Page 9 of Shadow

“Ohh. I get it.” Her face softens. “What’s her name?”

“I’m sorry?”

“Her name. I’ve seen that look before. You’re hung up on a woman. What’s her name?”

I shake my head. I’m not about to go there with a complete stranger. Instead, I move further down the bar to where the rest of the guys are sitting. Blondie follows behind me, clearly unable to take a hint.

“Well, hello.” Maverick purrs while the rest of us roll our eyes.

Lucky for me though, Mr. Casanova can take over and hopefully get this chick out of my hair. He introduces himself and I grab another beer.

Wes elbows my side and leans a little closer. “Don’t look now but, Lindsey is headed right for us.”

“So?” I shrug.

“Dude. I really wish you’d two would just fuck it out and eliminate all the tension whenever you two are within twenty feet of each other.”

“Shut it,” I warn him.

“Just saying. The two of you are not as subtle as you think,” he adds before tipping back his beer.

Lindsey slides up onto the empty barstool beside me and orders herself a beer before acknowledging any of us. The bartender smiles a little too wide and stares at her for a little too long. Meanwhile, I’m fighting the urge to reach across the bar and slap some sense into him.

“So much anger,” she leans in and whispers, making my entire body tense.

I raise a brow and look over at her. “Really? What are you doing here?”

“Everyone at the house had plans tonight so I figured I’d get out for a while. Kevin said you guys were headed here and I figured if I wanted to grab a few beers, I might as well do it in safe company. Right?”

I’m going to kill Kevin. I can’t believe the fucker had the nerve to tell his sister where I was. Though she did have a point. Here, she was safe. We may laugh and joke like a bunch of assholes but Lindsey would always be safe with the five of us. We all respected Neville and William far too much not to look out for her.

“Yeah. Right.” I mumble.

“Then again. The big bad wolf could still eat me,” she winks at me. The bartender slides her beer over to her and she nods in my direction. “Thanks, Brian. Put it on his tab.”

Brian nods and rings her up with mine while she saunters over to a group of ladies who all wrap her in a warm embrace.

“You got played,” Wes laughs beside me.

“Wes. If you want to keep breathing, shut up.”

He laughs.

So much for a relaxing time with the boys tonight.

Several hours later the bartender calls last call and we all close out our tabs. I’ve only had one more beer since Lindsey showed up and she’s taken it pretty easy all night too. When we all head outside I look around for Lindsey’s car but don’t see it.

“Where’s your ride?” I ask.

“Kevin dropped me off. I told him I’d catch a ride back with the guys,” she smiles innocently.

I shouldn’t even be surprised right now.

“Wes, you got room for one more?” I don’t even know why I’m asking. There isn’t a chance in hell that he’d refuse a ride back to the ranch for Lindsey.

“Dumb question,” he grunts back. “Let’s get y’all back home.”

Sawyer climbs in the front seat while I help Lindsey into the back and climb in beside her.

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