Her eyes fly to mine. For a split second, I see fury in those incredible amber-gold irises, but she buries it away so fast I’m almost convinced I imagined it.
“Of course,” she says sweetly. “Be right back with that.”
Her eyes drift down to Lacey, who’s still pressed against my side like glue, before she turns on her heel. I can’t help watching her ass the entire time she walks away, suppressing a groan. Her hips swing with such natural grace. She moves like music.
“Damn, she’s gorgeous,” Lincoln says, reading my mind. “So shiny and new…”
“She’s not a toy,” I snap without thinking.
There’s a beat of heavy silence at the table.
Shit.Did I just reveal my hand? My poker face is usually much better.
“Not a toy, huh?” Linc chuckles. “ I don’t know, bro… I can think of a few games I’d like to play with her…”
Lacey giggles.
I grunt in lieu of a comment, not wanting to encourage him. Linc has a long history of screwing anything with a pulse. Normally, that doesn’t bother me. We’ve even shared girls on more than one occasion, since neither of us is the type to get attached. But something about the way he’s looking at the new waitress sets my teeth on edge and makes me want to throttle him.
She’s mine. I saw her first.
I shake off the irrational thought.
“Hey, all I’m saying is, I wouldn’t mind getting a peek under her apron.” He laughs boyishly. “Been a while since we had some fresh meat around here.”
I strive for a nonchalant tone. “You’ve got plenty of other girls to choose from without delving into the staff at our favorite bar. Do me a favor and try not to jeopardize this gig for the rest of us by sticking your dick where it doesn’t belong.”
He blinks at me. “You don’t have to be such an asshole, Ryder.”
“Asshole is my resting state.” I shrug. “Never bothered you before.”
His eyes narrow, as though he senses something amiss. “‘If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to get me to stay away from the new girl so you can have her for yourself.”
My heart beats faster, but I keep my face an aloof mask. “Don’t be an idiot.”
“I’m not the one acting all worked up over a pretty girl.”
“Is she pretty? I hadn’t noticed.”
“What, you’re fucking blind all the sudden?” Linc scoffs.
Even Aiden looks incredulous.
“My eyesight is just fine. It’s your priorities I’m worried about, if you think there’s any sense messing up our performing schedule here by screwing some cheap cocktail waitress.” The words taste like acid on my tongue, but I force them out anyway. Right now, I’d say almost anything to keep him from pursuing her.
Lincoln’s gaze narrows on mine. “Bit harsh, Ry.”
“What do you want me to say?” I snort, selling the lie with everything I have in me. “I guess that doe-eyed, innocent look just doesn’t do it for me. I preferwomenin my bed, not little girls.”
Lacey makes a mewling sound of pleasure, mistakenly thinking I’m talking about her.
Linc looks totally dumbfounded. His eyes flicker from my face to the space over my shoulder. I have him on the ropes — one final strike should shut him down for good.
“But if you want to fuck her, by all means. Doesn’t matter to me.” My charming grin is perfect camouflage for the truth. “I suppose you’ll take whatever you can get, isn’t that right, Linc?”
Before he can retort, there’s a sharp crack of glass against wood as a full bottle of Jack Daniels slams down against the surface of our table so hard the napkin dispenser jumps. Everyone’s heads snap in the direction of the waitress, who’s returned far faster than anticipated… and, judging by her furious expression, overheard the last few snippets of our conversation.
Fuck.