Page 5 of Mr. Broody

“You should at least buy her a drink,” Aubrie’s friend says.

His gaze falls to me.

“I’m not her mother,” I say.

“Yeah, but you already gave me the ‘I’ll cut off your balls’ look, and I really like my balls.”

The girls giggle, showing their age.

“Rubes.” He swings his arm around the older red-haired woman as she’s passing by, stopping her. “Get this table a round and put it on my tab.”

She blows out a breath and points at me with a “I told you so” expression. Then she grunts before disappearing through the crowd.

“She’s not very nice,” Aubrie says.

Tweetie laughs. “She’s protective.” His gaze wanders to the closed door at the back of the bar.

“Can I ask you a question?” Aubrie leans over the table, and I’m thankful that Tweetie’s gaze doesn’t fall to her chest that’s now almost spilling out of her low-cut top. He really must value his balls.

“As long as it’s not the security code to The Nest gate.” Tweetie grins, eyes flashing.

The girls giggle again, and I down another sip of whiskey, wishing I would’ve made an excuse to leave right when I sat down.

“Is Henry Hensley back there?” Aubrie eyes the room. I guess everyone knows they hang out back there.

Tweetie widens his stance and crosses his arms. “You like Daddy.” He gives her a wicked smile.

A laugh bubbles out of me before I can swallow it down. How fitting of a nickname. Not because of his son, Bodhi, but because Henry always had his shit together. Tweetie’s eyes meet mine, and his eyebrows scrunch. Something crosses his face, but he says nothing.

“I love Henry. He’s like an older brother to me. Jade and I grew up with him.” She swings her arm around my shoulders.

Tweetie’s smile dims for a second, and his gaze floats up and down my body. Not in a suggestive appraisal, but more with a knowing look. Maybe Henry has mentioned me. “Jade? That’s your name?”

Sourness coats my stomach. How much does he know? Is he going to get the redheaded woman to throw me out the back door into some grimy alleyway?

I nod and down the rest of my whiskey. “Yes.”

“And she’s Aubrie.” One of the girls points at Aubrie.

A loud laugh bursts out of Tweetie, and he uncrosses his arms, holding out his hand to me. “Come with me.”

“Nope.” I press my lips together.

“Why not?” He arches his eyebrow as if in challenge.

“We’re celebrating Aubrie’s birthday.”

He nibbles his lower lip and looks around at the girls then shakes his head. “Sorry, girls, you’re way too young to be back there, but…” It’s as if he’s thinking on the fly. “I’ll take Jade back there, then I’ll send out some rookies.”

The girls’ eyes light up, widening to saucers.

“Really?” the one who has come off as the most boy crazy asks.

“As long as Jade comes with me.” He challenges me with a look.

I narrow my eyes. He’s putting me in a position I don’t want to be in.

“Please, Jade.” Aubrie grabs my sleeve. “And Henry will be so happy to see you anyway. It’s like a win-win.”

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