Fate’s Unseen Shadow (Cager #1)

Chapter 13

13

D amon stared at Ella, measuring vodka into a glass and wearing bright red lipstick. She’d smoothed her blond hair down and tucked it behind both ears, which held small hoops instead of her diamonds. She didn’t have those on earlier.

“Earth to Damon.” Ryker laughed. “You’re not paying a damn bit of attention to this conversation. You brought Ella here, but now you’re staring at her like you hadn’t seen her in a year.”

He scratched his cheek, his beard freshly trimmed. “I had to run to the store for more napkins. She wasn’t like that when I delivered her to Lacy earlier. She added more makeup.” And looked beautiful, either made up or natural.

“I don’t blame you for staring. If you hadn’t called dibs on Ella yet, I’d be ditching you boys to flirt my ass off with her at the bar.” Ryker finished his beer. “Nothing about her says boardroom tonight except for the pearls. I see she wore those again. Can’t say I hate them with the leather.”

“Leather? What are you talking about?” Damon asked. From his viewpoint, she still wore the black tank top that showed more cleavage than he had expected to see earlier. But now, with her hair and makeup, he found himself wondering why he thought this was a good idea. Only now, it wasn’t because he was worried about her safety. He did want to lock her in the apartment, but it would be his apartment and, more specifically, his bed.

“You haven’t seen it yet?” Slater whistled low. “It’s not only that blood-red lip tonight, my man. The fact she swapped her tailored suit for a mini skirt.”

“What?” Damon stood and turned to see what the other men watched.

Ella .

They all watched Ella as she headed across the room, carrying a tray of beer and missing pants. Every one in the bar broke their neck, watching her pass in that leather skirt and black fishnet tights.

Her smile brightened as she drew near. “Heard you were thirsty.”

“What in the hell are you wearing?” Damon snapped. “What happened to your jeans?”

Slowly, she slid the tray onto the table without spilling their drinks. “You do have the most unusual way of greeting your waitress when she brinks you beer.” She smiled at the other three men.

“Hi,” they said simultaneously, all with huge smiles.

Damon moved behind her, blocking anyone from checking out her butt. “Dammit, Ella. Your ass is about to fall out of that skirt.”

“It won’t.” She started passing out beer. “Lacy and I did a bend-over test.”

Slater sat his cheek in his hand, elbow on the table. “The bend-over test? Please explain more. In graphic detail.”

Ella turned, handing Damon his beer directly. “I told you that she brought me clothes to wear tonight.”

“You didn’t elaborate on what kind of clothes.”

“I didn’t realize you were into women’s fashion or I would’ve.” She crossed her arms, irritation flashing in her blue eyes. “She brought me this skirt. When I changed, I bent over, and she guaranteed that my ass you’re so concerned about wouldn’t fall out.”

Xavier held up a hand like a kid in school. “I will gladly volunteer for the role if Lacy is unavailable.”

“Both of you, shut up,” Damon demanded, growing angrier. “You can’t walk around like”—he motioned to her outfit—“this. You need to change.”

She cocked her head to the side, the shift in her demeanor immediate. “Why?” She’d said it with an almost regal tone, like how could he possibly question her.

“Because every one in here is staring at your ass.”

“Ah. Right. So I need to dress for whose comfort, exactly? Mine, yours, or theirs?”

Ryker snorted as he drank the beer, turning into a coughing fit.

But Damon stayed locked in on Ella, trying to figure out how to respond to that question. “It’s to keep you safe and from being objectified.” Why didn’t she see that?

“I realize you boss everyone around, including me, but not on this.” Ella shifted closer, her finger poking into the middle of his chest. “I haven’t taken fashion advice from a man since I was seven. Now, it took me ten minutes to get tired of Carl’s bullshit at the bar, and I’m already fed up with yours after ten seconds. Lacy brought me this skirt. I like it, and I’m wearing it. I feel like I look cute.”

“Cute?” The word cute had never factored into his thoughts.

