, because in a split second, the easygoing man he’d arrived with had vanished.
“I’m sorry, is this not a public bar? I didn’t see any signs outside saying otherwise.”
“This is my bar,” the curly-haired guy said, and the one in the glasses moved closer to his side. “And you know what Logan means,” he added, leaning over the counter. “You better not be here to start any shit.”
Okay…Brantley thought,nowthisis interesting. For the first time, perhaps ever, heat flushed Daniel’s neck and his cheeks before he responded.
“I’m here for the same reason everyone else is. A drink—that’s all. And would you stop growling at me in front of my date? You’re making him nervous.”
The two men then looked in Brantley’s direction, and he kept his eyes steady on them as they gave him a frank once-over and narrowed their eyes.
“He doesn’t look nervous to me,” Glasses said before turning back to Daniel. “And we both know adatehasn’t stopped you in the past.”
“Oh, let it go, Mitchell. That was nearly a year ago now. I promise I haven’t been up late at night fantasizing about the two of you.”
“You know, you’re a real?—”
“Listen, I hate to interrupt whatever this is,” Brantley finally said, and both of the men turned to face him. “Because Finn here can certainly handle two men in a bar without breaking a sweat. But do you think I could get a drink before you continue this cockfight?”
Glasses lost some of his steam then, and his mouth fell open before he shut it and frowned. “I’m sorry—what was your name?” he asked, studying Brantley closely with piercing blue eyes. Eyes that didn’t waver—not once.
That didn’t bother Brantley, though. He had a few years on this guy, he would guess, and he knew how to deal with stuffy professors and tight-ass deans as well as—he slid a sidelong look to Daniel, who was on his feet, looking like he wanted to leave—arrogant lawyers. He could handle this overconfident guy, no problem. Even if he was ridiculously attractive.
Holding his hand out, Brantley introduced himself. “Brantley Hayes. And you are?”
The man dropped his gaze to Brantley’s hand. Then he reached over and took it. “Logan Mitchell.”
“I would say it’s nice to meet you, but…I’m still deciding.”
Brantley was curious what the guy would say to that, and when one of his dark eyebrows winged up and he looked toward Daniel, Brantley decided that it was time to end whatever the hell was going on there, quick and easy.
If Daniel had had a thing with these two in the past, he was going to make it knownwhoexactly he was by any means necessary. Starting with this guy. Releasing his hand, Brantley reached for his phone and casually tapped on buttons as he spoke.
“I don’t know what’s going on here between you three. And I don’t really care. Finn is with me. I picked the place. And all we want is a drink. You think your boyfriend here can serve us one? Or should I start writing a review on your website?”
The fuck-you smile that crossed Logan’s stunning face had Brantley in a staring match, refusing to back down. Then that smile turned to a genuinely amused one as Logan looked toward Daniel and asked, “Finn, huh? Trying out a new alias with the hair and name? Doesn’t surprise me. I’m sure there are many who want to track you down and kick your ass.” Logan laughed and looked to his boyfriend.
Daniel’s shoulders relaxed a little as he rolled his eyes and asked, “You gonna serve us, or should we leave?”
“Sit your ass down,Finn,”the curly-haired one ordered. “And tell me what you’re drinking. The least I can do is serve you a drink, since you inadvertently helped open the bar.”
Daniel frowned as he took the stool once again. “What do you mean?”
“The settlement,” the bartender said as his gaze moved to Brantley, obviously not wanting to go in to details in front of a stranger.
“Actually,” Logan said again, “how about we make the night interesting? I have a few hours to kill, and I’m sure Tate could have someone cover for him here and there. Why don’t you both come and join me in one of the private booths and we can…celebrate your new haircut.”
“Fuck off.”
“That sounds great,” Brantley said just as Daniel cursed the guy out. He wasn’t sure why, but he wanted to get to know a little more about the Daniel these two men knew. Because while he’d seen a glimpse of him those first few days, he still wasn’t familiar with his Chicago lawyer, and honestly, it was interesting and rather amusing to see Daniel so…ruffled.
“Hmm…” Logan said. “I seem to recall tellingyouthat several times. Yet you keep popping up.”
“And now you want to sit down and have a drink with me?”
“Well, not so much with you…” Logan said, and then looked over in Brantley’s direction. “Call me curious, but I’m nosy enough to want to see who could actually put up with you for longer than five minutes.”