Broken but Breathing (Jinx Tattoos 2)

He scoffed. “So basically, you know jack shit.”

“Try me,” she said.

“Highball.”

She nodded and moved to grab a tumbler.

“You even know what that is, girl?” Dirty taunted.

She ignored him as she added ice, grabbed a bottle of whiskey, and topped it off with a splash of Coke. She sat the drink down in front of Dirty. “What do you think, old man?”

Dirty threw back his head and laughed, breaking the tension. “Hot damn, I might like you after all.”

She smiled, and his brothers descended, eager to put her schooling to the test. As they crowded in around her, she glanced at him, and he nodded his approval. She turned to take another drink order. Her deference pleased him. Her silent request woke something protective inside of him. She is mine to protect. She called me because she knew I could keep her safe and help her. The thought made him hard. I’m a pig. The last thing on her mind right now is getting dicked down.

§

Flushed and mused, she slid another drink down the bar and he stepped in.

“All right, the bartender is off the clock,” Snake said.

His brothers let out a groan, and he laughed. It wasn’t every day they had someone behind the bar who knew what the fuck they were doing. It was usually a hang around or biker bunny looking to bed a bad boy or hoping to make Old Lady status. He nodded his head and she moved from behind the bar. The color in her cheeks looked good.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, that was fun. I always liked making drinks for people. It’s why I went to Bartending School.”

“Seems like a solid plan. Plenty of people can’t say they like what they do.”

“Hey, you get out of school and need a gig, you come back this way,” Dirty called.

She flashed him a smile, and Snake’s heart skipped a beat. Jesus Christ, she’s beautiful. It changed her completely. The inner light he glimpsed was a beacon. He took a step closer before he could think better of it. She looked up at him, pinning him with her large eyes.

“You play pool?” he asked.

The smile returned, and he caught his breath. “I dabble.”

“We have a pool table and a dartboard.”

“Darts? I love darts.”

“What’s a little thing like you know about darts?” Brawny, an ex-linebacker for a minor leagues football team asked.

“A girl who knows enough,” Estelle replied.

That’s it, baby, give ’em sass.

“You care to put your money where your mouth is, Sprite?” Brawny wiggled the toothpick in his mouth.

Something wicked moved behind her eyes. “Are you?”

“Oh hooo. I think she’s calling you out, brother,” Dirty said.

Brawny looked at Snake. “You see this shit?”

“I do,” Snake replied with a grin. He’d done the right thing bringing her here. She didn’t have time to dwell on anything. The club was good for taking your mind off of everything.

“And you approve?” Brawny said.