Page 8 of Vicious Sabotage

Just then, the customer fished out the twenty bucks he owed and dropped the bill in front of her.

Beaming her biggest smile at him, she released the glasses she held ransom and snatched up the cash. “Come back real soon!”

She swore she saw Wolfe’s lips twist at one corner before falling into the flat line that seemed to match his personality.

All night long, she felt his unwanted eyes on her as she worked. She could see that convincing him she didn’t need protecting was going to be difficult, but she was up for the challenge. Right after the bar closed, she would send him packing.

When she told Wolfe that the men around Eden, Montana backed off when challenged, she was dead serious. The guy she tased and then shot wouldn’t be back.

At least, she believed he was all talk like the rest, but she’d never actually shot someone until now.

She inwardly scoffed at the danger Wolfe claimed she had hanging over her. Mark her words, the man who was sporting a brand-new bullet hole wasn’t coming back for another.

The night wore on slowly. She blamed Wolfe for dragging the hands of the clock slower and slower. Only one fistfight broke out over the mechanical bull competition—a new record for a Friday.

By the time Wolfe heard the commotion taking place in the rear of the bar, Livia had already jumped in between the men and broken up the fight by offering each a beer on the house, but he made a big production of marching the guys to the door and tossing them out.

After that, he returned to his post with his back against the wall. She planned to ignore him. But each time she glanced up to speak to a customer, those unnerving dark eyes tracked her every move.

When she turned around with a tray of drinks to deliver to a nearby table, she almost plowed into him. For being so large, he was stealthy and fast.

An exasperated huff passed her lips. “I told you that you’re supposed to stand at the door.”

His gaze roamed over her face…then dropped to her lips. What the hell was he staring at? The last thing she needed was for Wolfe to be interested in her, but Livia knew men, and when one stared at a body part—

His gaze dipped over her throat.

She felt her pulse triple.

His stare lowered to her breasts.

Oh god. She did not need her nipples to start acting up too.

She twisted away from Wolfe and circled the bar to reach the table she was about to serve. After delivering the drinks, she had enough for one night.

She strode to the bar and hoisted her backside onto it. Drawing to her full height on top of the bar, she stuck two fingers in her mouth and blasted out a shrill whistle. Half the bar silenced. The other half fell into line in no time.

“Last call, everyone!”

Groans sounded from those customers reluctant to end their fun. Then everyone rushed the bar for their final drink of the night.

When Livia moved to leap off, a big hand with very long fingers appeared beside her.

Wolfe. How did the man make it across the room so fast?

She pushed her chin up a notch. “What are you doing?”

“I’m here to make sure you don’t get hurt. Remember?”

“I don’t need your bodyguard act!” She walked down the length of the bar and jumped to the floor. Around her, a few guys cheered her on.

After that, she was too slammed with drink orders to take notice of where her unwanted wart of a bouncer had taken himself off to. Hopefully Colorado. Or Cuba.

A short time later, most of the patrons had cleared out. One young man hung back to speak to Emory. Livia riveted her attention on her waitress’s body language just to make sure she wasn’t being harassed, but the girl seemed to be enjoying the discussion.

Another sweep of the room and her gaze landed on a certain regular. He still sat at his usual table, gripping his empty glass and staring into space.

She inwardly groaned. No matter what time she and her staff tried to cut him off, he always managed to drink too much.

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