Page 27 of On The Rocks

“Got it in one. The Starling was the old pressing room. The place was in rough shape, but now it’s mine. At least for as long as Laverne lets me stick around.”

“Laverne collects people. She’ll never kick you out.”

The sword twitched. “Good. I like it here. Especially the people.”

“Except when they are too much for you?”

“Some are.” He shrugged jerkily. “Some are not.”

My mouth dried up. I might fake being oblivious, but even I couldn’t ignore the signals. I just wasn’t sure I could afford to open the door to this man.

Not when I had so many decisions to make.

A former rockstar should have temporary hookups as part of his DNA, but could I trust that?

“I suppose we like you too,” I said finally. “Make yourself presentable, and I’ll even feed you.”

A slow smile spread across his face. “You inviting me to dinner, Lenny?”

“I’m inviting you back to eat. And quit with theLennystuff.”

“Never, darlin’.” He thumped his fingers on the bar. “I’ll be back.”

Dean glanced over his shoulder when Griffin left and set a case of Firefly Honey on the bar. “You guys finally gonna stop dancing around each other?”

“Shut up.”

Dean just whistled as he filled the cooler with the bottles. Annoyed, I stalked out from behind the bar.

Annette was setting the last of the wrapped silverware on one of the tables near the back door. The evenings were still too cool to open up the huge back doors, but that meant one less area to clean up tonight.

She caught up with me as I headed toward the kitchen. “Where’s the fire?”

“No fire. Just need to check on the kitchen.”

“I don’t believe you.”

I sighed. “Please tell me Kevon and Morgan stopped tripping over their tongues with the new girl.”

“Changing subject, got it. Must be Griffin.”

I pushed through the door to find Dawn, Kain’s second in command, at the stove. Jess and our new sous chef, Richie, were busy shredding chicken and pork in massive stainless-steel bowls.

“How’s it going, guys?”

Dawn turned from the stove. Her skull cap was a busy floral in hot pink and blue to go with her royal blue chef jacket. “Hey, Warrior Queen.”

I shook my head with a half laugh. “We’ll be opening the doors in less than two hours.”

“We’ll be ready.” Richie doused the pork with a cherry bourbon barbecue that would pair with my drink of the night.

“Kain said he’d be in if you need him.”

“We’re good, but if the big guy wants a turn at the stove, I won’t turn him away.” Dawn scraped across the grill, onions snapping as they were fried with mushrooms.

The scent made my stomach roar.

Dawn pulled down two bowls and filled them with the grains always in the rice maker. She dumped veggies from the other side of the grill on top, stole some chicken from Jess’s massive bowl, squirted the spicy sauce she knew I loved, and slid the bowl my way a second before she jammed chopsticks into it. She made another for Annette, lighter on the spice and swapped the chicken for pork. Annette took a fork for herself.

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