bugged my place then we can’t talk freely, I’m guessing that you’re confident he hasn’t bugged Risqué.’
‘He hasn’t bugged this place or yours, no one is listening in your office.’
‘In my office?’ she said, turning to Colt in a slew of concern. ‘What about the rest of my house?’
‘I didn’t go upstairs,’ he said. ‘But the stairs on the left, inside your front door, they go up to your residence, don’t they?’
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘My office door is just on the right of the lower floor, as soon as you come in the front door, you know that.’
‘Your front door is unlocked and unattended all day.’
‘My clients have to be able to come in.’
‘And anyone can wander upstairs,’ he said.
She knew her clients and trusted them not to go snooping, it had never occurred to her that strangers might come in while she was in session.
‘Are you trying to freak me out?’ she asked.
‘Not my job.’ He took a sip from his glass on the bar.
‘Should you be drinking? While I’m here you’re technically working.’
‘I would just love it if our stalker turned up here,’ he said, taking another drink. ‘If he does, all I have to do is recognise him, I’m not going to go ninja on his ass. I only work security for Blaser when I absolutely have to. Anyway, it’s just soda.’
‘Great,’ Lyssa said, noticing a table in need of service.
Taking his glass away from him she drained the rest of the drink and went to work. Polite as could be, despite the inebriation of the customers, she took the order and relayed it to Blaser who went to work filling it.
‘You’re doing good so far, do you need a break?’ Blaser asked.
‘Maybe in a bit,’ she said, trying not to watch one of the podium girls cosying up to Colt.
‘Pay no mind, him and Kitty have been over for a long time,’ Blaser said, putting the first drink on the tray.
‘Sorry? Oh, what? No! Don’t be silly. I told you there was nothing between Colt and I.’
Blaser kept working, but his knowing smile crept higher. ‘He’s been watching you since he came in. That outfit you’re sporting made his eyes bug from his head. I can tell when my brother’s interested, comes from being twins I guess.’
‘Twins?’
‘All our lives,’ he said. ‘Not identical.’ Obviously. ‘We’ve always butted heads, but we’re there for each other when it counts.’
‘What about Ruger?’
‘Colt’s protective of the squirt, but he can hold his own. Has a tendency to disappear without warning for periods of time, but he’s alright.’
‘Why did Colt leave the police force?’
‘That he’ll tell you when he’s ready,’ Blaser said and pushed the tray towards her.
After she’d delivered the order she returned to the now alone Colt whom she was acutely aware of. Blaser was right, every time she checked Colt was looking right at her.
‘What has you so interested, Mr. Warner?’
‘I’m an ass man, Doctor Cutler,’ he said. ‘And you have one worth looking at.’
‘Do you have no shame?’ she asked.
‘Turn around and let me see again.’
And the thrill that zipped through her made her do as he told her, then she tipped her chin to her shoulder. ‘Looked your fill?’
‘If we weren’t in public I might be tempted to touch.’
‘Seeing your ex-girlfriend must have had an arousing effect,’ she said, resting back on the bar she disturbed his view.
‘My ex?’ he asked, propping his elbows on the bar.
‘Blaser said you and Kitty used to—‘
Colt laughed. ‘Miss. Lys, my brother is messing with you. I’ve never been with any of the girls in this place.’ His fingertip met her shoulder. ‘Question is, Miss. Lys… Why did you give a damn?’
The finger trailed down leaving goose bumps in their wake. ‘Cherry,’ she said, bringing her gaze to his. ‘In here, that’s what they call me.’
‘I like it, you came here to pop it.’
‘I came here because I had confidence I’d be safe. You gave
‘He hasn’t bugged this place or yours, no one is listening in your office.’
‘In my office?’ she said, turning to Colt in a slew of concern. ‘What about the rest of my house?’
‘I didn’t go upstairs,’ he said. ‘But the stairs on the left, inside your front door, they go up to your residence, don’t they?’
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘My office door is just on the right of the lower floor, as soon as you come in the front door, you know that.’
‘Your front door is unlocked and unattended all day.’
‘My clients have to be able to come in.’
‘And anyone can wander upstairs,’ he said.
She knew her clients and trusted them not to go snooping, it had never occurred to her that strangers might come in while she was in session.
‘Are you trying to freak me out?’ she asked.
‘Not my job.’ He took a sip from his glass on the bar.
‘Should you be drinking? While I’m here you’re technically working.’
‘I would just love it if our stalker turned up here,’ he said, taking another drink. ‘If he does, all I have to do is recognise him, I’m not going to go ninja on his ass. I only work security for Blaser when I absolutely have to. Anyway, it’s just soda.’
‘Great,’ Lyssa said, noticing a table in need of service.
Taking his glass away from him she drained the rest of the drink and went to work. Polite as could be, despite the inebriation of the customers, she took the order and relayed it to Blaser who went to work filling it.
‘You’re doing good so far, do you need a break?’ Blaser asked.
‘Maybe in a bit,’ she said, trying not to watch one of the podium girls cosying up to Colt.
‘Pay no mind, him and Kitty have been over for a long time,’ Blaser said, putting the first drink on the tray.
‘Sorry? Oh, what? No! Don’t be silly. I told you there was nothing between Colt and I.’
Blaser kept working, but his knowing smile crept higher. ‘He’s been watching you since he came in. That outfit you’re sporting made his eyes bug from his head. I can tell when my brother’s interested, comes from being twins I guess.’
‘Twins?’
‘All our lives,’ he said. ‘Not identical.’ Obviously. ‘We’ve always butted heads, but we’re there for each other when it counts.’
‘What about Ruger?’
‘Colt’s protective of the squirt, but he can hold his own. Has a tendency to disappear without warning for periods of time, but he’s alright.’
‘Why did Colt leave the police force?’
‘That he’ll tell you when he’s ready,’ Blaser said and pushed the tray towards her.
After she’d delivered the order she returned to the now alone Colt whom she was acutely aware of. Blaser was right, every time she checked Colt was looking right at her.
‘What has you so interested, Mr. Warner?’
‘I’m an ass man, Doctor Cutler,’ he said. ‘And you have one worth looking at.’
‘Do you have no shame?’ she asked.
‘Turn around and let me see again.’
And the thrill that zipped through her made her do as he told her, then she tipped her chin to her shoulder. ‘Looked your fill?’
‘If we weren’t in public I might be tempted to touch.’
‘Seeing your ex-girlfriend must have had an arousing effect,’ she said, resting back on the bar she disturbed his view.
‘My ex?’ he asked, propping his elbows on the bar.
‘Blaser said you and Kitty used to—‘
Colt laughed. ‘Miss. Lys, my brother is messing with you. I’ve never been with any of the girls in this place.’ His fingertip met her shoulder. ‘Question is, Miss. Lys… Why did you give a damn?’
The finger trailed down leaving goose bumps in their wake. ‘Cherry,’ she said, bringing her gaze to his. ‘In here, that’s what they call me.’
‘I like it, you came here to pop it.’
‘I came here because I had confidence I’d be safe. You gave
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