Pope scowls harder but gives me a nod as he grunts, “Stevie.”
Wow, he’s intimidating.
He’s not as tall as Spider, I don’t think anyone is, but he’s probably around six foot two or three, but that’s not why he’s scary. Neither is his short, almost white-blonde hair, clean shaven handsome face, or his muscular build. Nope, it’s his eyes.
The light blonde lashes are surrounding the cloudiest gray eyes I have ever seen, so dark they remind me of my father’s handgun, and it feels as though they’re looking straight through me.
Right up until Ember pulls his attention back to her as she says, “See? Sunshine and rainbows with this one. It’s blinding, practically shooting out of his ass everywhere he goes.”
Pork Chop barks out a laugh as Pope narrows those unsettling eyes on my friend, then another voice comes from my right and has my stomach filling with butterflies.
“The walking blasphemy does have a certain level ofcharm.” I turn slowly as I hold my breath, certain of who I’m about to see when I do, and when my gaze clashes with that beautiful shade of indigo, Victor grins wide. “But Pope isn’t nearly as charming as some of us.”
For the second time in less than twenty minutes, my jaw drops and I find myself at a loss for words.
Ember slides a beer toward Victor. “Stevie, this is—”
“Bones,” he says with a wink.
And I have to bite my lip to hide my smile. “Bones?”
Victor nods proudly. “Bones, but you can call me whatever you like.” Then he arches a brow and watches me take a drink. “Bones. Bone Daddy.Ghost.”
As soon as Victor finishes speaking, Pork Chop goes into a coughing fit, Pope grunts a few curse words, and Ember slams another beer on the counter in front of him, but I just smile. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with everyone but I knowthatwas just for me.
“Bones is a—” Ember tries to compose herself but Victor interrupts her. Again.
“A consultant. Brought in from out of town.” He takes a drink of his beer, his eyes never leaving mine. “Prez needs my expertise on some things, so he patched me in and here I am.”
Even though I am ridiculously excited to see Victor again, and in a public place looking all sexy in the low light of the bar, what he just said has several questions forming that I don’t think I’m going to like the answers to.
Which is why I lose my smile and ask, “Expertise,huh?”
Victor nods but I see the doubt flash in those dark purple eyes.
“And what, exactly, is it that you’re anexpertin,Bones?”
His brow furrows and I can practically see thewhat the hell are you doingon his face, but I’m starting to put things together and I don’t like where this is going. Not one bit.
But I don’t have time to convey that because as soon as Victor sets down his beer and opens his mouth, Pork Chop walks around me, claps a hand on his shoulder and gives it a hard squeeze. “It was really nice to meet you, Stevie.” I watch as he starts backing them away. “I’m sure we’ll run into you again before the party’s over. Make sure to grab another drink or two, open bar and all. And let us know if you need a DD. See you around.”
Pork Chop turns and practically drags Victor with him, Pope now on the other side of myghostas if to keep him from wandering off, but he’s still looking at me over his shoulder.
Victor is looking at me like a confused little puppy, and regardless of how adorable it is, I’m scowling at the man I’m secretly seeing because he’s a member of the WKMC and never thought to mention that during any of the conversations we’ve had between the many times we’ve slept together.
And the possible reason for it makes me feel like complete shit.
Wonderful.
* * *
“Where the hell have you been?”my father grits through clenched teeth as he grabs my wrist and pulls me down into the seat next to him. “I thought I told you to stay in sight.”
I nod as I let my hair fall in front of my face. “I was at the bar.”
“Drinking?”
“No.” It takes everything I have to keep from snapping at him. “Just water.”
