John leaned over to my ear. “Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it.”
I nodded. “Thanks for the update.”
“So what’s got you out and about today, John? Picking up pain meds? Or you tired of all those spaghetti dinners you choke down every night?” Max asked.
John shrugged. “I don’t know. Figured I’d come out after picking up my vitamins and maybe try to steal your girl in the process.”
“Wait, what?” I asked.
Rupert roared with laughter. “Good luck. Max has been after this one for a while.”
John grinned. “You don’t have to tell me twice. He’s practically stopped bringing girls home since this one came into his life.”
Max took a pull of his beer. “Not my fault I found the cream of the crop and you’re stuck with my sloppy seconds.”
John pointed at him. “That only happened twice.”
Max chuckled. “And the first time was because the girl was still so drunk that she wandered into your room instead of back to mine.”
I held up my hand. “Uh, hi. I’m right here.”
Rupert snickered. “Yeah, Max. She’s right here.”
John bent back down to my ear. “It was three years ago. Don’t worry about it.”
A guy piped up from behind me. “Oh! Tell her about the one who tracked you down at the club meeting!”
The entire room groaned as I quirked an eyebrow at Max.
“What happened now?” I asked.
He picked up a chicken wing. “I’m gonna need some more booze for that story.”
“Because you fucked her anyway? Or because you’re sitting with a girl you want to fuck but haven’t yet and you’re trying to save your chances?” I asked.
Max’s eyes connected with mine as the pub exploded in roaring laughter. People banged their fists on tables and stomped their feet on the floor. Even the bartender--as unfriendly as he was--cracked a smile at my words. Max held the chicken wing in front of his face, seemingly startled at my words. And I couldn't blame him, because I was, too.
Where in the world had those words come from?
“Oh, shit. That was good. Holy fuck,” Rupert said through his laughter.
“I have to admit, that was good. Hoo-wee, I’ve never heard a girl go in on my brother like that.”
I kept holding Max’s gaze, hoping and praying I hadn’t insulted him in any way. As my heart stopped in my chest, I watched him take a massive bite of his chicken wing. He practically stuffed the entire thing into his mouth and slowly pulled it out, removing all the meat with his tongue. An action that made me shiver and my toes curl.
Then he leveled me with another wink, one that settled my nervous gut and helped me relax into the atmosphere of the pub.
36
Max
I placed money onto the table before I stood. As I reached my hand out for hers, I heard the guys whooping and whistling around me. I grinned as Dani blushed, slipping her soft hand against mine. And as my fingers wrapped against her skin, I led her to the front door.
“Have a nice night, you two!”
“Get it, pillow princess!”
“Don’t let him have all the fun now!”