Bishy grins and shakes my hand.
“You just lost five hundred bucks.”
The bass drum pounds as I shove my way through the crowd. The usual happens, heads turn, eyes widen, and phones lift like they’re about to snap a shot of some rare sighting in the wild.
A few people call my name, and a couple of women do that thing where they casually brush against me, making sure I notice them. I don’t.
I’ve got one target, and I’m closing in fast.
Then, of course, some other guy beats me to it.
Damn it.
I slow my stride, watching as he leans in toward her, his sweaty face way too close for comfort. She steps back, pressing a hand to his chest, shoving him away. He stumbles but doesn’t take the hint, moving right back in.
Her body stiffens, one hand curling into a fist. Defensive. Unimpressed.
I should turn around, head back to Bishy and the guys. Not my problem.
Then I see Riley step in, her expression full of fire as she gets between them. The guy’s mouth moves, her brows snap down, and the way she stabs a finger in his direction tells me she’s letting him have it. The woman beside her, my target, is still trying to shake the asshole off, her face tight with irritation.
Alright. Screw it.
I head straight for them.
Right as the guy grabs my target’s wrist, she shoves his hand off, looking ready to throw a punch.
“Sorry, but is everything okay?”
Riley turns to answer, but the woman beats her to it, her voice dripping with venom.
“Well, it would be if this ASSHOLE would leave us alone.”
The guy turns on me, standing a little too straight, puffing up his chest like he’s about to make a very, very bad decision.
I step in close and lower my voice. “Look. I advise you to leave these two nice women alone. Or you see that massive security guy over there?” I nod toward the approaching bouncer. “I think he’s headed in this direction. So, I suggest you apologize, then walk away while you still can.”
The guy hesitates, eyes flicking between me and the security guard now stalking over. He clearly weighs his very limited options, then lets out a huff. “Okay, okay. Sorry. I apologize.” He turns and walks off, muttering under his breath.
I meet the bouncer’s eye, giving him a look that says it’s handled. He slows, nods, then turns back toward the entrance.
Riley lets out a breath. “Appreciate that, Blake.”
The woman looks at me, expression unreadable. “Yeah. Thank you…Whatever.”
I nod. “Can I get either of you a drink?”
Riley shakes her head. “No, thanks. I’m okay. Oh, this is Cassy—”
But the young woman shoots her a look, and Riley shuts up.
Interesting.
Now, not to blow my own trumpet, but to be honest, I’ve never had any trouble getting a woman I set my mind on, but something tells me this one isn’t going to make it easy, or even possible. Not to mention trouble with a capital T.
I watch her for a moment, then decide to test the waters. “Cassy,” I say, “I think that’s what Riley just said your name was, can I…”
Before I even finish, she tips her head back, looking up at the ceiling like she’s asking for patience. “NO! I’ve got a drink. Thank you very much.”
