Page 57 of Don't Bait Me (Nora Jacobs 3)

It may be 3:30 a.m., but the place is packed. When Illren steps inside, it’s like a scene out of an Old West movie. The place goes quiet, a few people gulp, and someone vacates a stool at the bar. Then people notice me with him, and jaws fall all around the room. Awkward. It takes Skinny to get people moving again. “Well, if it ain’t the infamous Nora Jacobs,” he greets with a wide smile full of razor-sharp teeth. “How you been, kiddo? Heard you was snatched by mercs today.”

My answering smile is genuine. Skinny is hideous looking, but deep down he’s a bit of a softy. Like a rough around the edges grandpa. “Heya, Skinny. Just Henry Stadther, up to his old tricks. Illren took care of it, though.”

Skinny gives a short, respectful nod to my companion. “Kovros.”

Illren nods back but says nothing.

“Anyway, we’re expecting a few others to join us. Is the big booth in the back open?”

“It’s always open for you, pretty lady.” He winks and nods his head, telling us to go have a seat.

“Thanks, Skinny.”

On the way to our seat, I’m stopped by a couple of men at the bar. I recognize Darrin and Sam from the Huron River werewolf pack. I even danced with both of them at one of their socials. “Miss Nora! How are you?” Sam asks.

Darrin follows that with, “Heard you were kidnapped. Are you okay?” His eyes flick to Illren, and he hesitates a second before adding, “You need any help, just say the word.”

Brave man. It warms my heart that he’d be willing to go up against a notorious assassin for me. Werewolves might just be my favorite underworlders. “I’m all good now, promise. How’s the pack? Things all settled?”

Both men nod. “Sure miss you hanging around, though,” Darrin says. “Not nearly as exciting without you and Rook.”

I laugh. “I’m sure.”

“Where is your man, anyway?”

“He’s on his way here. Tell everyone at the compound I said hello.”

“Will do. Enjoy your evening.”

“You too.”

Illren and I continue on to the large, rounded booth in the back. Several others say hi or wave to me on the way. I recognize them from the club but don’t really know them. When Illren and I slide into the booth, he smirks at me. “You’re a popular woman.”

I grimace. “I always have been. By men, anyway. Women tend to dislike me because I get all the male attention. All part of my curse. But it’s worse in the underworld, since I was the human girl running with the underworld crowd and now I’m the human turned fey. Not to mention I was part of two of the biggest scandals the underworld has seen in a few years.”

Illren’s smirk turns into a genuine smile, albeit a small one. “You are rather remarkable, Mistress.”

I blanch. “Yeah, can we drop themistressthing?”

He frowns. “But it’s what you are.”

“Right. I get that. But can you just call me Nora, like everyone else?”

“If you’d like.”

Thankfully, Skinny arrives with two glasses of water before things between Illren and me can get awkward. “You waiting for your other friends before you order?”

I nod, but Illren says, “No. Nora needs to get some food in her.”

Skinny doesn’t question him. He looks at me expectantly. “What’ll it be, pretty lady?”

I go with a classic. “Bacon cheeseburger with a side of fries and a chocolate shake, please.”

“You got it.”

“Thanks, Skinny.”

After Illren orders some kind of fey dish that I can’t pronounce, he gives me a searching look. “You still eat like a human. You act like one, too.”

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