Page 22 of The Naughty List

“Just trust me.” Jonah already has a target on his back, if any of the regulars see him drinking water they’ll laugh him out of here.

“Here,” I hand him a glass of iced tea. “If anyone asks, we’ll say it’s a Long Island.”

He lifts it in an appreciative gesture before taking a drink.

“Did you ice your nose? For the swelling?”

He sets the glass down and looks at me like I’m joking.

“Hollis, I’ve taken way harder hits than that. Even before the octagon. Trust me, I’m fine.”

“You should still ice it.”

He lets out a small chuff of laughter. “Yeah, I’ll get right on that.”

Several customers begin to crowd the bar area. Primarily of the female persuasion. A few of them are already slurring their words. Bachelorette party, I think, and they’re practically climbing over each other to get a closer look at Jonah.

Something sour churns in my stomach.

“Ladies, what can I get you?”

One of them nods toward Jonah. “His number.”

“Sorry, that’s not on the menu this evening. Can I interest you in a drink?”

Tony told theguysto cool it. He forgot to tell the girls.

“Um, I’ll take a dirty slut,” the raven-haired one says loudly. “And she’ll have a screaming orgasm.” She tilts her head toward her blond friend. “Make it a double. We prefer multiples.”

Very subtle, ladies.

“Give me just a sec.” I make their drinks as quickly as possible, eager to get them away from Jonah. He’s had a tough enough day as it is.

Once I’ve handed their drinks over and opened their tabs, I return to where my Jonah is admiring all the Red Sox and Celtics memorabilia on the walls.

“Nice place,” he says mostly to himself. “Your family owns it?”

I nod and resume drying high ball glasses. “Yeah. My brother talked my dad into buying it with him when he retired from the Boston PD.”

Jonah’s gaze swings around the room. “That explains all the law enforcement officers in here.”

“How can you tell?”

He’s right actually, but it’s not like any of them are currently in uniform.

His gaze drops. “Growing up, I had several run ins with the law. You learn to spot them on duty and off.”

“You’re not a criminal, Jonah. You don’t have anything to worry about from any of these guys.”

He takes another drink of his tea. “I’m not worried. Cops used to make me nervous…when I was younger. Not so much anymore, unless they’re punching me in the face at the time.”

“Yeah, about that.” I sigh heavily when another group of bachelorette party goers begin waving their arms to get my attention. “Hold that thought.”

I get the small group the shots they request then head back to Jonah.

“Anyways, about Mikey. He’s always been extremely protective. Of me and Tony both, but especially of me. He’s the oldest and our dad worked a lot. Growing up, he took it upon himself to be the man of the house.”

Jonah gives me a wry grin. “I understand. I wasn’t always on the right side of the law growing up so a cop punching me was kind of karma I guess.”