Page 29 of Love That Sass

“That’s terrific. I’ll finish filling these for you and I will check the hard stuff too, okay?”

“Yep. Thanks,” she replied tightly.

Get a grip, Gwenny.

“Here you go,” Gwendolyn said, returning to the bar and lining up the six shots of tequila, complete with a couple of saltshakers and six slices of lime in front of her customer.

“No, baby, here you go,” the young flirtatious male retorted, pushing one shot back her way.

“Oh, thank you, but I don’t drink hard liquor,” she replied, shaking her head but smiling to soften the blow.

“You have to. It’s like bartending rules, if a customer buys you a shot, you drink,” he said, and there was something in his eyes she did not quite like.

Gwen smiled and shook her head, politely refusing the drink. The man had some buddies who were finishing their own shots, slamming the glasses back down on the table. The rowdy group of guys lined up next to him, chanting for her todrink drink drink.

“I’ll buy this round, how about that? You all have a good night,” she said, trying to keep the customers happy.

“I said drink,” he snarled, grabbing her wrist when she would have turned around.

Gwendolyn winced under the man’s surprise strength, and before she could do more than open her mouth, Weylin was there. He vaulted over the bar gracefully and had the man by the throat faster than she could blink.

Her wrist was suddenly released, and she staggered back, hardly realizing she’d been pulling to get away. Oh, but Weylin looked furious. His nostrils flared and eyes glittered like emerald ice as he lifted the man up to eye level. Totally in control, he dragged the jerk closer and whispered something in a voice way too low for Gwen to hear.

“You alright here?”

Gwen turned around and yelped at the image Thor had made beside her. The man was huge, even bigger than Weylin, with a shaved head and a dozen tattoos that she could see.

“Did that guy hurt you?” he asked.

All she could do was shake her head. The guy was a prick, but he hadn’t hurt her. He was young, and a little buzzed, clearly trying to show off in front of his friends.

Thor’s eyes were dark as midnight, and just as scary, she thought as he nodded over her head. When she turned, it was to see Weylin dragging the handsy jerk and his buddies out of the bar. Anger coursed through her. He didn’t have to do that!

She would have been fine. Maybe. But anyway, he had no right to just swoop in and treat her like some dang damsel in distress.

“Hey, Thor?” Gwen shouted as the man turned to leave.

She knew she shouldn’t be doing this. She should leave well enough alone. But it bothered her that Weylin thought her so weak. She could have handled that idiot customer. Plus, she didn’t need him messing with her brain this way.

Weylin was her friend. That was all. He didn’t get to go all protective boyfriend on her for no reason. Besides, she didn’t inspire that kind of reaction in men. Besides, that whole thing with her uniform earlier just confused her even more. She couldn’t afford to think things that were not real. Especially since she kinda sorta maybe had a developed the tiniest crush on the guy.

Fine. She had the hots for him. The full-blown, thinking about him all the time despite certain vows she’d made as a teenager kind of hots. Shit. Gwen needed to clear the air for sure.

“Yeah?” the big man asked.

“Can you watch the bar for a moment? I need to tell Weylin something.”

“Uh. I really don’t like talking to people, Gwen, you see, I’m more a bouncer—”

But she was already taking off the tiny waist apron she had on and walking after Weylin. He’d gone through the front door, so it was going to take her a moment to get through the crowd. NO. She could get to the back lot faster through the side kitchen door.

Good plan.

“Thanks, Thor!” she called back, not even listening to what he said.

Her heart was pounding, and she did not know why, but it was like her whole being was focused on getting outside. Getting to him. Right now.

Once she stepped into the night, Gwen was taken in by how dark it seemed. The neon sign broke up the deep purple skies, and the air seemed tense, full of mystery and magic.

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