Straight sin was more like it.

“You’re the one who told me to be Ella. And Ella likes this style. I don’t care if Damon doesn’t.” She snatched the empty tray from the table and stomped away.

In that moment, he’d witnessed Ella switch back into Elizabeth Cassin. But what did it say about him that her attitude was just as sexy as that outfit?

He flexed his hands from where they’d fisted as three guys at the end of the bar obviously checked her butt out when she passed by them. Turning, he spotted the massive smiles on his friends’ faces.

“Not. A. Fucking. Word. Any of you.” He sat down. “And if either of you guys checks out her ass again, I will let my intrusive thoughts take over and take my frustration out on your face.”

“You should apologize.” Slater touched the edge of his beer glass to Damon’s, still gripped in his hand. “It’s not nice to tell a woman what to wear. I’ve already learned that the hard way, and you did, too, my man.”

Damon grumbled and drank his entire beer in a long drink. He should apologize for trying to keep her safe and respected? She’d come to him, asking for his help. He tried to give it, and she told him she’s sick of his bullshit? Didn’t make any sense.

“Damn. Pace yourself, or you’ll be making drunken promises of love by midnight.” Xavier nudged Slater. “Want to place a bet?”

“Shut up.” He took Slater’s beer from him, downing the rest of it as well.

“I think she’s getting to him, boys.” Ryker grinned. “And no wonder. Not sure I’d hold out this long if someone as sweet as Ella lived ten feet away from me.”

Sweet? Yes. Ella had a very sweet side, but he liked the whole package, including the attitude.

Damon huffed and started to reach for Xavier’s beer, but he pulled it away.

“Nope. You have to figure this out sober.”

“Figure what out? I’m trying to help keep her safe, but she won’t do what I say.”

“Is that what it was? You dictate her not to wear the skirt because you don’t want her to get caught or because you don’t want a man looking at something you consider yours?”

That made him sit up straight. “Mine? I never once thought she was mine.”

All three simultaneously raised their eyebrows.

Slater cleared his throat. “You’ve made that point perfectly clear on several occasions. Go for it already.”

“It’s not ethical,” he grumbled, sitting back. And he shouldn’t want to go there with her. Never had with any other victim he’d helped before.

Xavier caved and pushed his beer toward Damon. “Who’s to say what’s ethical? You’re both adults. If she likes you, then that’s her choice. You’re not taking advantage of a grown woman who can clearly make her own decisions. She’s a victim, but not like that.”

Xavier was right.

Damon finished the beer and pushed out of the booth. Sitting and stewing wasn’t his style. “I’m going to apologize.”

“Good.” Slater held up his empty beer glass. “Refill this while you’re at it.”

Instead of worrying about taking advantage of her, he needed to determine whether she was truly interested or if all the flirty back-and-forth over the past few days was her personality.

“What can I get you, boss?” Lacy called as he approached her. “Another round already?”

“Beer for the guys. They were thirsty tonight.” He walked behind the bar and moved to the wall of liquor, needing something heavier than beer. He reached for the high-dollar bourbon kept at the top.

He turned as Ella stepped back into him. She spun around, causing her half empty glass to fly across his shirt. She covered her mouth. “I’m so sorry. What are you doing back here?”

He looked down at the wet mark. “Is this your way of paying me back for being an asshole?”

“No.” She pulled the towel from her back pocket and wiped at the stain. “But you were an asshole.”

“I had good intentions, but it was poorly executed. I’m sorry.”

Ella lifted her chin. “Apology accepted.”

“Are we good?”

She nodded.

Damon poured his bourbon and replaced the bottle. “Good.” He slid his hand along her lower back, two fingers underneath the hem of her cropped shirt and his pinky sliding just inside the waistband of her skirt. “I’d hate to ruin the night because of a well-intended misstep.” He drew her body to his, her gasp doing more for his ego than it should’ve. “And you don’t look cute.”

“I don’t?”

“No. You look fucking hot.”

