Page 91 of Duty

It burned like bile in her throat, and made her fist clench into a tight ball at her side. She was sure she was scowling because she sure as fuck wasn’t smiling in those moments. Heat shot through her body the longer Andino watched the stage instead of staring at her. She was holding his drink of scotch so firmly that she very well might break the damn glass.

“She is new,” Haven managed to say. “Started last month.”

“Very beautiful.”

Jesus Christ.

She had all she could do not to pour that goddamn drink over his head. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t look good for her, or her business. She didn’t need to be making a show over a man. And besides, watching the girls strip was kind of what this place was about, anyway.

Haven set the drink down in front of Andino—maybe a little harder than was necessary—but his gaze never drifted away from the stage. “Since when do you drink scotch?”

His lips curved upward at the edge.

Just the hint of a smirk.

Sexy in a blink.

Dark.

A promise of sin.

His gaze finally drifted away from the dancing woman, and lingered on Haven’s face in a way that made her think she was the only thing he was actually seeing. He made her feel like all the noise in the club silenced, that every person faded into the background, and it was just him and her right then, and there.

You walked away for a reason.

It was a good reason.

Except … when he looked at her like that, and she was reminded of all the other things she did know about Andino that had nothing to do with the stuff she didn’t like … well, it was easy to forget, and wish she could turn back the clock.

“I don’t drink scotch,” he said.

Haven lifted a brow. “Then, why—”

“I thought you might know it was me if I asked for whiskey.” His intense gaze traveled down the flimsy crop top she’d pulled on to wear to work, and then lingered on her jean-covered legs for a while. “You’re looking good.”

“Thank you.”

Andino’s tongue peeked out to wet his bottom lip—an action that made Haven wet between her thighs considering she knew just how good he was at putting that tongue to use between her thighs.

Yeah, you went there fast, girl.

Of course.

“Did you really come to watch the show, or did you come to see me?” she asked.

“Maybe both.”

“I could just have a bouncer escort you out, you know.”

Andino shrugged his wide shoulders, and went back to staring at the stage. “I mean, you could try, baby. We’ll see how it works out for you.”

Asshole.

Haven huffed, and spun on her heel to leave.

“I will take that whiskey, though,” he called behind her. “Have someone else serve it, if you want. You seem a little pissed off.”

You think?