Page 53 of Colton Family Bodyguard (Coltons of Mustang Valley)

“I didn’t keep track of his love interests. He mostly annoyed me and the other girls.”

Kerry hadn’t mentioned anyone named Candace. Could it be they had stumbled upon something?

The waitress left to visit other tables.

Hazel looked around the bar, at the bikers who gave her an uneasy feeling, at the cheerful pair of couples and the line of solitary men at the bar. She was about to turn back to Callum when she noticed one of the men at the bar was staring at the waitress who had just served them.

The waitress turned from a table and the man quickly averted his head. As she passed behind him, he looked at her again and watched as she retrieved more drinks from the bartender and then walked to the table of couples.

“What is it?” Callum glanced behind him and saw the man. He followed his gaze and also where Hazel looked.

“That man,” she said. “He’s watching that waitress.”

The waitress returned to the bar, going behind it. She smiled at the man who had been staring at her and they began to converse.

“They seem to know each other,” Callum said.

The man at the bar reached over and touched the woman’s hand and she smiled differently now, much more warmly. Then she glanced at the bartender as though making sure she hadn’t been seen. The man seemed to respect that and pretended to pay attention to his bottle of beer.

“The ghost of Nate Blurge?” Hazel said.

Callum chuckled. “Yes. He might be flirting vicariously through that guy.” If the woman Blurge had flirted with was the killer’s wife, maybe that was why Nate was murdered. And maybe the new man who flirted with her would draw the killer out.

“I have to go to the bathroom.” She stood and made her way to the back corner, having to pass the group of bikers on the way.

She ignored the tall biker, aware that he followed her movement. She finished her business in the bathroom, washed her hands and left.

As she walked past the pool table, the tall biker stepped in her path. She stopped.

He wore a sleazy grin, or at least that’s how she interpreted it.

“Hey, how about a game of pool? You can invite your friend over.” He gestured toward Callum. “Is he your boyfriend?”

She contemplated lying. “No.”

“Oh.” His gaze roamed down her body and back up again. “What’s your name, pretty lady?”

“Excuse me.” She moved to go around him but he blocked her way.

“If not tonight, then maybe another night?” He gestured toward Callum again. “Maybe when he isn’t around?”

“No, thanks.”

“At least tell me your name. Can I have your number? I think we should get to know each other.”

“Look, I’m not interested.” Hazel stepped aside.

The tall biker took hold of her arm and she got a whiff of his breath. He had been drinking for some time.

“Let go of my arm.” She jerked her arm and he held firm.

“Tell me your name.”

Just then Callum’s hand flattened on the man’s chest. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Hey.” The tall biker stumbled back with Callum’s shove. “I was just talking to the lady. She said you and her weren’t a couple.”

“She also told you she wasn’t interested. Is there a problem?”

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