He dropped his hand, leaving her to figure out her next move as he headed back to the guys. He sat down and relaxed in the booth. “Done.”

“You apologized that quickly?” Slater shook his head. “I didn’t think you even knew the words I’m sorry.”

“I do. I just choose never to say them to you.”

Lacy brought the next round of drinks over, and the guys settled into their usual routine. They alternated business discussions with hearing about the next bail jumper Slater had in his sights. Damon kept the conversation away from Ella. He’d have to face the consequences for pushing the limit later.

“What the hell?” Ryker sat up straight about an hour later. “What is Walker doing in here? How’d he get past Chris?”

Xavier lifted his chin. “I don’t know, but it doesn’t look like he’s here for Lacy tonight. Must’ve heard about Ella already.”

“I see.” Damon couldn’t stand random people staring at her, but for Walker to be there, touching her wrist when she set his drink down, was personal. And it wouldn’t happen again. “I already warned her about him. I don’t know if she’ll know that’s who she’s serving right now.”

Xavier texted into his phone. “I’m giving Chris the heads-up.”

“I can’t stand that bastard,” Slater muttered. “Someday, I’m going to catch him and send his ass to jail.”

“I’m guessing you’re not his favorite person since you’ve tried twice to have the bar shut down.” Damon wrestled with his next move. Go over there and break it up or sit by and let Ella turn him down on her own.

“I don’t like how closely he’s watching her,” Ryker murmured. “Not with an uptick in coverage of her story. It was on again this morning. The FBI is getting desperate to find her.”

“I caught it,” Xavier said.

“Me, too.” Damon sipped his bourbon, his skin holding a familiar buzz of adrenaline. He was ready for whatever was about to happen. “Should I storm over there like I did with Jeff?”

“No,” Slater murmured. “Wait and see how it plays out.”

Walker laughed at something Ella said as she handed him back his credit card. This time, he held her wrist so she couldn’t move.

She glanced in Damon’s direction with a panicked expression.

“Fuck it. At least I’ll get to hit someone tonight.” He stood to take a step, but she extracted her hand. Damon motioned her over, and she power walked down the length of the bar, away from Walker, before exiting. “He needs to keep his damn hands to himself.”

Slater tugged on the back of Damon’s shirt. “Sit. Overreacting will be the worst thing to keep Walker away. He’s like an overstimulated puppy. If it pisses you off, he’s going to keep doing it because he loves the game. Your move with Detective Moore worked last time. Try that again. Let him know she’s yours. He’ll back off. He may be a piece of shit, but he’s not suicidal.”

Speaking of men who’d touched Ella. Damon looked across the table to Ryker. “Did you ever finish that background research on whoever the hell Matteo is?”

“As far as I can see, what she said is true. They’ve been photographed at a few events together, the last one about six months ago. He’s very active on social media, and there’s no mention of her or her disappearance. If there had been some love connection between them, he would’ve posted something about tropical couple vacations. Happy birthdays. Valentine’s Day. Nothing.”

“Why do I hate the guy for it and am happy simultaneously?”

“Same reason you can’t stand to see Walker touch her.” Ryker shrugged. “She likes you, Damon. Make a move. See where it goes.”

“I hope that’s true because I’m about to take Slater’s advice to ensure Walker doesn’t touch her again.”

“And if that doesn’t work, we can always do something irrational.” Slater cracked his knuckles.

“Did you need more drinks?” Ella asked, looking at the mostly full drinks sitting on the table.

Damon shook his head, focused on Walker, who’d followed her across the room. “No. Just wanted to see you.”

With a puzzled look, she glanced over her shoulder. “See me or save me?”

“Both.”

Walker stepped up to the table.

Damon reached out and snagged Ella’s hand, pulling her the rest of the way to him, turning her around by the hips, and setting her down on his lap.

She sat. “Oh!”

Damon leaned close to her ear. “Play along.”

She looked down at her hands, and the curve of her cheek lifted with a smile. “Won’t be hard.”

