Page 18 of The Red-Hot Stakes

It took all my strength not to lose my temper at her constant prodding. Does she not see how much Liam annoys me? Really?

Speaking of the devil, he strode in with four of his friends, high fiving Burt like he owned the place. He walked right up to the bar, ignoring me as he asked Sarah, “Which tables are Gina’s?”

While I bristled, she quickly answered, “She’s got the right side tonight. Figured I’d give her the easy ones after covering for me yesterday. And your first round’s on me.”

His grin was dazzling. When she put a hand to her chest, I tried not to laugh.

“Thanks, Sarah. I had fun though, even learned a few things.” Then he winked at me.

My hand didn’t go to my chest, but I didn’t have any air in my lungs. Which was just as bad. Fuck me. I glared at his back as he led his crew to one of the bigger round booths in my section.

The flicker of feeling was quickly swallowed by the void as the night wore on. If I were a bathtub, someone had pulled the plug and my emotions had disappeared down the drain along with my energy. I took orders, brought drinks and answered questions, but a robot would have had the same responses.

I felt hollow inside, and I wondered where I had gone. The vital part that made me who I was had vanished. And the worst part was I didn’t even have the energy to be scared about it.

Liam came over after a while to ask my advice on what song to sing, but I couldn’t muster a suggestion. Not even a smart comeback about why he should pick one himself.

“Go find your own song. I’m working.” But my words lacked any bite.

He sighed, turning to do as I bid. Even his beautiful voice did nothing for me tonight. I didn’t have the energy to care, could barely carry on with business as usual.

I was out on the floor delivering a round of drinks to a fairly rowdy table when his song finished. One of the guys at the table was being overly friendly. In my unfeeling state, I managed to conjure a glare, but didn’t even try to put him in his place.

Which was a mistake.

The guy pinched my ass as I walked away, and I yelped. Burt, usually so on top of things, was busy with a group of minors trying to get in using fake IDs, but Liam saw everything.

He stormed between me and the offender. “Hands off,” he growled.

I rubbed the tender spot. The guy had pinched me hard.

“What’s it to you?” the sleaze sneered, not even bothering to stand.

Liam grabbed him by the front of his shirt, pulling him to his feet. “First of all, it’s called manners, and you should get some. Second, she’s my friend. And third, she’s an employee, not a piece of meat you can poke and prod at your leisure. Hands to yourself, or get out.” He was nose to nose with the jerk, barely controlled rage underlining every word.

The asshole held up his hands and straightened. “Sorry, man. Just got carried away, that’s all.” The hardness in his expression didn’t sit well with me. He stared at Liam for a beat longer until Liam let go, stepping away with a sharp nod.

“Don’t let it happen again.” He meant it.

Smoothing the front of his shirt, the guy sat, not even bothering to actually apologize to me.

Liam came over. “You okay?”

I nodded stiffly, embarrassed at the commotion. “You didn’t have to make a scene. Burt would have handled it.”

His lips pressed together, then his gaze dropped to the floor. “Right.” He strode off to his booth. He didn’t talk to me much for the rest of the night, but after all his friends left, he was still there.

“We’re closing,” I snapped, watching him take a sip of his water as I stacked chairs on tables.

“I know. I’m giving you a ride home.”

I bristled at his commanding tone, but he sighed before I could protest.

“Listen, Gina, the guy that got handsy earlier made lewd comments the rest of the night. Loudly.” His jaw clenched. “Just let me take you home. We’re going to the same place, so it’s not even out of my way.”

It didn’t matter that his words made sense, I didn’t want his help. I opened my mouth to tell him so, when he added one word.

“Please.”

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