The Rebel (Red's Tavern 2)

“I can’t believe you tricked me, Sam,” he said, grinning. “I thought I was going to have to wrangle that computer for twenty minutes like last time.”

“Yeah. Was hoping you wouldn’t be too mad,” Sam said with a wink.

“Last time you tried the passwords dick, dicknballs, redsrocket, and cocksleeve,” Red said.

I snorted. “What was the real password?”

“It was just tavern1,” Red said, rolling his eyes. “I’m glad that’s not the real reason I’m here, though.”

“The real reason you’re here is because you and Liam Hardy are the cutest fucking couple on planet Earth,” Sam said.

“Gonna have to agree with him there,” Mitch said.

My heart skipped a beat hearing them refer to us as a couple. I still waited for Red to interject and say something like we aren’t, but instead, all he did was smile.

“That’s it. We’re taking shots,” Sam said, dancing around behind the bar.

“Sam,” Red said.

“They’re going to be virgin shots,” Sam said. “But that doesn’t mean you’re all off the hook. They’re going to be spicy.”

“That sounds like it might be terrible,” Red said, grinning.

“It might. Or it might be the best thing you’ve ever tried.”

A couple minutes later Sam had lined up shot glasses full of something red colored.

“Down the hatch,” he said, and we all lifted up our glasses and tossed them back. The liquid burned in my throat with something cinnamon flavored, maybe a little ginger, and God knows what else.

“Damn,” I said.

“Right?” Red agreed, his eyes wide.

“See? Virgin shots can still knock you on your ass,” Sam said, pointing at us all.

Perry had taken one too, and now his eyes were thoughtfully examining the empty shot glass. “Honestly, the way the ginger played off the pomegranate is intriguing,” he said. “I wonder if I could incorporate this into a steak sauce.”

“If you do, you owe me credit,” Sam said.

Red’s eyes flitted to the front doors and I saw his expression morph into surprise.

A brief flare of anxiety ripped through me. The last time I’d seen Red with an expression like that, it was because Colin had showed up unexpectedly at the bar.

But soon Red’s face broke out in a huge smile. I turned and saw what looked like a younger version of Red walking through the front doors, hopping on crutches.

“Rock!” Red said standing up and walking over to him. “Never thought I’d see the day you walked in here again. Hobbled in, more like.”

“My ankle’s still fucked up,” Rock said, giving Red a grin. “Sorry I’m late. They told me to get here an hour ago.”

“You guys really got my mom and my brother to make the trek down here for this?” Red said, looking at Sam.

“It was all him,” Sam said, nodding over at me.

“I wanted you to feel like you were at home,” I said.

“And the best way to feel like you’re at home is with us around, nagging you about everything,” Red’s mom said, walking over to give Rock a hug. Rita had been over by the pool tables hustling games from the regulars. “We need to have a little talk, by the way, hun.”

“What do you mean?”

She lifted an eyebrow. “I saw that business over here, a few minutes ago,” she said. “You didn’t tell me you and Liam were...”

“Oooh,” Rock said, leaning on one crutch and waggling his eyebrows at Red. He put a hand out to shake mine. “I’m Rock, by the way. I’m his younger brother, sometimes mortal enemy, and sometimes best friend.”

“I’m Liam,” I said.

Red walked back over toward me, putting his arm around my waist. “And yes. He’s… my boyfriend. If he’ll let me call him that.”

My heart felt like it had just been lit from within. I swallowed hard, half worried I wouldn’t even be able to muster a response because I was so bowled over with love for this man.

“Yeah,” I said. “I think I fucking love that.”

Red dipped to press a small kiss to my lips. His face was burning hot against mine.

Thank God I wasn’t the only one blushing my ass off around here.

“Hell has frozen over!” Rock exclaimed, leaning on his crutches to clap his hands.

“What are you even talking about, Rocky?” Red said, shaking his head.

“I always thought I’d be first, is all,” Rock said.

“First? To what? It’s not like you haven’t had your share of girlfriends.”

Rock peered at us. “I mean, first to something real,” he said. “For some reason, I get a feeling this one is the real deal.”

“This is the one that roped me in,” Red said, squeezing my side. I couldn’t keep the big, dumb smile off of my face.

“Oh my lord, what is this?” Rock said, coming over toward the bar as Perry carried out another tray of finger foods.

“Maple-bourbon seared scallops, fennel mini meatballs, and some good old-fashioned pigs in a blanket,” Perry said, glancing at Rock. I swore I saw Perry’s eyes linger a little while longer than usual on Rock, his pupils going a little wide.