found the source.
Riley sat across the room, and he wasn’t alone. Two men with a build as strong as Riley’s sat beside him, lost in deep conversation.
“Are we just going to stand here all night?” Sky asked, interrupting my running thoughts.
I cleared my throat before answering. “No, of course not.”
She grabbed hold of my arm and pulled me towards the bar, clearly fed up with waiting. “You don’t have to man-handle me!” I scolded, and stormed ahead.
As the orders came flooding in I felt guilty at seeing Lee flustered behind the bar. A bright red face wasn’t a good look on him, nor were the veins protruding from his forehead.
A trickle of anticipation worked its way through my mind as the feeling of being watched engulfed me. I was near Riley and that thought alone caused my face to flush.
Sky nudged me. “What?” I asked, confused as her face contorted into an awkward squint, and her head shook to the left.
Riley was standing beside me looking expectantly, “I said, how are you?”
“Good thanks,” I answered vaguely. “How are you?”
“I’m better now.” I creased my eyebrows together. What did that mean? He broke my concentration by smiling, a big, dazzling, white smile the kind that could knock you off your feet.
“I’m Sky, Luna’s best friend,” she interrupted, holding out her hand.
“Riley.” They shook, and I used the disruption to head behind the bar. Lee needed the break as much as my brain did. Riley was such a mystery.
“Luna, what are you doing here?” Lee called between pouring pints.
“Saving your butt from the thirsty locals it seems!” I chuckled. He didn’t look in good shape.
“They just keep coming!” he said in disbelief.
I picked up the slack in quick time, and mentally congratulated myself on staying upright on my feet, in heels, with Riley watching. It was proof that I could work without falling over.
With all the punters satisfied I poured drinks for myself and Sky, and popped the caps off of Riley’s three Corona’s before sitting at the table with him and his friends. I felt jittery and panicked, but I couldn’t refuse after Sky had accepted Riley’s offer of joining them.
Their eyes fell on me as the night wore on and the feeling of being tested gnawed away at me. Riley’s friends, Nick and Shane, watched me like they knew something I didn’t. It was extremely unnerving.
I sat and listened to the conversations floating around the table without paying much attention to any one in particular. I caught Riley’s eye again as he focused on me. I was sat next to him, and the close proximity was driving me wild with emotions I couldn’t even begin to explain.
He leaned towards me, and whispered into my ear. His hot breath sent shivers across my body before he spoke. “I know.”
AKB eBOOKS Ashok K. Banker