Page 74 of Firefly Effect

“What if we don’t want to leave?” one guy demands.

I shrug, maintaining my smile. “I’m afraid you don’t have a choice. You see, in five minutes or less, a police officer is going to walk into this bar and kick you all out for me. And if you give him trouble, you’re going to spend the rest of your vacation in the shittiest little hole-in-the-wall jail cell you ever did see. You hear me?”

Billy puffs out his chest, drawing my eye to the beer stains on his shirt. “I hear you, bitch.”

Before I can even react, a loud screech drags across the wooden floor, followed by the sound of a stool crashing to the floor. Then Billy’s body gets jerked backward. “What did you just call her?” Lincoln roars before tossing him back into his group of friends, causing them all to collapse like dominos. “Get the fuck out of here!”

Kyle and Armando hop over the bar to hold back two of Billy’s friends, who now want to take on Lincoln. Meanwhile, I make quick work of closing out the group’s tabs and slide their cards over to the only one in the group who will make eye contact.

“Ah, what about our tips?” Janessa complains.

I give her a sympathetic smile. We don’t have to deal with this kind of shit often, but when we do, it sucks for everyone. “I’ll make it up to you,” I tell her, and I mean it. She’s already helped me more than anyone tonight by working a double.

The group staggers out of the bar, dragging their egos behind them. I should be surprised when Lilith goes with them, clutching Billy like he’s just been wronged in some way, shape, or form, but I’m not. What does take me aback is something only I seem to catch—the subtle glance over her shoulder at Lincoln then a glare so heated he might have caught fire from it.

I move around the bar to Lincoln, who’s helping Armando and Kyle clean up the fallen glasses, tables, and chairs. “Hey, you okay?”

By the scowl on his face, it’s obvious he’s still fired up. “I’m fine. Are you okay?”

Tilting my head, I nod. “I’m fine.” I’m not sure if now is the time to tell him how turned on I am by the way he protected me just then, but I wrap my arms around his waist anyway. “I’m glad that didn’t escalate into a brawl. I wouldn’t know what to do if that pretty face of yours got messed up.”

His nostrils flare. “It’s not my face that would have gotten all bent out of shape, babe. Billy Bob back there would have been on his way to the hospital. The nerve of that guy.” He shakes his head and frowns down at me. “That incident didn’t help your case for moving out of my place.”

I bite down on my lip, amused. “I can’t move out if I never moved in.”

“I’m damn near ready to pack your shit up and move it into my house for you.” He takes my face in his hands. “Why are you so stubborn?”

“I’m just being realistic. I’ve never lived with a guy before, Lincoln. What makes you think I’m going to move in with you after knowing you for, what, two months? That’s insane.”

“Yet it’s the only thing that makes sense.”

At his words, I’m like wax, his flame taking me down to the wick, leaving nothing left of me but a puddle of warm liquid that will harden and break if I’m away from him. “The fact that I’ve even considered your offer should be something.”

A smile brightens his grumpy mouth. “I’ll just have to keep holding back sex.”

I narrow my eyes at him, feeling a challenge coming on. “I’d like to see you try.”

His smile widens. “Are you sure you want to do this, Evie?”

My shrug should tell him all he needs to know. I’m not backing down.

“Is this why you called me in here?”

I swivel my head to find Officer Gabe, glaring between Lincoln and me. Shit. I turn around, instantly regretting calling him, especially when Lincoln’s arms steal possessively around my waist from behind. Gabe’s glare intensifies on him.

“No,” I say quickly. “But we’re all good now. Just a bunch of jerks celebrating a birthday and getting too rowdy.”

Gabe nods, not taking his eyes off Lincoln. “Couldn’t you lose your license for this?” He gestures at us. “Canoodling with one of your patients?”

Lincoln’s arms stiffen around me. “It’s none of your business, officer.”

Gabe chuckles darkly. “Oh, but it is, doctor. Seeing as my job is to protect and serve. I should report you.”

Jesus, this entire night is getting out of hand. I break Lincoln’s hold and step into Gabe’s space, glaring daggers up at him. “I’m not his patient, so lay off.”

Gabe makes a disgusted sound in the back of his throat. “Don’t lie, Evie. I’ve seen you sneak into his office late at night.”

My cheeks heat with his words. “You’ve been spying on me?”

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