Easton’s investigative mind whirled with the missing pieces in his brother’s intel. “Okay. So how were you able to ID him when Bailee’s contact couldn’t find out? Did you get a lead through the rental car? Have we ever run into any of his known associates? Could he possibly be here for us or Gish? It’s not like it hasn’t happened before.”
“No, we’ve had no reason to cross paths with him, and from what I can find out about him, none of the criminal activity around Fire Creek would be enough to interest him. I can’t say for sure he’s here for your girl either, but I don’t believe in coincidences.”
Easton had no response to that, not even to protest his reference to Bailee as his girl. He sensed that Luke was far from done with saying what he wanted to say, so he waited for his brother to continue.
“The rental car was under the name of a shell company. I can dig deeper into that and possibly turn up some more intel. As far as how I ID’d him, it was harder than usual for me. He changes his appearance enough not to register in facial recognition software, which is probably what her contact used. So I called Atlas. Their software is more sophisticated than anything I have or law enforcement has access to. Don’t ask me how, but Alex’s guys were able to figure out who he was.”
Atlas Security was one of the top private security firms in the country and was owned by Jackson’s good friend and former Army buddy, Alex Crandell. Alex was well aware of the boys’ work as Legends, and he and his operatives had assisted the Legends on cases before.
“Any chance Alex’s guys got it wrong?”
Luke pierced him with a hard stare, and Easton backtracked.
“Okay, okay. I know Alex’s guys are never wrong. I had to ask though.”
“So what are you going to do now?”
Easton shrugged. “Hell, if I know. I don’t have to figure it out now anyway. I got to open the bar and focus on our customers. Hopefully by morning, I’ll have a plan.”
“Right, because procrastination has always worked for you in the past,” Luke scoffed as he slid his laptop into his backpack. “By the way, just to warn you. Gish is babysitting Jax, so Reagan can come tonight. She and Melody they’re having a girls’ night, but I think they want to press you for info about your girl.”
Easton frowned. “She’s not my girl, and how would they even know about her?”
“Becky told Reagan who told Melody that her friend’s granddaughter was in town and that you had dinner with them last night.” Luke’s scowl was fierce. “Shit, I sound like a middle school girl spreading rumors.”
Easton laughed. “Yep, you do, but you can text Melody and tell her the third degree isn’t necessary. There’s no romance or sex or dating or anything like that. Not that I wouldn’t like to change that, but for now, she has me deep in the friend zone.”
His words sounded false to him, especially when he thought back to the mind-blowing kiss, but he doubted Luke picked up on that.
“Good luck convincing them of that.” Luke stood and headed toward the men’s room, leaving his backpack on the barstool.
Easton grabbed the backpack to secure it behind the bar since he was about to open the doors. Luke was hanging around to handle any rowdy patrons while Easton worked the bar and Jackson oversaw the waitstaff and kitchen crew.
With all that he had on his mind, he was hoping for a quiet night. It seemed his involvement with Bailee Maxwell was about to get more complicated than he anticipated.
Chapter Eleven
The crowd was slow coming into the Fire Bar and Grille, not unusual since it was the middle of the week. Most of the patrons were professionals winding down after a hectic workday, or couples who didn’t want to eat at home. The kitchen had gotten several to-go orders, making Easton think that no one in Fire Creek was cooking their own meal tonight.
Easton managed to focus on his work, charming the regulars and welcoming what few newcomers came in. A smaller crowd usually made for a light work night for him, but tonight he was bored. The shift had barely begun, and he was itching to get out of there.
When the front door opened, he raised his head with a ready smile. That smile widened when he saw Reagan and Melody stroll through. The smile froze when a third person walked in behind them, obviously part of their group from the way his sisters looped her into their conversation.
Shit. I’m so screwed.
He’d only ever seen Bailee in casual attire, mostly leggings or shorts and a T-shirt. But when she walked into the bar, the casual Bailee Maxwell was gone. In her place was a stunningwoman who would live rent-free in his mind for the rest of the evening.
She wore white jeans that molded against her curvy legs, and tall wedge sandals made those legs appear longer, though she only stood about medium height. His eyes traveled up, and he lingered on her black top. The sleeves were delicate ruffles that brushed against her shoulders, leaving toned arms exposed. The V neckline showed off the rounded tops of her breasts, short-circuiting his brain.
His gaze rose to her face, her cheekbones contoured with subtle pink color, her lips glistening with a pale lip gloss, and her eyes shining thanks to the bronze shadow on her lids. Her hair curled softly, skimming her jaw with bouncy movement.
Reagan pointed to an empty table toward the back, where they would have privacy but remain within the eyeline of the bar. The three turned their backs to him as they moved to claim the table, and Easton made the most of the moment by scoping out Bailee’s sweet ass showcased in the form-fitting jeans.
“Hey, E, you going to get me that beer or not?”
Easton jerked out of his reverie to stare at one of his regulars. Without a word, he filled the mug with the beer on tap and pushed it across the bar to stop in front of the guy.
He tried to resist looking in Luke’s direction, but the temptation was too great. His brother raised a questioning brow, and realizing his brother suspected who the unknown woman was, Easton reluctantly nodded in confirmation. Luke’s responding smirk soured Easton’s mood, but fortunately, one of the waitresses appeared with a drink order, providing a needed distraction.
