Page 5 of Never Stop

“Yeah and she’s betting that chick that she can get Avery’s phone number.”

I groaned before responding. “Babe…”

“Relax, boss man, Nic’s pregnant. She won’t cause a scene.”

She gave me a sweet smile, and I shook my head. Women and their damn games. “What did Avery tell you about tricking customers?” I whispered as I leaned back over the bar, my face inches from Brooke’s.

“First of all, he said I couldn’t bet customers for money anymore. Second of all, Nicole isn’t betting money. She’s betting Avery.”

“Wait…” the brunette said. “I thought you saidhewas the boss?” She pointed to Avery.

“He is,” I confirmed.

“But she calledyouboss man.”

Seriously, what the fuck? Why did this woman even care? Brooke flat-out showed her I was taken.But before I could respond, we turned our heads at the sound of a woman raising her voice.

“Why does she get a free drink?” the blonde asked, looking toward Avery.

“Fuck…” I stepped back from the bar and made my way to the other side. We were a few feet from Nicole as I engulfed Brooke. She laid her head on my chest, my arms wrapping around her as I held her to me.

“You smell good, boss man.”

I smiled. “You do too, Superwoman.”

I watched Avery, Nicole, and the blonde chat. Everything was smooth sailing until…

“You’re a bitch,” the blonde said, squaring her shoulders toward Nicole.

“Fuck,” I groaned again, this time untangling myself from Brooke’s embrace.

“Excuse me?” Nicole asked, turning toward the blonde, both of them inches from each other.

“You think you can just walk in here and takemyman?”

“Yourman?” Nicole snapped.

“Ladies,” Avery said.

Brooke stepped around the blonde and stood next to Nicole. I was right on her heels, the protector in me causing my chest to puff. I had to keep Brooke and Nicole safe. There was no way for Avery to make it around the bar before anything happened—ifit did.

And fuck did it.

“I didn’t just walk in here and stealyourman,” Nicole hissed. “I won fair and square.”

“Laila…” Avery warned.

Laila?

Nicole narrowed her eyes at the blonde.

Fuck me.

“You just got here and you think you can just waltz in here like you own the place?” the blonde asked.

“Yeah, I do,” Nicole snapped.

Before I could step between the two, the blonde raised her arm as if she was going to slap Nicole. I grabbed it, halting her mid-swing.