Page 11 of Last Round

Keep telling yourself that.

I down a shot as I pour one for a customer. Fine. The truth is, short of seeing someone doing something to her or her pushing the boundaries of nudity, I’d never say a word to my sister. Not because I didn’t care. More because, unless it was an issue, I’d never notice. When it’s your sibling or relative, there is the force field that develops around them that forces you to avert your gaze and prevents you from noticing how fucking sexy an outfit might be on them. Because it’s not. Under no circumstances, do you think or register that your sister looks hot in something.

Which is exactly why Sean doesn’t notice how his sister is prancing around. Because he’s not supposed to. I shouldn’t either. She might not be my blood but she’s my best friend’s, which makes her my honorary little sister. However, the reaction presently happening in my pants as my eyes remain trained on her perfect ass is not at all brotherly.

I’m fucked.I need a distraction. Anything to keep from thinking abouther.

There is a god, I think to myself as the front door opens and the answer to my prayers walks in. I slip out from behind the bar. Dani gives me an annoyed look as she watches me weasel my way between the happy couple just as their asses hit the stools.

“Miss me?” I say, offering my strongest panty-melting grin. While this particular woman has remained immune to it in the past, perhaps today will be my lucky day. Ever since the night Molly made her grand reentry into my life, none of the very available girls who’ve all but dragged me to the bathroom have sparked an ounce of interest. However, the challenge of this girl always puts a fire in my belly.

“What would give you that idea?” Letty arches a brow at me.

“For starters.” I brush back a loose strand of her pink hair. “You’ve come all the way up here from Tral Lake to have a drink at my bar. Considering you have a fully functional bar of your own, the only viable conclusion is that you want a second chance to make that firefighter of yours jealous.”

And, as if on cue, my former rival pulls me off his girl and pushes at my chest. I don’t fight him, because Letty and I both know this was my goal all along. “Seriously?” Jake seethes. “She’s married.”

“And?” I look between him and his wife. “Not to me, she isn’t.”

Letty snickers, and Jake shoves me again. I get a tickle of excitement at the idea of brawling with him, and not for the first time. Except, instead of coming at me, he turns to her, and in a display of rather ridiculous and unnecessary possessiveness, he claims Letty’s lips in a near NC-17 rated kiss. When they break apart, he flashes me a triumphant grin and she fans at her very flushed face.

On a normal day, I’d end this now. Pour them both a drink and call it a day. But because I’m in a mood and feel the need to poke the bear, I don’t stop. I lift the back of Jake’s shirt, revealing the little shamrock I tattooed on him after losing our bet. “You know, since I marked you, I feel like that makes Letty part mine too. Don’t you think?”

Jake’s face is red as he clenches his fists.

“Okay, now, settle down, boys.” Letty stands between us to stop the inevitable fight. Well, more to call off her husband.Myhands were tucked into my pockets. “Killian, I told you it would never have worked between us. Jakey-poo.” With the way his nostrils flare at the ridiculous nickname, I can’t tell if it makes him angry or horny—though I’m willing to bet another tattoo a bit of both. “You know he does this because you make it easy for him. If you stopped reacting, he’d stop hitting on me every time I come here.”

“But that brings me back to my original point. Why are you here? If not to make your husband insanely jealous.” Her tan skin flushes at my question, and there it is. “Youdocome here to make him jealous. Am I part of a little sex game? Do you two hate-fuck in the parking lot when you leave?” Neither of them responds, but based on the heated gaze they share, the answer is definitely a yes. “Can I watch?” I add with a grin.

“You wish,” Letty finally says. “We aren’t here for you, Killian… this time.”Ha! I fucking knew it.“We’re flying out. Figured we could stop in for a bite before we go to the airport.”

Now that the fun is over, time to get back behind the bar. “Yeah, where are you two crazy kids going this time?” I ask, pouring them a couple of beers.

“Disney,” she says with a giant smile.

“Didn’t you guys just go there?”

“This one is in Tokyo.” She and Jake look at each other, their expressions equally excited.

Last year, if you were to ask me about Letty, I’d tell you she would work at that bar of hers until the day she dropped. Probably die there, have her corpse preserved and stuck on a stool. This isn’t the first time these two have stopped by on their way out of town. They usually do on their way back too. It’s become a routine for them. One I don’t mind, since I get to relive the old days of making Jake jealous.

Now, though, I think that bar of hers keeps getting smaller in the rearview mirror. I’m not sure if she’s going to give it up. But it’s like ever since these kids have learned there is a larger world beyond their small town of Tral Lake, they’re itching to see it all.

And they should.

“What’s the matter, old man?” Jake asks. His tone is empathetic to the point of mocking.

“Huh?” I glance between them, uneasy with the look they’re both giving me.

“You seem to be off your game today,” Letty joins in on the interrogation.

“Your boy toy doesn’t seem to think so.”

“Nah, I agree. I mean, your attempt at seduction lacks its usual…” Jake ponders for a moment. “Flare. Like I went along with it because it’s our thing. But I never once believed you wereactuallytrying to get into her pants. It was kind of embarrassing if I were being honest. But we’re friends…ish,and you’re my bro-in-law,soI wasn’t about to leave you hanging.”

Letty stares at me before her eyes go wide. “Shut the fuck up,” she yells and slams her palm on the counter. “You met someone.”

I shush her when a few customers start glaring in my direction. “No.”

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