Chapter Eleven
Jensen
“Imagine,” I continued, even while Haley’s friend’s expression morphed into shock. “Of all the bars and all the towns, and you walk into mine.”
That pulled Haley out of her trance. “It’s not your bar,” she said and turned to me. “It’s Gabby’s.”
When Dylan and I first walked into G’s Bar to see Gabby and hang out for a few drinks, the last person I’d expected to see was Haley. Not that I was disappointed. But hearing she knew Gabby was shocking.
“You know Gabby?”
Her expression went dazed. “Youknow Gabby?”
Before I could answer, Gabby waltzed up like she’d been dancing with the linebacker Dylan and I had watched her subdue. He knew she could handle herself so he rarely stepped in to help.
“You know Jensen?” she asked, her eyes on Haley. And then her eyes went as wide as Haley’s still-silent friend’s. If I had a camera, I’d capture everyone’s stunned expression even as Gabby’s changed to knowing. “Is he your Dom?”
Haley sputtered and I pressed my fingertips against her back.
“Yes. I am.”
Gabby’s crystalline blue eyes softened and she turned to me with only a nod. “Wonderful! It’s good to see you, Jensen.”
I reached down and wrapped one arm around her shoulders, holding her tight for a just a moment. “You too, Gabby. It’s been a while.”
She pulled back. “Too long. What brings you by?”
“Dylan wanted to make sure you weren’t getting into trouble.”
“Ah.” With the instinct of a slave, her eyes immediately dipped and her head bobbed. “I’ve been good, I promise. We’re also busy, so I need to get behind the bar.”
“Shame,” Dylan rumbled, joining our group. “Haley, it’s nice to see you. G’s Bar is obviously one of my favorite places.”
Beneath my light touch, Haley stiffened. “My friend Anya and I come here every few months or so.” As if just remembering her friend was here, she gestured toward an attractive, but conservatively dressed friend, looking scared out of her mind. “Um...Anya, this is...”
I frowned, watching her struggle on how to introduce us, and then I understood as Anya’s cheeks turned just short of eggplant.
“I’m Jensen,” I said, holding out a hand. “And this is Dylan. I assume you’ve heard about us.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Anya said, her voice a slight mumble. “And yes, Haley’s told me about you.”
“Dylan,” he said, introducing himself with a brief flicker of his eyes to Haley, “just Dylan.”
Her tenseness beneath my hand relaxed.
“Mind if we join you ladies?” Dylan asked, nodding toward the bar where Gabby had disappeared to. “We stopped by for a drink or two, and to see my woman, but if you want to be alone that’s okay.”
“You’re Gabby’s Master,” Haley blurted and then snapped her lips together.
Like that would embarrass Dylan.
He rolled his shoulders back, putting him at his full height, and grinned. Poor Anya, she looked like she was going to faint. His stature and presence alone could be intimidating and Anya was much shorter than Haley. She craned her neck, tilting her chin up to take in his imposing frame.
“Of course I am. Going on five years now but we’ve been together for seven.”
He rarely smiled unless Gabby was the focus of conversation. Hell I’d known the guy a decade and unless the Red Wings were in the playoffs or he was talking about Gabby, I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen Dylan smile.
“So is it okay if we crash your girls’ night?” he asked. Haley’s gaze flickered toward Anya. Both of them paled a bit before Anya nodded, answering for Haley.