Uncut (Unexpected Book 4) (24 page)

I
walk the short distance to the Silver Moon rather than take my car. No doubt Matt will drive me back home after we close down for the night. Though I’m not in the mood for a night at a bar, I’m looking forward to spending some time with Thea and Matt. They’re easy to be with, even talking with them about nothing. Ever since our hike, it’s as if we’ve become tethered, which has surprised me to no end.

Approaching the back entrance, Thea comes out from her place. Damn, she’s beautiful. There’s something about her that . . . often I find my mind wandering back to her. I check the time. Six. Weird, usually she’s in earlier to help open the place.

“Running late?” I ask, stepping right next to her while she locks the door. Without second-guessing, I kiss her cheek. “How was your day?”

Thea shoves her keys inside her tight jeans and turns her attention to me. I smile and tilt my head, expectant to know what she did, who she was with, and just to listen to her voice. “My day was . . . interesting. I worked for a while at the park on edits. Matt helped. We came over to open the bar and then I went to my apartment to change. Where have you been? Working?” I nod. She leans forward and kisses my cheek, and then taking my hand—as if it is the most natural thing in the world—we both walk toward the bar.

“You work too much. Tomorrow we should do something—hiking?” Our eyes lock, and that energy that whirls between us is there.

“We’ll do whatever you want,” I blurt without second-guessing. Damn, I’m fucked.

“Look what you brought, Butterfly,” Matt says, when we find him. “Glad you’re both here because we’re ready to open.”

His eyes have
that
shine to them. “What did you do?” He shakes his head. “Decker?”

He tosses his hands in the air. “Tweeted that I’ll be at the bar tonight, but security is on it. They’ll maintain the number of patrons.” I close my eyes briefly and shake my head. Thea squeezes my hand; I open my eyes and find her smiling at me. “Cooperson, you know that we’re going to have fun. I serve, you two do the fancy stuff.”

“It’s your bar, Butterfly. How do you want us to help?” I smile at her.

“It’s Reed’s, but I get it, usually I’m the one in charge. Matt can take orders and serve the easy drinks. If he gets slammed with customers, you and I can split the bar.” She leans toward the counter and looks to her left. “Reed, we’re ready whenever you want.”

“What’s with the murderous glare, Cooperson?” Tristan redirects his powerful scowl from the badass-motorbike dude to me. I raise my hands as a sign of surrender. “Dude, I come in peace. What the hell? You’re foaming at the mouth.”

He shakes his head in disbelief. “Aren’t you paying any attention? Have you not noticed how many fuckers have tried to get in her pants tonight?” Tristan angles his chin toward Thea who is tending the bar, while he is mixing drinks. “The fucked-up pick-up lines are driving me insane . . . ‘Hey, baby. Are you a magician? Because every time I look at you, everyone else disappears.’” He scoffs in disgust.

I chuckle. “Hey, that’s a good one. Easy alpha-boy. She’s used to it, and she’s not taking the bait.”

He mutters something about pigs and pieces of meat, I think. “I swear, one more and she’s outta here.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. We don’t own the bar yet.” His tight jaw compresses harder—if that were even possible—and it dawns on me. “You have a thing for her, don’t you?” Tristan’s eyes lower, as he gives me one hard head shake. His face says it all. I can’t help but laugh when he growls.

“You two are adorable.” Thea is right next to us. “But either you start moving your asses and work, or take this little lover’s quarrel elsewhere.”

He pushes me lightly. “There are no lovers to be quarreling over here. And you,” he growls, pointing at Thea, “you should be the one heading to the back room for a break. The customers are getting grabby and I can’t have that.”

“Grabby?” She quirks her perfectly shaped eyebrow.

“Yes, and I swear if they touch you I might not be able to contain myself.”

“He has a thing for you,” I tell her. That grants me one of her famous eye-rolls that I’m starting to love. “He might be castrating a dude or two if they come anywhere near you.”

“If they touch me, I’ll be the one busting their male parts, not you.” Thea grabs the soda gun and points it at him. “I’m capable of fighting my own battles. So, get to work,” she says. “And by the way, keep that caveman shit hidden, or I’ll find the butcher knife and take care of your junk.”

I flinch at her last words. We both mock salute her and go back to serving, taking orders, and generally doing our best to keep the male patrons away from her without evoking Thea’s anger.

For a couple hours I pour drafts and close the open tabs. Those are the tasks Thea has delegated to me. And I’m not gonna lie; her bossy in-charge attitude is kind of hot. Her being in charge a few times would be a huge turn on. My thought is interrupted when I spot Tristan gaping at Thea. He studies her every move and admires each line of her body appreciatively.

I search within my heart and mind to figure out how I feel about what I’m seeing unfold before me. Dissecting the fact that my former lover is obviously attracted to the woman
I’m
interested in. Much to my own surprise, it’s not jealousy I’m feeling. I’m actually intrigued by the fact his attraction is so obvious. Stronger than his usual behavior. I wonder how Thea would respond to his advances.

“Wake up, Decker.” A squirt of ice water hits my face. Thea redirects the soda gun at Tristan who is laughing at me. The smirk flattens when his shirt is dripping. “You too, Tristan,” she says triumphantly. “What’s the matter with both of you? Last call was ten minutes ago. There’re still tabs to close.” She sprays both of us again, grins, and heads to the second cash register.

“We’ll see who’s the last one laughing, Butterfly,” I warn her. Instead of worrying, she releases a loud laugh that makes my entire body vibrate.

I look over to find Tristan gazing at me, his hands on his hips. “You’re the one who has a thing for her, aren’t you?” Tristan whispers, but it’s a sad tone that hits my chest.

“W
hy the somber face, Cooperson?” Matthew questions. I avoid his gaze.

I let out a big breath to ease the constriction inside my chest, while trying to calm my heart. The sensations running through my veins weaken my determination to stay away from both. Anger. Pain. Fear. “Because we both like her. Thea. We’re bewitched by her.”