The bartender nodded and moved down the bar to fill the order.
Grayson checked out his friend. While it was only for a moment, Rider’s eyes had flashed gold, and the hair on the back of his hands had sprouted when he'd looked at the woman in the booth. “What do you think of her?” Grayson asked, even though he could see Rider’s reaction.
“Who are you talking about?”
“Don’t give me that bullshit. The gorgeous brunette in the booth. What did you think?”
“I didn’t notice,” Rider said, but the tic above his eye implied otherwise.
Grayson huffed out a laugh. “I’ve known you for twenty-years. Okay, the last two don’t really count, but you know I can tell when you’re lying.”
Rider dragged a hand over his mouth. “Fine. I saw her profile. So what?”
Just because Grayson felt the pull didn’t mean Rider did—though why did his friend have the mate reaction? “Nothing, other than I think I’ve found my one-and-only.” He shrugged, trying to act as if it was an everyday occurrence, when in reality, it happened once in a lifetime.
“If you’re feeling some kind of lustful pull, ignore it. We have a job to do, or did you forget?”
“Hardly, but maybe a local person can help us with our quest.”
The bartender delivered the drinks, and Rider placed a twenty on the counter. “What makes you think she might know something?”
“Who are you? Usually, you notice everything about a person. Didn’t you see the logo on her shirt?”
“No.” Once more the tic appeared above his eye.
“I know you did. Why deny it? She’s wearing a Harrison Industries’ shirt, same as the woman with her.”
Rider tossed back his drink and faced Grayson. “So? Are you going to walk up to her and ask if she thinks the company who employs her is selling illegal drugs? Drugs that might have killed a few people recently?”
“That wasn’t my plan. I thought I’d ask the lady to dance and see where it leads.”
“Did you see that the blonde is wearing a wedding band?”
Grayson grinned. “Now there’s the person I remember. You did notice.”
Rider shrugged. “Just saying. We need to be careful.”
Grayson sipped his beer. “What do you want to do? Remember, we came here for food and intel.”
Rider waved a hand. “I’m not sure.”
“Wonderful. Let me ask you. How long do you plan on staying in town?”
“Just until we find evidence of what we came for.”
Rider was smart not to discuss details at the bar, especially since the bartender was a werewolf. The clerk at the hotel had been right. This place was full of shifters.
Job or no job, he wanted to meet the woman he planned to spend the rest of his life with. Grayson picked up his beer. “Then we better get to work, which is why I’m going to introduce myself.”
“You do that.” Rider lifted his empty glass to the bartender who nodded.
Having a sullen partner wasn’t ideal, but he’d deal. As Grayson walked the few feet to the booth where the ladies were seated, he couldn’t decide on the right thing to say. Telling the brunette that she was his fated mate would most likely backfire.
Before he was fully prepared to chat with the ladies, he found himself standing in front of them. Both women looked up, but only the married woman smiled.
“This is a little awkward, ladies, but my friend and I just arrived in town. I was wondering what there is to do around here?”
That was so lame.