Page 38 of Lost Lyrebird

She smirks, her lips twitching.“So, you’re only offering it because you don’t want to be an asshole?”

I chuckle, “God, woman.There’s no winning with you, is there?”

“Nope.Not even a little bit.”She laughs.“You should just get used to it now.”She shrugs at my deadpan stare.The smoky, sexy laugh that follows has my cock thickening further.“What?I’m just sayin’.”

“Yeah, yeah.”And fuck if I know why I do it, but I wink and say, “I see you.”Which has her smile widening.

“I see you too, boss man.”Annnddd I’m fully hard now.Up for whatever, whenever, with this woman.Goddamn, does she do it for me.

Her face is a work of art—achingly beautiful.I want nothing more than to grip her dainty chin and hold it steady as I explore her soft lips with mine.

She bites her lip as if she can read my damn mind.“I promise.I’ll think about it.But this is already fucking torture.”

It sure the fuck is.

“Yeah,” I say gruffly and nod.We’re in a goddamn pickle here.

My security staff starts to arrive.They react the same—a brief moment of stunned silence when they first see her.The new bartender, Bryan, nearly trips over himself.His eyes land on Lily, and his feet stop working while the rest of him doesn’t get the memo.The males I employ gravitate towards her, smiling like idiots at everything she says.I shake my head as I watch it go down.

They look at her like she’s a goddamn myth come to life.A fucking unicorn.

Fuck my thoughts right now.

I wave Bryan over to join me behind the bar to start his training.All the while, I keep Lily in my peripheral vision.

Lily greets Raven like they’ve known each other forever.Within minutes, she also has Jinx and Alex laughing at something she said.She’s sociable, handing out compliments and asking questions like she genuinely wants to get to know each of them.

Meanwhile, Bryan begins to get on my nerves because he’s distracted.I try to cut him some slack since neither of us can focus while Lily weaves her threads, flashing that blinding smile, and filling the lounge area with her southern accent and that breathy laugh of hers.

Andre, my head of security, a big guy with linebacker bulk, relays the rules for the clientele and what to do if she needs help.

“If anyone crosses the line, we’ll be watching.We’ve got you, but flag one of us down if someone gives you the wrong vibes or does something on the sly.We got no problem throwin’ someone out on their ass if they touch you inappropriately.”

“I would hope so.”Lily squeezes his bicep.“My God, look at these jacked muscles.”I’ve never seen Andre blush before, but damn if he doesn’t at her compliment.

I’m hit by unexpected pain, a nail hammering straight into my temple.It doesn’t just strike home.It spirals outward through my skull.

“Motherfuck.”I grip the bar, fighting to stay upright.My knuckles hit something, and a second later, I hear a glass tumble across the bar top.My vision blurs.I wince against what feels like my brain being pried open and brace for what I know is coming.

It funnels through without warning—half movie reel, half rapid-fire images.A burly man yanking open the door of a blue classic car—a Chevelle, maybe—a girl’s arm gripped tightly as she exits.Her dress, hair, and side profile.She stumbles, nearly tripping.Bleached-blond hair.Pink heels.I strain to see more of her face, but just as I’m about to make out her features, the image dissolves like smoke.

When I pull myself back together, the silence around me is unnerving.Fucking awkward, like always.

People are staring—Raven’s one of the few who knows not to.

I’m fully aware of the halt in conversation, along with the concern and curiosity, and the discomfort that follows my episodes.Which is what I call them.

“You all right, boss?”Bryan asks.I wave him off and clean up the spilled drink.

The pain doesn’t leave entirely.It only dims a bit, enough for me to breathe steadily again.But knowing I need a minute to pull myself together, I mumble that I’ll be right back and make my escape.

Whispers follow me.They’re probably explaining my episodes to Bryan and Lily.My gut clenches at the idea, but maybe it’s better if she knows now.It’s not like it’ll be the last one she’ll see.

What matters is what I saw.A new piece of the puzzle.That blue car.

I hurry to my office, jotting down the details before they slip away.I send my notes to myself in a text so I can think on it later, when Bryan’s not waiting on me.After swallowing a few aspirin, I splash some cool water on my face, clear my head, and then head back to the bar.

What I hear when I reenter halts me in my tracks.Honey interrupts Raven and Lily’s conversation with a snide comment.“So, you’re here to show us how it’s done.”