“Babe, we need to get back to the bar. Why don’t you two stop by tonight?” Brighton suggests.

Nicole looks at me. Her eyes are pleading. “Fine,” I grumble.

She tells Brighton that we’ll be by later as she walks him to the door.

“How was your week?” Maxton asks.

I shrug. “Good, first week of classes. Just trying to get my new routine down for this semester. You?” I decide I need to at least attempt to make small talk.

“Good, busy. Now that I have the renovation done on the bar, I need to get the rest of it in order. The books, ordering, staffing—Things like that.”

“Sounds like you have your hands full.”

He chuckles. “You could say that.” Looking toward the door, he asks, “So I guess I’ll see you tonight?”

Is he nervous? “Yeah, looks like it.”

“Good.” He walks over and kisses my temple. “Be safe,” he says, then walks away.

What just happened? Sweet Maxton is not what I expected. Honestly, I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t him kissing me and telling me to be safe. This man confuses me; I don’t get what his game is. He’s all over the place and it makes it hard for me to pinpoint what he wants. Is he still trying to get me in his bed or does he want to be friends since our best friends are obviously in deep. I’m lost in thought, pondering the situation, when Nicole walks back in.

“Thanks for agreeing to go tonight. I really didn’t want to go alone.”

I wave my hand in the air as if it’s no big deal. Normally it wouldn’t be, but Maxton will be there. My only saving grace is that he will be working. Then again… he does own the place.

I’M LOSING MY damn mind. From the moment she agreed to come to the bar tonight, I knew I was in trouble. When Bright suggested she come, I was sure she would turn down the offer. Then I saw the pleading look on Nicole’s face and I knew she wouldn’t say no. It was when she finally agreed that I felt my heart kick into overdrive. She was going to be there, on my turf. The excitement of being able to show her that I’m more than just the playboy she seems convinced that I am took hold. So much so that I found myself kissing her goodbye and telling her to be safe. Fuck! I’m glad Bright was in the other room. He would be riding my ass for that one. I couldn’t seem to resist the pull.

Back at the bar, Bright and I rush around and make sure everything is stocked and ready to go. There’s not much going on in town tonight, so it’s sure to be busy. As the crowd slowly flows in, I catch Bright constantly watching the door. If he’s not looking at the door, he’s checking his phone. When he looks at the door this time, his face breaks out in a goofy-ass grin. He elbows me and tilts his head toward the door. “They’re here.”

I nod my head that I understand as I continue to serve the customer in front of me. We’re fully staffed tonight, so technically, we don’t need to be here. However, as owner and bar manager, we like to make our presence known. We usually do it on different nights, but when Kensington agreed to be here, I decided I had nothing better going on. Bright knows I wasn’t planning to be here, but he didn’t comment when I said otherwise. He and I usually alternate shifts, but we also schedule time off for us to just hang. Tomorrow is a good example. He and I are getting together with a group of guys and going riding. We both have four-wheelers and it’s a blast when a group of us get together.

The crowd at the bar dies down. We have two servers out on the floor and two other bartenders behind the bar, which helps keep the customers spread out. It’s also the reason that I’m not really needed tonight. Brighton isn’t really either.

I watch as Brighton rushes to the door to greet the girls. He brings them to a table closest to the bar. I know it’s so he can keep an eye on them. I would have done the same thing. I nod toward Brighton, letting my two guys behind the bar know that’s where I’ll be. With two swift nods in return, I head toward the table. Toward the girl I’ve tried not to think about for the past week, the girl who has consumed my thoughts since the day I met her.

Lance reaches their table the same time I do. I swallow back my irritation. He’s a nice guy and we’ve been friends for years. Hell, he’s going with us tomorrow. Even so, I don’t like him sniffing around Kensington.

Lance stops behind Kensington and places his hand on her shoulder. I grit my teeth as I slide into the empty seat beside her. I know he was going for it, but there’s no way in hell I’m letting that happen. “Hey, stranger,” he says.

I watch her as she turns to see who it is. She smiles, stands up, and gives him a hug.

What. The. Fuck.

Since when are the two of them so chummy? They’re standing there making small talk. Their conversation is swallowed up by the crowd, so I have no idea what they’re saying. The blood is rushing through my ears as everything blurs except for the two of them. His arm slides around her shoulder and something I’ve not felt before bubbles up inside of me. The sound of her laugh brings me back in focus. “Sure, if you think you can keep up,” she says.

“Oh, I can keep up all right.” Lance winks at her. “I’m holding you to that dance,” he says as he walks back toward a cute girl with brown hair. He’s here with a fucking date and hitting on her. I never pegged Lance to be that guy.

“I didn’t realize the two of you were so close?” I say, irritated as soon as she sits back down.

“We’re not really. I met him that night we first met. He’s a nice guy. We’ve texted a few times.” She shrugs like it’s nothing.

My guts twist at her admission. The thought of them together doesn’t sit well with me. “Interesting. You seem pretty close to just have texted a few times,” I accuse.

“His sister is in my finance class. He dropped her off the other day. When he picked her up, we all went for coffee,” she explains.

I don’t comment. I just stare over her head at where Lance is sitting. At this point, I’m not sure what pisses me off more, Lance being able to be close to her or my reaction to it.

“So what are you ladies drinking?” I need a change of subject.

They both say beer is fine. I head to the bar and grab four bottles and bring them back to the table. Bright raises his eyebrows at me, but doesn’t comment. Usually I’m against him or me drinking here. It’s hard to maintain authority when you’re intoxicated. We need to remain professional for the staff. Tonight, well, tonight I don’t give a fuck. My nerves are on high alert.

The four of us settle into easy conversation and the night flies by. After our one and only beer, Bright and I both switch to water. I want to say I did it to be responsible. In reality, it’s because I need to be able to make sure she gets home safe. I’m sure Bright and I are on the same page with this.

Before I realize it, it’s eleven o’clock. We’ve sat here for over two hours and it only seems like minutes. The four of us have a lot in common. The alcohol helps loosen Kens up a little and she’s not as serious as she usually is. She’s still guarded, just not as much. All is good until Lance steps up to the table.

“Ready for that dance?” He has both hands on her shoulders, looking over her. She tilts her head back and giggles. She fucking giggles at him. I love and hate the sound at the same time.

Kensington jumps out of her chair and stumbles. I reach out to catch her, but it’s Lance who wraps his arm around her waist. She looks up at him and smiles. I want to murder him.

“It’s just a dance, man.” I hear Brighton trying to calm me down. He and I haven’t talked about her. I’ve kept my mouth shut all week, trying to work it out in my mind. That doesn’t matter; he knows me better than anyone and can read me like a fucking book. He knows I want her. I want her to be more than just under me, and it scares me to death.