Page 24 of Dante's Circle Reborn

“Stop flirting with my mate,” Malik mock growled and then kissed Eliana square on the mouth, a little too enthusiastically. Jonah had to move in his seat just to get out of the way.

Dante rolled his eyes and then went off to presumably get three pumpkin ales.

That’s when Jonah saw her.

Her. The new bartender.

He swallowed hard, trying to slow his heart rate down even as he looked at her.

Dante had staff members coming in and out of the place often. Mostly because he took in those who needed help, even as he needed the help behind the bar, as well.

Becca, one of their friends, had been a bartender for a while. Now, she was mated to a wolf shifter, an Alpha no less, and had her own family responsibilities.

There had been a few other bartenders since then, but this one? This one was all new.

And he couldn’t stop staring.

Her skin was a dark brown, soft, illuminated under the lights of the bar. Her black hair was in curls all around her head like a halo, and the style just highlighted her sharp cheekbones.

She had on a purple top that bared her arms, and silver bangles that went up both wrists to the middle of her forearms. They jangled as she worked, sounding like music to his ears.

He could see from the side of the bar that she wore jeans that hugged her ass, but he tried not to look there because he wasn’t that much of a lecher.

At least, he didn’t think so. He hadn’t thought so before this moment anyway.

She worked with an efficiency that told him that she had likely done this before, or perhaps was just a fast learner. But while she worked, her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. And her gaze constantly darted towards the door.

Maybe shewasn’tso proficient at this. Perhaps she was new but knew precisely what she was doing.

He couldn’t stop staring at her, and when Malik cleared his throat beside him, Jonah pulled his gaze from her, grateful that the woman hadn’t seen him staring. It was bad enough that he was staring at all. He didn’t want to be caught doing it.

“That’s Poppy,” Eliana whispered from Jonah’s other side.

Jonah looked towards her and shrugged. “New bartender, then?”

He hoped he sounded casual. But from the look that the mated pair gave each other and him, he knew he had been anything but.

“She’s a quick learner. Dante said she didn’t really have any experience before this.”

“That’s good. Good. Think she’s pulling our beers now,” Jonah said, having found his gaze right back on her. He couldn’t help it. But he truly needed to stop.

“You should go over there and ask her out,” Eliana said, and Malik snorted.

“Jonah? Ask out a woman? Well, I would say it’d be a cold day in hell, but I don’t actually know if hell has only hot seasons.”

“You are friends with a demon, as well as Lucifer’s son. I’m sure you could find out,” Jonah added wryly.

You know, I just might text them,” Malik said, narrowing his eyes at Jonah. “If you don’t ask her out, at least go over and say hi. You know, make an introduction.”

Jonah just shook his head. “I’m fine.

“You’re not,” Eliana said. This time, her voice was soft.

Jonah swallowed hard and then did his best to look like he was fine. “Seriously, Jonah. You rarely take days off, and even though I love that you are such a warrior for my daughter, you’re allowed to have time to yourself.”

“I’m here with you, aren’t I?”

“Because we dragged you out bodily,” Malik said.

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