complicate matters. Besides, he had his own, much more upscale pub to run. Why would he ever hang out here?
She glanced over the multitude of staring men, ensuring Howard’s killer wasn’t among them before she claimed the same seat she had previously. She really needed to come up with a plan on what she’d do once she located him. Perhaps she could discover his name and address. Also who his friends were.
But that was it. Nothing stupid.
“Well, look who’s back.” The bartender with the full brown beard gave her a grin that bordered on slimy. “We must have impressed you.”
Her carefree laugh belied the emotional turmoil bubbling inside her. “That or this joint is super close to my new office.”
He placed a hand over his heart. “Ach, the lass does wound me.”
She lifted mildly entertained brows and shook her head. “Flirting doesn’t work on me.”
He tilted his head in acknowledgement while keeping his smile in place. “Same as you had last time?” He indicated the beer taps.
“You remember?”
“I always remember a beautiful woman.”
“Wow. You’re full of it,” she said with a snort.
He wiggled his brows and left to fetch her drink. When he returned, he set it in front of her and trapped her with a penetrating gaze. “I beg to differ.”
“Excuse me?” She sent him a questioning look as she lifted her glass and drank.
“You said flirting doesn’t work, but I distinctly remember you leaving with a certain someone, so I call bullshit.”
Embarrassment at being caught off guard heated her cheeks. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He laughed then. “You have a hell of a poker face. Probably make a hell of a lawyer, too.”
She wouldn’t confirm or deny either claim he made. “Do you grill all your customers like this? If so, I’m surprised any of them return.”
“Only the pretty ones.” He leaned down and rested his elbows on the bar, and she caught sight of twirling silver strands amongst his brown hair. “I might have a new client for you.”
She leaned back in her seat to create more distance between them. “Really? Who’s that?”
“Boss man.”
She looked around as though she didn’t understand his meaning. “You mean the guy who owns this place?”
“Yeah, Gideon.” He said it as though by speaking his name, she’d know him.
“Why would he need an attorney?”
He shrugged. “Who doesn’t need a lawyer these days?”
She shrugged back, pretending to be as cool as he was. “Why would you think he’d want to hire me?”
“Because I told him about you. That you were smart and sassy. I gave him your card.”
If it would help her find Howard’s killer and give her more opportunities to spend time in the bar without anyone questioning her presence, she’d do it. “Great. I’d be happy to give him a free consultation to see if there’s a way I can be of service.”
He glanced at her breasts.
“Not that kind of service,” she said with a warning that made him laugh.
“No worries. Though you might change your mind when you meet him.”
She snorted then. “Pretty sure I won’t.”
“Lesbian?”
“Now you’re questioning my sexuality?”
He chuckled again. “Never mind. I haven’t said anything to anyone, but I’m pretty sure you fucked Christian, so men are still on the table for you.”
She blinked a couple of times, flabbergasted by his honesty. “Wow. I feel like I’ve just been insulted, but I’m not quite sure.”
“The sign of a good conversationalist.” The phone rang, and he lifted the cordless handset. “Be right back.”
No hurry, she wanted to say. She lifted her mug and took a deep drink. As far as she was concerned, she’d be happier if he left her alone so she could study the patrons.
She swiveled on her seat, catching sight of the men to her left. A couple of biker dudes played pool, but neither of them was the slime ball from the park. To her right, two couples enjoyed frothy tankards of
She glanced over the multitude of staring men, ensuring Howard’s killer wasn’t among them before she claimed the same seat she had previously. She really needed to come up with a plan on what she’d do once she located him. Perhaps she could discover his name and address. Also who his friends were.
But that was it. Nothing stupid.
“Well, look who’s back.” The bartender with the full brown beard gave her a grin that bordered on slimy. “We must have impressed you.”
Her carefree laugh belied the emotional turmoil bubbling inside her. “That or this joint is super close to my new office.”
He placed a hand over his heart. “Ach, the lass does wound me.”
She lifted mildly entertained brows and shook her head. “Flirting doesn’t work on me.”
He tilted his head in acknowledgement while keeping his smile in place. “Same as you had last time?” He indicated the beer taps.
“You remember?”
“I always remember a beautiful woman.”
“Wow. You’re full of it,” she said with a snort.
He wiggled his brows and left to fetch her drink. When he returned, he set it in front of her and trapped her with a penetrating gaze. “I beg to differ.”
“Excuse me?” She sent him a questioning look as she lifted her glass and drank.
“You said flirting doesn’t work, but I distinctly remember you leaving with a certain someone, so I call bullshit.”
Embarrassment at being caught off guard heated her cheeks. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He laughed then. “You have a hell of a poker face. Probably make a hell of a lawyer, too.”
She wouldn’t confirm or deny either claim he made. “Do you grill all your customers like this? If so, I’m surprised any of them return.”
“Only the pretty ones.” He leaned down and rested his elbows on the bar, and she caught sight of twirling silver strands amongst his brown hair. “I might have a new client for you.”
She leaned back in her seat to create more distance between them. “Really? Who’s that?”
“Boss man.”
She looked around as though she didn’t understand his meaning. “You mean the guy who owns this place?”
“Yeah, Gideon.” He said it as though by speaking his name, she’d know him.
“Why would he need an attorney?”
He shrugged. “Who doesn’t need a lawyer these days?”
She shrugged back, pretending to be as cool as he was. “Why would you think he’d want to hire me?”
“Because I told him about you. That you were smart and sassy. I gave him your card.”
If it would help her find Howard’s killer and give her more opportunities to spend time in the bar without anyone questioning her presence, she’d do it. “Great. I’d be happy to give him a free consultation to see if there’s a way I can be of service.”
He glanced at her breasts.
“Not that kind of service,” she said with a warning that made him laugh.
“No worries. Though you might change your mind when you meet him.”
She snorted then. “Pretty sure I won’t.”
“Lesbian?”
“Now you’re questioning my sexuality?”
He chuckled again. “Never mind. I haven’t said anything to anyone, but I’m pretty sure you fucked Christian, so men are still on the table for you.”
She blinked a couple of times, flabbergasted by his honesty. “Wow. I feel like I’ve just been insulted, but I’m not quite sure.”
“The sign of a good conversationalist.” The phone rang, and he lifted the cordless handset. “Be right back.”
No hurry, she wanted to say. She lifted her mug and took a deep drink. As far as she was concerned, she’d be happier if he left her alone so she could study the patrons.
She swiveled on her seat, catching sight of the men to her left. A couple of biker dudes played pool, but neither of them was the slime ball from the park. To her right, two couples enjoyed frothy tankards of
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