Page 18 of Late Nights

She pressed her lips together. “Fine,” she relented. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have customers waiting.” She sauntered off, and I let my eyes linger on the way her hips swayed, her full b—

“Ahem.” West cleared his throat.

Oh, crap.

I hurried to swing my head back to West, working to school my features. The last thing I needed was for him to see me checking out his sister.

His eyes narrowed slightly. “You failed to mention that her working here was your idea.”

“Did I?” I tapped my chin. “I could have sworn I said something to you about it.”

The frown that had been pulling at his mouth lessened. “This is why you’re going to be hanging out here more? To keep an eye out for her?”

“Yes.”

His shoulders sagged in what I assumed was relief, most of his anger seeming to dissipate. “Thank you. I’ll feel better knowing you’re here to protect her.”

If he knew what I’d been thinking earlier, he wouldn’t be so grateful. I was one of the guys that she needed protection from.

West only stayed for a few more minutes, since two women had quickly made their way over to us with flirty stares. He’d politely excused himself, saying he was going home to his beautiful girlfriend. Even before Halle, bars had never been his scene.

Both women decided to stay and talk to me, but I struggled to stay in the conversation. A certain bartender kept catching my eye. She looked surprisingly in her element. She wasn’t as quick at making drinks as Robby, but that was to be expected. Not that any of the guys seemed to mind she was slower.

She handed a drink to a guy who looked nice enough, but I knew better. I was a nice enough guy too, but my thoughts weren’t innocent when it came to Demi.

He set a bill down on the bar, sliding it only halfway across to her with what I assumed was some asinine comment. My hand clenched on the glass in my hand. She placed her hand on the other end of the bill and leaned over the counter, saying something flirty back. His gaze dipped down to her cleavage.

And that was all I needed to see. I stood, ready to push through the two women between me and this creep coming on to Demi.

“Excuse me, ladies,” I said, interrupting the brunette who had been talking and pushing through them. I probably should have felt bad for being so rude, but I couldn’t think about anything else besides getting this punk away from Demi.

By the time I reached them, she was putting the money in her back pocket and giving him a smile that made my stomach cramp. She’d never given me a smile like that before. But then again, why would she? We weren’t anything more than glorified acquaintances when it really came down to it. I was supposed to not want her to smile at me like that. I was supposed to be thinking platonic thoughts about her. I was supposed to be here only to help protect her from idiots like this guy.

As I came up beside him, he looked up at me. I put on my most friendly smile, even though I wasn’t feeling one friendly feeling toward this guy. “Hey, those two girls down there”—I pointed to where I’d left the two women I’d been talking to—“were asking me about you.”

He glanced their way, perking up at my words. “Really?”

See? This guy was just here to find some random girl to hit on, hoping to get lucky. He didn’t have any good intentions when it came to Demi. That’s why it was important for me to be here during her shifts. I could save her from pricks like him.

“Yeah,” I assured him. “You should go talk to them.”

He grinned as he looked at the brunette and blonde, who were still looking our way. Standing, he slapped me on the shoulder. “Thanks, man.”

“No problem.”

I watched him go, the women excited he was seeking them out. Not only had I gotten him away from Demi, both parties seemed happy about their new trajectories I’d put in place. It was a win-win.

“Don’t think I don’t know what you just did there.” Demi’s voice pulled me back to her.

She was drying clean glasses and giving me a pointed look.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said, feigning innocence as I took a seat on the stool in front of her.

“Oh, please.” She rolled her eyes. “Those women were practically drooling all over you. There is no way they were asking you about him.” She nodded to where the guy was still flirting with the women. Was there a hint of jealousy in her voice? “He’s leagues beneath you.”

I couldn’t have helped the grin that spread across my lips if my life depended on it. “Is that so?”

“Don’t act like you don’t know how good looking you are,” she chastised.

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