Damon grunted. “What the hell are you doing here, Walker?” he asked.

Ella jerked her head up at the mention of his name.

He held onto the outside of Ella’s thigh. He meant it to appear possessive. Because he was. That had hit him the moment her butt had hit his lap. Walker and every other person in the bar, fuck it. Every person in Charleston would get the picture that Ella was off limits.

Now, he had to get Ella on board with that idea.

Holding his gaze, Walker took a sip of his drink. Then, he glanced down at Ella, where Damon held her thigh, before shaking his head. “You always were a lucky son of a bitch.”

“Let me repeat the question. What are you doing here?”

“I can’t stop in for a neighborly chat?”

“You could if we were neighborly.”

Walker’s smirk was all cocky arrogance. “I’m offended that you don’t consider us friends.” He looked down at Ella again. “It’s too bad we’re not. Friends share. She seemed interested earlier. Didn’t you…Ella, is it?”

“I never told you my name.”

“Didn’t have to.”

All the men in the booth shifted. Ella shook her head. “I’m not interested. I never—” Damon lightly patted the outside of her thigh, and she stopped talking. He’d caught the slight edge of panic in her voice and needed her to sit tight while they handled it.

“Only a dickhead like you can’t tell the difference between when a woman’s interested and when she’s being nice. She’s been no more friendly to you than she’s been to every person who walked into this bar. It’s one of the reasons she’s so good at her job, which is why I’m guessing you’re here to begin with. She’s not going anywhere.” Damon leaned forward. “If you look at her or even think about her again?—"

“Let me guess. You’ll rearrange my face with your fists?” he asked in a mocking tone.

Damon slipped his hand around Ella’s waist, spreading his fingers wide and hoping like hell this was okay with her. “No.” He picked up his bourbon with his free hand, taking a small sip. “My hands are busy.”

Walker shifted his weight, annoyance firing in his eyes.

“But Ryker’s aren’t.”

That cocky smile fell as he looked over at Ryker, recognizing the severity of the threat.

Ryker sat forward, his slow smile as lethal as drawing a gun. “Oh, it would be my absolute pleasure.”

Ella laid her hand over Damon’s, interlacing her fingers with his and giving them a small squeeze.

Walker cleared his throat, his attitude a little more subdued. A physical altercation wouldn’t faze a man like him. But no one could withstand Ryker’s cyber attacks. Walker returned his attention to Ella. “When you get tired of this poor excuse of a man, I’ll still be waiting down at Midnights. And you will get tired of him, I promise you. We have more in common than you might think.”

“Your trip here was a waste. I’m not going anywhere,” Ella shot back in that tone she’d used with Damon earlier, like once she’d said it, there was no more discussion. Her words were final.

“Now, you can leave on your own or I can help you out,” Slater announced.

“See, I come in here, a regular, nice guy, and now you’re threatening to kick me out. No wonder your business is going to hell.” He looked at each man before ending with Ella. “Have a good night, beautiful.” He turned around and left the bar with his cocky swagger still annoying as shit.

Once he’d disappeared out the door, Ella collapsed against Damon’s chest. “I’m sorry, Damon. I had no idea he would be like that. I wasn’t flirting, I promise. I didn’t know who he was.”

“I know.” He rubbed the outside of her thigh, the fishnet tights an annoying barrier between him and her skin. “You’re a beautiful woman. That’s the attraction. Remember what I told you.”

She nodded, seeming not to be in a rush to move from his lap.

“Avoid Walker,” Slater said. “He has a nasty background related to weapons and gun charges. Owns his bar through a shell corporation to get around the red tape. He’s always been a pain in the ass. Called the health inspector on us five times when we first opened. Put in anonymous tips to the IRS to try to get us shut down for tax evasion. Complained to the state to get our liquor license revoked. He hates the competition.”

“We can be a pain in his ass. Just release me.” Ryker grinned and threw back the rest of his beer. “You know I enjoy screwing over people like him over for fun.”

