Page 60 of Firecracker

“Hmmm.” Arden tapped her chin. “I should check into how much pole dancers make. It’s probably better than waitressing.”

“Don’t even joke about it. Waitressing at Shenanigans is bad enough.”

“Oh, come on. Shenanigans is a nice place.”

“Liam’s keeping an eye on her,” Tyler offered.

Arden slowly turned her gaze on him, her eyes narrowing into a death stare. “Oh no. Oh no, you did not.”

His face heated. “What?” Fuck, he was busted.

“You told him to keep an eye on me, didn’t you?”

“Uh. No. Course not.”

“Oh my God. Tyler!”

Jamie laughed and slapped Tyler on the back. “Don’t worry. I had a word with him too.”

Arden glared at them both. Then, to Tyler’s horror, her eyes actually got all shiny and her bottom lip quivered. What the fuck?

“I have to go.” She whirled around. “I have buns in the oven.”

Tyler met Jamie’s eyes, full of as much concern as his. “Jesus, I hope not,” Jamie muttered.

Mila turned to them with wide eyes. “What just happened?”

Tyler rubbed his forehead. “She doesn’t want us looking after her.”

Mila’s forehead creased. “What? Why? And how do you know that?”

Tyler wasn’t sure what to say to that.

“Because of what happened with her asshole husband,” Jamie said. “Fuck.”

“She hasn’t really talked about it,” Mila said.

Arden hadn’t told Tyler much either. Why was her husband an asshole?

“I’ve been walking her home from work at night,” Tyler said. “When I’m off.”

Jamie gave him a curious look. “Yeah? Well, thanks.”

Tyler shrugged. “It’s late, it’s dark…I just felt like I should. Even though it annoys her.”

“Should I go talk to her?” Mila asked.

“Maybe I should.” Jamie frowned. “It was Tyler and me who pissed her off.”

“I will.” Tyler strode to the door, just barely catching the bug-eyed look Mila gave Jamie. Yeah, yeah, they were probably wondering what the hell was going on. Well, nothing was going on, sadly.

He took the stairs two at a time, knocked softly on Arden’s door and entered. He was greeted by the delicious yeasty scent of bread. “Hey,” he called, seeing her on her couch. She turned her head, and though she wasn’t crying, her eyes were pink.

He shut the door, walked over, and sat beside her. Not too close. Not as close as he wanted. Fuck, he wanted her on his lap with his arms around her. “I’m sorry.”

She sighed. “I know.”

“You have to believe us, princess.” He winced, remembering she didn’t like the nickname. But she didn’t react, just regarded him with a steady gaze. “We didn’t talk to Liam because we don’t think you can look after yourself. He’s a buddy, and you’re…Jamie’s sister, and you’re beautiful, and we know every guy in that bar is absolutely going to hit on you.”

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