A Stone in the Sea(18)

“Thank you,” he said under his breath as he pulled out a stool and took a spot at the high-top table.

“No problem.”

He waited until the rest of the guys took their seats then lifted his hand in a casual gesture. “So I was telling my friends here about this cool bar down by the river that I’d come to a couple of times. They wanted to check it out.”

“Ah. Well you picked the best night. One of my favorite bands is playing tonight.” I let my eyes wander over the four of them. “Although I’m thinking it might not be your style.”

The flirty one barked out a laugh. “What, you think we don’t fit in?”

I quirked a teasing brow. “And you do?”

“Oh, sweetheart, I fit in anywhere I go. I’m Ash.”

He shoved his hand out in front of him and I shook it. “Nice to meet you, Ash. I’m Shea.”

Baz pointed at the super-tall black-haired guy. “This is Lyrik.”

Lyrik tipped up his chin without saying anything, just scratched at it, flashing the tattoos that covered the back of his hand and bled down his knuckles. Everything about the guy seemed menacing, though he cast me a small smile to say hello.

Baz waved his hand at the guy who had to be a few years younger than the rest of them. His green eyes were bright and almost excited, and his shaggy brown hair seemed to fit his personality perfectly. “And this is Zee,” Baz said.

Zee grinned. “It’s a pleasure.”

Ash tossed a playful glare at Baz. “And just how do you know our Beautiful Shea, here?”

Baz shrugged. “Like I said, I’ve stopped in a couple of times.” He leveled his gaze on me, those strange grey eyes swimming in warmth yet still freezing cold, which seemed to pump me full of the confusion I’d been feeding from for the last two weeks. “This one’s hard to forget.”

My entire body flamed, red rushing up to grip my face. It was completely unexpected for him to compliment me this way in front of his friends. And Lord, I liked that, too.

Ash winked at me. “Ah. I see the draw of this place now.”

I forced the lightness into my tone. “You mean the band that’s getting ready to play?”

Laughter ripped from him. “Oh, I like you.”

“So what can I get for y’all tonight?”

A wry grin spread across Ash’s face. “Why don’t you bring four shots of Jager for me and my boy Lyrik here?”

“Not messing around tonight, huh?” I asked, scribbling it down on a napkin.

“Nope. We’ve been cooped up for the last two weeks and we’re ready for a little fun.”

Huh.

I wanted to ask him more, but from the scowl that hit Baz’s face, I figured it was none of my business.

Lyrik punched at Zee. “And bring this asshole a Coke. He’s driving tonight.” His eyes narrowed at the younger guy. “Payback, bitch.”

Zee just cracked up. “Whatever, dude. If it makes you feel better about losing all your dough, I’ll drive.”

My gaze traveled over the angles of Baz’s strong face. “Your regular?” I asked.

I took a strange pleasure in knowing his regular. I may not know much about him, but I did know that.

“Yep.”

Ash poked his tongue into his cheek, a knowing smirk growing as he glanced between Baz and me. Baz’s expression got all dark and dangerous. Discomfort rolled through me, and I took a step back. “Give me a second to get these filled and I’ll be back.”

As I walked a way, I peeked back at Baz. Feeling his weight. That heavy blanket of severity that rolled from him. Stare unyielding. Posture straining in rigid awareness. Like he was trailing me across the room even though he hadn’t moved an inch.

God, what was wrong with me? Because the only thing I wanted in that moment was to bury myself in it.

By the time I returned to their table with their drinks, the band had taken the stage. A riot of applause erupted, and the energy Tamar had been talking about burst through the crush who’d vied for a better position up front. A guitar rang out. Rick took his spot in front of his mic, a light giggle slipping from Emily as she glanced at Rick, and then he called out into the crowd, “Good evening.”

The entire bar went wild.

“Popular?” Baz asked, shouting to be heard above the noise, waving toward the stage as I set their drinks in front of them.

I leaned toward him so he could hear, and every pore on my skin came alive with his proximity. “Yeah, around here at least.”

Like he wasn’t all that impressed, he gave an offhanded shrug. “Cool.”

“Let me know if you need anything else. I’ll be around.”

I slipped back into work, filling orders, Emily’s sweet voice tickling my ears while the time quickly passed. When she began to sing my favorite song of theirs, I paused at the edge of the dance floor and just took it in, lightly swaying as I got lost in the hypnotic feel of the music. My mouth moved with the words but my tongue remained silent, unwilling to allow my voice to be heard.