“What would you do?” Ella leaned her elbows on the table and focused on Ryker, her bottom pressing firmer against Damon’s lap.

“I have a few options at my disposal. I could gather information to hand over the police to have him arrested. But that’s boring. I’d much rather get into his systems and screw around with him mentally. Like filing correct tax returns and paying all his back taxes.”

“Oh my god! I love it. So can you access people’s bank accounts?”

“Yes. I generally don’t, but I can.”

As Ryker explained a few other options for messing with Walker, Damon held on to Ella’s hips and shared a look with Slater, who lifted his eyebrows. “You better do something, brother,” he murmured. “Not many good things fall into your lap like this.”

He stroked back and forth on her thigh, over the ridges of the fishnet tights. “I don’t want to make a misstep.”

Slater tipped his head toward Damon. “I’m as by the book as they come,” he said, keeping his voice low, “and I’d do something with these signals.”

God, it was tempting. Damon patted her hip and did what was best and not what he wanted. “Go to work, Ella. Lacy is slammed up there. Ryker can give you all his tricks later.”

She looked over her shoulder. “From protective to bossy? I thought I only had to do what you said when it’s for my safety?” She pressed her back against his chest and crossed her legs.

He slid his hands from her hips down her thighs. “This is me being your boss.” Giving into the temptation, he kissed the top of her bare shoulder, keeping eye contact for any rejection. “And it’s time to work.”

“You don’t seem in a hurry to let me stand,” she whispered.

He kissed her shoulder again, feeling his sense of control drifting away. “Of course, I’m not.”

“The boss feeling up the employee. Classic. This is the biggest sexual harassment case I’ve ever witnessed,” Slater said, breaking the tension. He laughed behind his beer before taking a drink. “She can report you to our HR department, you know?”

“No need to report either one of us. I’m going.” Ella rose, looking down as she adjusted her skirt. “Do you know the technical definition of sexual harassment, Slater? The one we use whenever we litigate a claim within our company?”

“Pretty sure Damon ticks every box.”

She tipped her head to the side, focused solely on Slater, like they were having a one-on-one conversation. “To be classified as sexual harassment, it has to be unwelcome sexual advances.” She turned on her heel and sauntered to the bar, her hips swaying with sexy confidence.

Slater cleared his throat. “Uh, my friend, I truly hope you plan on doing something about that. Or else, I may have to take you to the ER to check your pulse.”

Xavier and Ryker both nodded in agreement.

“I shouldn’t.” Damon shook his head, trying to talk himself into staying on this side of the line. “I shouldn’t go there. I’m her boss.”

“ That’s your reason? A hot woman just let you know that your advances aren’t unwelcome after happily sitting in your lap and accepting that, what? Platonic kiss you planted on her shoulder?” Slater clasped his hands on the table. “After all of that, you still think you shouldn’t make a move? I even called it out in front of her, gave her a chance to tell you to back off for your own sanity, and she double-downed!”

“She’s in a mess, and I should focus on helping her. She’s confused right now.”

“That’s what a good man would do. Not let her make her own decision and pretend to know her thoughts and feelings,” Slater shot back. “Have you ever been around a woman?”

He licked his dry lips. “Whatever started would only end once we clear her name. She’d go back to her life, and I have mine.”

“Three for three. You’re on a winning streak with your critical-thinking skills. Now, let’s try not to think with that side of our brain.”

“And ignore all of that and admit out loud that you want her.” Ryker chimed into the conversation. “And not as an upstairs neighbor.”

Damon picked up his bourbon, murmuring, “You’re right,” before taking a drink. “I do want her.”

But he wouldn’t have her in his bed until he was certain that’s what she wanted. The stress of her situation and of being alone for the past month would skew anyone’s judgment. He had no interest in becoming the next Matteo in her life.

“Then what’s your next move?” Xavier asked.

