Lucy piped up, ‘I’ve managed to convince her she needs an extra job on the weekends.’
‘This is your first job as a bouncer?’ He tried not to panic.
Sinead gave him a wide smile. ‘Sure’
He couldn’t wait to get Lucy alone. He was going to kill her. Okay, maybe he’d kiss her first.
Lucy was looking a tad uncomfortable. As she should. ‘We have some things to work through, Daniel. Are you staying long?’
She was trying to dismiss him? ‘No. I’m here for the afternoon. I’ll go set up on the end of the bar there.’
With great satisfaction he saw the panic in her eyes. He pulled out his laptop again and laid out his files. He found this end of the bar comfortable. He could raise his head and survey the entire room. And it gave him prime view of the length of the bar—he could keep his eye right on her.
Lucy and Sinead sat at a table as far away as possible and spoke in low tones. Should he hassle her about cronyism? She’d clearly hired a friend. He pushed the thought away. If she was the best qualified for the job then fine. Frankly he had other things to be worried about—this case, for one. He just wanted the club open again and functioning as okay as possible. He wished Lara would get back a.s.a.p. so he could hand this sick puppy back to her and walk away from the woman occupying too much of his brain.
He focused on the books, finally able to concentrate knowing the wild one was in his line of sight. He lost himself in the law.
* * *
‘You like watching women wrestle, Daniel?’ She leaned over his shoulder and he could smell her spice. He jerked his head up and looked about the bar—Sinead appeared to have gone, leaving Lucy and him alone. His blood pumped a little faster.
‘I like getting my work done in peace.’
She mocked him. ‘Don’t you ever muck about?’
‘Not on my client’s time.’
‘Of course not. I was wrong—you should be good cop. Goody-good.’
‘You really think I’m a boring square, don’t you?’
‘You’re a lawyer. You couldn’t be more straight.’
‘Someone should hire you to do PR for my profession. Most of the population think we’re crooked as.’
At that she smiled. ‘You realise it’s after six. Haven’t you clocked off yet?’
‘I work long hours.’
‘Clearly.’
What did she mean by that? That he had no life? Hell, he spent half his evenings at some social event or other. And didn’t have too much trouble finding dates to take with him. Pretty dates. Dates who wore designer, not... second-hand. He turned on his stool to face her, finding her enjoyably close. She made to step away but he stopped her by taking her wrist in his hand. She stilled completely. He liked the feel of her—as soft as he’d imagined. In his own time, in his own way, he’d show her exactly how un-boring he was. Soon. ‘Have you never been in a job you love, Lucy?’
‘Not for long.’
‘And why is that?’
She shrugged, pulling her hand away. ‘The love doesn’t last long.’
He let her go her words hitting a nerve. She’d given him a timely reminder. She was the epitome of everything he didn’t like in a person—unreliable. His desire, and the rest of him, cooled. ‘Everything set for tomorrow?’
She nodded. ‘It’ll be just fine.’
‘Good.’ He pulled his papers towards him and started loading them back into his bag. ‘I’m in meetings all day so I won’t be here when you open up.’
‘You’re not going to be here?’
Disappointment touched her features and he schooled himself so satisfaction didn’t touch his. ‘I’ll swing by later in the evening and see it’s all okay.’