Page 17 of Cold as Stone
“High praise,” I deadpan, quietly amused by him.
He grins. “Seriously. I’ve seen a lot of MC bars. Most smell like sweat, beer, and bad decisions. This one smells like… Pine-Sol.”
That makes me laugh. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“You should.” He leans in just slightly. “If you need help with anything—fixing things, heavy lifting, threatening unsavory customers—I’m your guy. I work for beer and flattery.”
“I’ve got a fridge full of one, and I’m not above the other.”
He places a hand over his chest, mock-swooning. “Marry me.”
I raise a brow. “You’re that easy?”
“Ma’am,” he says, grinning, “I’m a biker, of course I’m easy.”
That earns another laugh, and for a moment, I forget the weight of grief and pressure and small-town eyes.
It feels… nice.
“What can I get you?”
“Three of whatever is on tap, a cider, and a packet of those pretzels.”
“Got it.”
I turn to grab a glass, I feel it—that prickle at the back of my neck. The unmistakable weight of someone watching.
I glance up, instinct pulling my eyes toward the far corner of the room.
Lee.
He’s seated in the shadows, beer in hand, gaze locked on me. Not angry. Not amused. Justwatching, his expression utterly unreadable.
My stomach does a slow, traitorous flip.
I turn back to the tap, pretending I didn’t see him. Pretending my hands aren’t shaking just the tiniest bit as I pour the next beer.
Stop it, Kya!
Bones nudges a coaster across the bar with one finger. “But seriously—grab dinner with me sometime. Low pressure. I promise not to propose unless the food’s really good.”
Before I can respond, Lee appears beside him as if he materialized out of thin air. “Bones.”
“Hey, brother.” Bones doesn’t move, seemingly unfazed by Lee’s sudden appearance. “Just welcoming our new neighbor to the community. You met Kya?”
Lee doesn’t even look at him. His eyes are all on me. And suddenly the bar feels a few degrees warmer.
His voice is low. “Yeah, I’ve met her.” Something about the way he says it makes my stomach drop. And flutter.
Bones’s brows lift slightly. He looks between us, catching whatever undercurrent just passed through the air. “Right,” he says with a slow, easy grin. “There’s history here.”
I turn away from Lee, smiling at Bones. “I was best friend’s with Lee’s sister back in school.”
“You aren’t still?”
I shake my head with a laugh. “We’re still friends, but she’s gone on to bigger and better things in New York.”
“The dancer, right?”
