Page 3 of Escape You

“Oh, Mia, I’m sorry. You should expect deserters, though.”

“Jeez. That would’ve been better. No, they went around town and broke into several homes. Jesus, they terrorized and stole from the same people we’re supposed to protect. What the hell were they thinking? That I’d just let them?” Acid swirled at the pit of my stomach. I should’ve shot at least one of them in the leg to make an example out of him.

“What are you going to do?”

“The only thing I can do. Keep the business going. We’re on in two weeks. You still in?”

She nodded and poured another two seconds of vodka into my glass. “You have the keys. You know where everything is.”

“Thanks.”

Allie offered me a warm smile until her gaze moved from mine to someone behind me. Then she beamed as if she’d just had the come of her life. I glanced over my shoulder and saw him. Or did I? I looked again. Shit. I did a double take on a stranger. I covered the side of my face and concentrated on my drink. Honestly, I’d been dealing with man-children all week. I didn’t need this at my oasis too.

In my peripheral vision, long fingers braced the edge of the counter. A voice something like warm honey ordered a bourbon neat. Had I seen that face right? I had a feeling I knew him, but at the same time I was sure he wasn’t from around here. I knew everyone in town. A guy like that stood out. Allie poured his drink, biting her bottom lip, which looked very creepy because she couldn’t stop smiling.

“Thank you.” The guy sat and took a long swig of his drink. He raked a hand through his hair. A few dark tresses rebelled and fell back on his cheek.

“As much as I hate to say this”—Allie leaned on the bar—“it’s last call.”

I’d seen that look on her face many times. She was taking this guy home. A part of me wished I could do the same. But my old life, my freedom, all that was gone. Or it needed to be gone. As Uncle Mickey used to say, love would get you killed. In the end, greed got him killed, but I still thought there was truth in his words. Not that I was planning on falling for this guy who I’d seen a total of two seconds. Thing was, I couldn’t fall for anyone at all, or they’d end up dead, like Mom.

I knew being the lady boss would take some adjusting. Backing down wasn’t an option for me. If that meant I couldn’t take a gorgeous guy home with me, so be it. I could be like Queen Elizabeth I and swear off men. Sipping my drink, I settled in my barstool to watch Allie flirt and work her thing on this guy.

“No problem. I’ll cash out.” He stood and dug into the front pocket of his dark pants. Dark dress shirt, dark hair, dark stubble on a chiseled jaw, and steel blue eyes. Dammit, why did I look?

Don’t smile.

He smiled at me — all straight, white teeth, and full lips. “Would you put her drink on my tab?”

“No, thanks. I can pay for my own alcohol.”

He put up his hands and flashed me a grin. “Okay, no drinks.”

His gaze met mine, and I pulled another newbie mistake. I looked. I tried not to, but my eyes dropped to the pecs showing just above the first button of his shirt.

Allie placed a couple of dirty glasses in the dishwasher behind the bar, then took off her apron. She poured me another cocktail and winked.

His deep voice boomed a barstool away as he leaned toward Allie. “How come she gets another drink and I don’t?”

“She works here, honey.” Allie surveyed his face. After several beats, she shook her head and served him another bourbon. “On the house.”

She stalked around the counter and hugged me. “I’m taking one for the team today. He’s all yours. Don’t ever say I don’t get you shit.”

I barked out a laugh. “I’m good. I was gonna go home anyway.”

“You have the key.” She raised an eyebrow and pressed her lips to my ear. “Lock the door behind you.”

“That wasn’t the point for giving me access,” I called after her.

“It is tonight.” With a quick wave and sigh directed at the stranger, who looked as confused as I was, she went out the front door.

My body jerked when I glanced around the bar. We were alone. How’d that happen? I had to get out of here. The last thing I needed was a new friend. New friends came with a bunch of complications. I had plenty of those. I had a crew to run, and no time for beautiful strangers.

“I have to walk you out.” I gestured for him to leave the bar.

“You’re not even going to ask my name?” He stood, and his tall frame oozed confidence and something else I recognized as danger.

“Nope.”

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