Midnight Bayou by Nora Roberts

Author:Nora Roberts [Roberts, Nora]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi

Under other circumstances, Declan thought as he sized the kid up--six-one, a toned one-ninety --he might be the type to make his bed every morning, he might visit old ladies in nursing homes. He might rescue small puppies.

But right now, the boy was drunk, horny and stupid.

To prove it, Michigan bared his teeth. "Why don't you just fuck off? Or maybe you want to take it outside, where I can kick your ass."

Declan's voice dripped with bonhomie. "Now, why would I want to go outside and fight about it, when all you're doing here is admiring my taste? Spectacular, isn't she? You didn't try to hit on her, I'd have to figure you're too drunk to see."

"I see just fine, fuckface."

"Exactly. Why don't I buy you and your pals a drink? Honey, put those drafts on my tab."

Declan leaned conversationally on the bar, nodded toward the T-shirt. "Spring break? What's your major?"

Baffled and boozy, Michigan blinked at him. "Whatzit to ya?"

"Just curious." Declan slid a bowl of pretzels closer, took one. "I've got a cousin teaching there, English department. Eileen Brennan. Maybe you know her."

"Professor Brennan's your cousin?" The surly tone had turned to surprised fellowship. "She damn near flunked me last semester."

"She's tough, always scares the hell out of me. If you run into her, tell her Dec said hi. Here's your beer."

It was past four when Lena let them into her apartment over the bar. "Pretty smooth with those college jerks, cher. Smooth enough I won't give you grief for thèmy woman` comment."

"You are my woman, you just haven't figured it out yet. Besides, they were easy. My cousin Eileen has a rep at the U of M. Odds were pretty good he'd heard of her."

"Some men would've flexed their muscles." She set her keys aside. "Gone on outside and rolled around in the street to prove who had the biggest dick." Weary, she reached up to tug the beads loose as she studied him. "I guess it's the lawyer in you, so you just talk yourself out of a confrontation."

"Kid was maybe twenty-two."

"Twenty-one last January. I carded them."

"I don't fight with kids. Plus, I really hate having bare knuckles rammed into my face. It seriously hurts." He tipped her chin up. She looked exhausted. "Had a long one, didn't you?"

"Going to be a long time till Wednesday. I appreciate the help, sugar. You pulled your weight."

More than, she thought. The man had slid right into the rhythm of her place and worked. Charmed her customers, tolerated the grab-hands, and avoided a potentially ugly situation by using his wit instead of his ego.

The longer she knew him, she reflected, the more there was to know. She tugged an envelope out of her back pocket.

"What's this?" "Your pay."

"Jesus, Lena, I don't want your money."

"You work, I pay. I don't take free rides." She pushed the envelope into his hands. "Off the books, though. I don't want to do the paperwork."

"Okay, fine." He stuffed it into his own pocket. He'd just buy her something with it.

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