But he wasn’t Matteo. There’d be nothing casual between them. That was one reason he wasn’t like Slater or Xavier. He didn’t do casual relationships. If he was going to make his move, tonight was it. Slater was right about the signals. And it was time to do something about it.

“I think I want to play pool.”

Xavier’s grin said he knew exactly how that would go. “Good choice.”

“The crowd isn’t going to let up.” Slater drank his beer. “Lacy won’t be happy if you leave her there alone.”

“That’s why you and Xavier can play bartender and flirt with the women. Is that a bachelorette party that walked in?”

“Well, damn. It is our lucky night.” Slater followed Xavier out of the booth. “We’re going to go mingle and then I’ll send Ella back to the pool table. The rest is up to you. Don’t screw it up.”

“Why are you so worried I’ll screw it up?” He stood, finishing his drink.

Xavier grew serious for the moment. “Because you’ve never been interested in a woman like Ella.”

Ryker pulled out his laptop. “What does that mean?”

“It means that Damon has limited himself to dating women that he’d never be interested in long-term relationships with. And Ella, even with an outstanding warrant and a murderer out to get her, checks nearly every box for him.”

With a slight head shake, Damon left the guys and crossed the bar to the pool table in the back corner. Not many people played, so he was glad to see the space empty.

He racked the pool balls and then chalked the end of the cue. Xavier was right, and that’s partly what worried him. He’d take this step, confirm how incredible she was, and then let her go because there was no way to merge their lives. She couldn’t walk away from what it took to run Cassin Systems, and Damon couldn’t walk away from what he had going on in Charleston. He and the guys impacted the community too significantly, finding runaways, to move away. He’d suffer with the pain of losing her over the regret of not helping to find children.

Ella arrived a few minutes later with a bourbon in her hand. “Slater told me to bring you a drink and take a break.”

“Thanks.” He accepted the tumbler. “Have you ever tried this one?”

“Pool?” She looked at the table, interest in her eyes.

“The bourbon.” He held it out.

“Can I drink and work?”

“The rule has always been two drinks a shift.”

She took the glass. “I do like bourbon.” She sipped it. “It’s good.” She licked her bottom lip, getting the last drop.

He could already taste her lips. “You can have my drink if you play a game.”

“I haven’t played since college.” She moved farther into the billiard area. “I remember not being very good.”

He racked the balls and passed her a pool cue. “Do you want to break or me?”

“You.” She smiled and covered her mouth with the rim of the glass. “I do remember that I couldn’t do that.”

He leaned over, ignoring the way her blue eyes watched him. He took the shot, scattering the balls across the green felt. Four balls fell into the pockets.

“Solids. You’re stripes,” he announced.

She set the glass down and sauntered around to the opposite side of the table. “This will be embarrassing.” She aimed, running the cue back and forth under her finger and lining up her shot. She missed the cue ball. Laughing, she laid her forehead on the table. “Oh my god. That’s horrible.” Looking up, “Can I try again?” she begged.

Damon chuckled and leaned back against the wall. “You can try as many times as you want.” Because from this angle, the only thing that could see up that skirt was the wall. It would be a different story if she had to shoot from the other side and the entire bar got a view.

“Three. That’s all I will try and then take my bruised ego back to work.” She aimed again and this time, made contact. The cue ball hit a solid green ball and rolled into the pocket. “That was the wrong ball.”

“That was the wrong ball. You’re correct. I figure you’re trying to help me out.” He leaned over the table and took his shot, sinking three before missing on purpose. “Your turn.”

She set the bourbon glass aside, half empty now. “I can do this.” She studied the placement before coming near him. “I will put that one over there in that far pocket.”

“You don’t have to call your shot until the 8-ball.”

“I’m manifesting the shot.” She bent over beside him, her hip brushing his. “If you dream it, you can have it.”

Damon bent down, caging her in by resting his hands on the edge of the table on either side of her. “Manifesting isn’t real, Ella.”

She turned her head, their faces aligning, her eyes darker in the dim lighting. “It doesn’t work with that kind of negative attitude.” With a tiny smirk, she focused back on the ball. “Don’t be a downer.”

