Page 31 of Roughing
“Are you sure that’s safe?” My stomach clenched with worry. Investigating the victim of a serial killer could be dangerous, especially when one of the persons of interest happened to be her stalker.
A brief frown clouded her expression. “Is anything ever safe? Is walking down the street safe? Or driving my car on I-5? Or being around you?”
“I’m safe.”
“You’re not, Briggs, and we both know it.”
“I’d never do anything to you that you didn’t want me to do.”
“It’s what I want you to do that worries me.”
I sat back and studied her. Trying to formulate a response in my mind and having none. She’d admitted wrestling with the same problems I was when it came to our short-lived friendship. My wicked, selfish side was overjoyed that she was battling her sexual attraction to me.
She stared pointedly into my eyes as if expecting me to say something. I didn’t.
“Briggs, I can’t, not right now.”
Before I had a chance to ask for clarification, Trent and Jarrett, two of my teammates, sauntered to our table. They nodded at me.
“How are you, Michella?” Trent asked, and jealousy burned in my chest, even though I admitted to the ridiculousness of such an emotion. Trent was only being friendly.Yeah, right.
“I’m great.”
I glowered, not happy these two had interrupted a serious conversation and appeared to be oblivious or, worse, they got perverse pleasure out of it.
“Any good dirt tonight? What’re the specials? Is Boston winning? I’m rooting for them against my old team. I guess I’m still holding a grudge over them not protecting me in the expansion draft.” Jarrett talked a mile a minute. The kid never fucking shut up. I shot him a cutting glare, but he didn’t even notice. His mouth might be moving, but I no longer heard anything he said. I tuned him out.
He continued to jabber to no one in particular. Michella caught my eye with a raised brow, and I nodded in agreement.
“Is Leila here?” Jarrett scanned the room.
No one said a thing. We hadn’t expected him to give us time to respond. Silence loomed around the table for several seconds before Michella broke the quiet.
“She’s bartending.” She pointed toward the empty bar. Leila came out of the back room as if on cue.
Jarrett’s gaze followed her. “I’ll be back.” He didn’t wait for an answer but walked toward Leila and straddled a stool at the counter.
“He’s had a crush on her for a while.” Trent grinned. “I don’t get the impression she’s all that interested.”
Michella shrugged. “No clue. I don’t know Leila well.”
“Hey, how is everyone?” Desmond stopped by the table. I sighed; so much for having Michella to myself. I let out an exasperated sigh, but no one paid any attention.
“You managed to get away from the Uni for one night?” Michella’s welcoming smile lit up her entire face. I wanted her to smile at me like that. Again that green monster churned my stomach.
“Aspen and Everly are handling things, so I have a rare night off.” He waved at someone across the room. “Later. I see some friends over there.” He left us and walked to the bar, where he joined a few of the regulars he appeared to know.
“Heidi’s working here?” Trent’s gaze laser-focused over my shoulder. Heidi stood behind the bar, looking about as lost as anyone could, while Leila hustled between the bar and the tables.
“She is.”
This entire Heidi thing bothered me. First of all, she’d obviously gotten in some kind of trouble, disappeared for a month or more, and returned in bad shape. Only she wasn’t talking, and I didn’t appreciate the secrecy. Her line of work invited trouble, and I hated to see Michella caught up in it.
“It was nice chatting with you guys.” Trent deserted us for Heidi. My grouchy self bit back a smart reply. He’d talked to Michella and avoided any direct contact with me.
“Don’t hurry back,” I grumbled, but he gave no indication he heard me.
“Don’t be rude, Briggs. That’s why you’re in this trouble with the team.”
