Page 27 of Give Me Love

One walks by now with a plastered-on smile, looking straight at him.Where were you a minute ago? Huh?I turn my attention back to black suit. He’s no serial killer. He’s the owner of this club! Bryce!

“You’re the owner of this club?” I ask.

He shakes Austin’s hand and gives me a sideways glance. “Yes,” he replies to me.

Austin grabs his attention. “I started work on your other project this week. Some of the parts are on back order, but it’s coming along,” Austin beams about his work.

“Keep me updated,” Bryce replies.

I feel Claire’s eyes on me as she stands. “I’m Claire.”

“Bryce Grant,” he says.

“Here’s your drink,” I say to Claire as she looks between Bryce and me. I bring mine to my lips and take a big sip as my mind reels. This guy is out of my league. I mean,ownerof this club. My eyes shoot around the place. Why on earth is he interested in me?

“If you two don’t mind, I had planned to take Kathrine here for a bite to eat.”

“A bite to eat?” I ask, surprised.

“Yeah.” He takes a sip of his beer, eyeing me over the rim.

Claire eyeballs me. “Can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Sure,” I say slowly.

She gives Bryce a tight smile and pulls me away from them. “What’s going on here?” She’s all crossed arms and in protective Claire mode.

“Hell, if I know,” I reply, taking another big sip of my drink. “Can you believe he owns this place?” I look over at him as he talks to Austin.

Claire snaps her fingers. “Pay attention. When did you meet this guy?”

“Last week at the shop, but I saw him the night you got sick.”

“You didn’t tell me.”

“Well, there wasn’t anything to tell really,” I say, looking back at him.

“He’s pretty hot,” she says, and my eyes dart back to her.

“Right?” I reply.

She shakes her head as if she’s chastising herself for getting off-track. “Regardless, we don’t know him.” Claire’s been hurt deeper than most. She’s overprotective because of it.

“Well, we got one thing going for us here,” I say after another sip of my drink.

“What’s that?” she smirks, taking a gulp of hers as well.

“Austin knows him, and he didn’t act worried when Bryce mentioned us going to eat.”

She taps her lip, considering it. “True.”

We both take mouthfuls of alcohol.

“So, are you going?”

“Should I?”

She looks back at him as he chats with Austin. “Well, I guess it depends. What are you going for?”

---