“I’m realistic, not a downer.”

She flipped her hair away from her face and arched her back as she aimed the pool cue. “But if you don’t focus on what you want, you’ll never achieve it.”

“I have focus.” And he knew what he wanted: her. “But I take what I want. I don’t wait for the universe to hand it to me.”

He hooked his finger underneath the pearls at the back of her neck, pulling them until they touched her throat. “I thought I told you not to wear your jewelry.”

She froze, her eyes skittering across the room, maybe seeing if anyone watched. She wet her lips. “You didn’t notice them earlier.”

“I was a little distracted by the rest of you.” He rolled a pearl between his thumb and forefinger. “I think I’ve changed my mind.”

She flattened her hand on the table, rising a little. “About what?”

He kept tension on the pearls. “About you wearing these and never taking them off. I hope that proves to be true.”

Ella closed her eyes, her fingers pressing hard into the felt table. “Damon, I’m confused.”

Releasing the pearls, Damon slid his fingers into her hair, turning her face up to his.

She parted her lips, focusing on his mouth as her breathing quickened. As she lifted those blue eyes to him, he was gone.

He drew her up to him and into a kiss.

They both froze for a brief second.

Damon judging her reaction.

Ella seemingly in shock.

But then she tilted her head to the side, kissing him harder, and that was it for him. The only signal he needed.

Slanting his lips across hers, his tongue dipped inside, tasting the sweet, warm bourbon. He gripped the back of her neck and kissed her again. Deep and slow, he continued the easy pace until that final shred of hesitancy he sensed in her disappeared with a small moan.

She rubbed her tongue against his.

He backed off, giving her the lead and letting her explore. Damn, he’d never been this turned on by a woman kissing him before.

Ella released his shoulders and glided her hands down his chest and abs.

His stomach contracted as she rested her hands on his waistband, a few fingers hooked inside the top edge of his jeans. It was time to stop because her touch made his mind take a hard left away from going slow. He lifted his head, her eyes fluttering open.

She sighed. “Can we skip the rest of the night and go back to your apartment?”

“I’m not taking you back to my apartment tonight.” He kissed her quickly on the mouth one more time. “But you can go back to work.”

She rose on her toes, her eyes full of amusement. “You know I let you boss me around.”

“Since you work for me, that means you listen to me.”

“But when I’m not working at Cager?” She lifted her eyebrows and tipped her head back up to his. “What about then?”

He held her chin. “Since I only have your best interest in mind, I’ll have to say yes. I’ll still boss you around.”

“If you kiss me again, I’ll think about letting you.”

He covered her lips with his, Ella responding right away this time and returning the kiss. The last thing he wanted to do was end the moment, but this wasn’t the place to keep going.

With one last kiss, he pulled away again. He rubbed up and down her arms. “Please send one of the guys back here when they strike out with the women. I can keep an eye on you from here, and maybe it will keep my mind”— and my hands —“occupied for a little while.”

“I don’t know if your concern is sweet or a little obsessive, always watching me like that.”

“Both.” He pulled a handkerchief out of his back pocket and wiped his mouth and her red lipstick off.

She tilted her head to the side. “My grandfather used to carry one of those around. I didn’t realize men did that anymore.”

“I typically don’t.” He folded it and put it back in his back pocket. “I started carrying it after Thursday night.”

“What happened Thursday night?”

“I nearly kissed you.”

Ella’s smile brightened her eyes. “So you started carrying one in case you did?”

“No. I started carrying one knowing I would, despite my best intentions.” He picked up the pool cue and the chalk, running the blue chalk over the tip. “Go to work.”

She bit the corner of her bottom lip and headed to the bar.

And for the rest of the night, he lost three games to Xavier and kept a close watch over Ella, reminding himself that this wasn’t her life and she’d leave. Because the minute he started thinking of her as more than a temporary situation, he knew he’d be in trouble.