Bullets & Bonfires

“You heard him. She’s not going to be able to trust anyone for a long time.”

“You’re not just anyone. But if you really feel that way, let her ride Sully’s dick for a while. Then you can swoop in and play hero when he dumps her.”

He’s deliberately trying to piss me off. So instead of reaching over the table and choking him, I sit back.

“Or maybe,” he continues, having way too much fun at my expense. “She’ll be the one to tame him, and you can be the best man at their wedding.”

“You’re an asshole.”

Keegan, fucker that he is, sits back and laughs. “Settle down. I’m jerking your chain because you’re being stupid.”

“Vince would have a stroke if I got together with his sister.”

“Fuck him.” Keegan takes an exaggerated look around the bar. “I don’t see his ass here, taking care of her.”

Vince is my best friend. Has been for most of my life. But I can’t deny that Keegan’s words get under my skin.

“He’s working.” Even to me, the excuse sounds lame.

“Bullshit. Some punk beat my sister up, nothing would keep me away.”

“He knew I was here.”

“Then obviously,” he says with exaggerated slowness, “he trusts you with her.”

“You don’t date your friend’s sister. That’s basic bro—”

Keegan cuts me off by leaning over the table and growling in my face. “I swear to fuck if you say any variation of bro code, I’m gonna punch you in the throat. You’re too old for that shit.”

I hold in my laughter, even though I know Keegan’s threat is very real. “Come on, there are rules to that sort of thing.”

He grunts at me and I decide to be more serious. “It’s not just Vince. She’s returning to school at the end of the summer. I don’t want to interfere with that. She’s worked really hard.”

“Is her school on the other side of the moon?”

“Empire. Don’t be a dick.”

“You seen Jenson lately?”

Not sure why he cares if I’ve seen one of my dad’s old cop buddies, I answer with caution. “No, why?”

“He asks about you a lot. You should transfer to Empire PD.”

“My parents are here. And I happen to like my job.”

“You’d earn more money down there.”

Yes, I know that, because the lack of competitive pay was one of the reasons we had so many deputies leave the job within their first two years. “This area is running thin as it is.”

“That’s not your problem.”

“It has to be someone’s problem. We need experienced deputies.”

“You sound like a recruitment ad.”

When I don’t answer, he sits back against the booth and in a lower voice says, “You’ve known her since she was a kid. You have history.”

I should’ve known he wouldn’t let this go. “You trying to tell me she’s the one?”

“Come on, Liam. You’re not some rebound guy for her.”

The words click in my brain, but I refuse to acknowledge why. “Since when do you say things like ‘rebound guy’?”

Whatever half-ass answer he was about to spew at me dies in his throat as his attention is drawn to the door. Following his line of sight, I groan when she steps farther into the bar. Giant bag slung over her shoulder, weaving her way through the crowd, Bree’s wearing a loose green sundress that does nothing to hide her curvy body. She tosses her hair over her shoulder and zeroes in on our table. A brief smile lights up her face and she hurries over.

“Speaking of our little dark-haired devil,” he says and I shoot a glare at him.

“I was hoping you’d still be here,” she says to me after waving a quick hello to Keegan.

“Is everything okay?”

I stand so she can slide into the booth next to me, but not before I catch the corners of her mouth turn down.

“I’m fine.”

She probably didn’t want to be alone, jackass.

Keegan gives me a raised-brow-smirk face that I’m pretty sure is saying the same thing.

“How you been, sweetheart?” he asks her, settling his hand over hers and turning on enough charm to make me want to drill my fork through his other hand.

“Not bad,” she answers. “Still putting out fires?”

I tune them out and consider Keegan’s words.

Or at least I try to.

“Hi, Bree. Good to see you again,” Sully says, motioning for Keegan to shove over. Jake follows him over and slips into the booth next to his brother.

Jake eyes her in a way I don’t care for. I’ve only met him a handful of times, and each time he’s gone home with a different girl. Thinks he’s the goddamn pussy whisperer.

I don’t want him anywhere near Bree.

I wrap my arm around her shoulders and tuck her against me, making it clear she’s not to be whispered to or anything else Jake might come up with.

Keegan ducks his head, his body shaking with laughter. Under the table I kick him, but he just laughs harder.

Bree’s gaze shifts between us, but she doesn’t move out of my hold or ask me what the hell I’m doing.

There’s so much weirdness going on here tonight.

Keegan and Liam seem to be challenging each other. Sully and Jake seem to be afraid to even look at me.

And let’s not forget Liam has his arm around my shoulders.

Even so, I’m enjoying hanging out with Liam and his friends. It’s like catching a rare glimpse into his world. The guys are obviously close and know how to walk a fine line between entertaining and irritating each other. I’m happy to be a part of it, even if only for a short while.

Liam leans over and whispers in my ear. “Do you want to go somewhere else for dinner?”

His all-consuming heat gives me a jolt. I turn and our lips almost collide.

My mouth twitches into a shaky smile. It’s hard to concentrate with him studying me so closely. “I’m okay. This is fun.”

“You trying to get away from us, Hollister?” Jake asks, pulling Liam’s attention away and giving me a chance to breathe.

“Yeah,

I don’t want Bree exposed to your deviance.”

“Are you always this mean to your friends?” I tease.

“Only Jake.”

“He considers me more of an obligation than a friend,” Jake explains, jerking his thumb in Sully’s direction. “’Cause he’s friends with my brother.”

“Ohh, I’m familiar with that situation. We should compare notes.” Nervous laughter follows my words. But I’m the only one who seems to think it’s funny.

Liam’s whole body tenses and his hold on me tightens. His silent way of telling me he doesn’t see me as a chore?

“Our waitress looks overloaded, I’m gonna go up to the bar. Anyone need anything?” Keegan asks as he slides out of the booth. Jake gives him an absurdly long list, which Keegan ignores. Sully slaps his brother on the arm and follows Keegan to the bar.

Liam leans down, his lips brushing my ear again. “Let’s be clear, you’ll never be an obligation to me.”

If only that was true.

Jake waves his arm in the air, signaling to someone by the door. With Liam blocking my way, I don’t see who it is until he’s almost at our table.

“Teller! You’re early. Where’s Murphy?” Jake asks, half-standing and reaching across the table for a fist-bump.

Jake tries to introduce us, but I wave him off. “I’ve known Marcel since I was a kid. Teller, huh? I didn’t know you had a secret identity.”

Marcel shrugs off my comment with a smirk. His gaze slides to Liam and they each give each other a subtle chin lift that’s…almost friendly.

Weird. Since the last time they saw each other, they acted like two Pit Bulls about to lock jaws around each other’s necks.

“Evening, Officer.”

Liam nods at Marcel’s leather vest. “You supposed to be wearing your colors in here, Teller?”

Okay. So much for friendly.

Marcel’s not offended though. “I’m here to see Oscar. I think he’s okay with it.” He turns, dismissing Liam. He nods at Jake and jerks his head toward the kitchen.

“I’ll be right back,” Jake says, sliding out of the booth.

“Did you have to be so rude?” I ask after they’re gone.

Liam’s eyes widen, all country-boy charm—a look he hasn’t been able to pull off since ninth grade. “He’s probably here to shake the owner down for money.”