The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter Four

DRAVEN

“I didn’t miss anything,” I say with a roll of my eyes. Glancing around him at the back table, I can see Barbie staring at us with daggers in her eyes. “Your date looks thirsty,” I quip. “So, what can I get you?”

He glares, shoving himself forward to lean across the bar.

God he looks good in that tight white shirt.

“What did that Armani Moron give you?” He hisses at me, eyeing the small bulge in my pants’ pocket.

At first, I am a little confused, then I realize he is referring to Mister Hottie in the three-piece. “A twenty,” I answer, not really sure why. I don’t owe this fool any explanations.

His jaw clenches before he smiks. A deep dimple forming in one cheek. “What else?”

My eyes narrow at him, my gaze stuttering on the impatient line of patrons behind him. “Do you want something or not?”

“What else did he give you?” He asks again.

He couldn’t possibly have noticed the little folded paper with the phone number on it, right?

“His number,” I say to him softly as his silver eyes fall toward my lips.

He jerks backward, still staring at my mouth. “One hard lemonade and two shots of Jack,” he says. Then ripping his eyes to the left, he glares at Mister Hottie’s table.

“Coming right up,” I say, turning around to grab the ingredients.

I can feel him watching me and I do my best to focus. It was all I could do to keep my momentum going and not spill anything with the fire of his eyes on my back.

“Let me have it,” Domonic commands from behind me, causing me to laugh as I mix lemon syrup and vodka in a hot glass from under the shelf.

“I’m not done making it,” I snipe, turning back around.

He grins at me, going full dimple and swiping two fingers over his chin. Then, giving me a stupidly sexy look, he says, “I’m talking about the guy’s phone number. Not the drinks.”

myself from bursting into giggles. “No,” I say smoothly, presenting him with his order. “Besides, his is only one of many.” And it’s the truth. In

them off the counter. “Have Bart meet me in the back room.” He slaps a hundred on the table – no number.

Make that four hundred-seventy-five.

patrons. In fact, each time I look up I am met with his heavy lidded gaze. But the dimples are gone. It seems the smile from before was given only so that I might grant him what

damn that smile

me so suddenly, I have to suppress

“Am I that hard

wants to see you in the back

“My friend?”

startling me

and we share

toward the restrooms and into the office in the back. Seeing that they left the door slightly ajar, I scan the action around me. Satisfied that a moment

of boxes just outside of the

is she still doing

What does

I want

you said. I remember. What’s the big deal? She needed help

any strangers around here who can’t

is contributing. Just look out front. The place is

“I’m aware.”

but she’s really good. So, what’s the problem?

last chance

is your problem with her?

a smartass and she doesn’t belong

I’ll send the poor girl on her way then. Maybe her stepdaddy will find her and put a

cursing myslef for not swearing Bart to secrecy when

fuck

disagreement, or because she’s spoiled, or because she didn’t get her way. She left them because they were abusing her! I saw the fruits of their labor all

the thud of someone hitting the wall. Even the boxes shudder

It’s not like that so

Tell me, what is it like then, huh? Did you touch her?” Another thud. “I swear to God,

touched her! So let me