Chapter 42
TYLER
We went to the bar, and the bartender took one look at us and began shaking his head. He was slim, maybe six feet tall with a pretty-boy face. The guy fought back a grin. “What can I get for you?” Giving me a once-over, he turned to Rain, indicating me. “No offense, but first time?”
Rain smiled. “We’re looking for someone. Skylar Griffin.”
The change was immediate. He stiffened. His eyes hardened. “Who’s asking?”
A table of women were now eyeing Rain. I stepped closer and placed my hand at the small of her back.
She tensed in surprise and glanced at me.
This was a gay bar. Those women could be straight, and usually I’d be the one getting the attention.
I wasn’t, and a possessive streak rose within me. Rain was mine.
“I am. I’m her brother.”
His mouth formed a small o. He reached for a rag on the counter.
I took some comfort when he didn’t outright lie and say he didn’t know her, but he looked torn.
“A buddy told me she’s been calling him, and he was concerned enough to reach out,” I continued. “If you know my sister, you know that generally she and I get along.”
His shoulders softened. “Yeah. I—” His eyes clamped shut. He hissed under his breath, “Fuck.”
“Look, a compromise? Call her and see if she’ll talk to me. Or see if she’ll come here. She feels comfortable in this place. It’s her territory.”
A guy whose skin was covered in glitter, joined us, draping himself over the counter. “This looks fun. What’s happening here?” He had dark eyes and black hair with rainbow highlights at the ends.
The bartender motioned to me. “This is Sky’s brother. He’s looking for her.”
The guy’s eyes lit up and a wide smile came to his face.
“Well, no shit.” He leaned an elbow on the counter, facing me.
“Sky never told us what a hottie you are. Look at you.” He sounded flirty, but his eyes were cold.
“She’s been holding out on us. You’re coming off all straight and manly.
Just my type.” He winked, but I wasn’t fooled.
The guy was also a watchdog. The bar wasn’t too full, and we were attracting attention from the people around us. As soon as Sky’s name came up, he’d gone into full protection mode.
The bartender gestured to us, now with his phone in hand. “Maybe we should call her, Eric. He seems concerned.”
Eric snatched the phone from the bartender. “We will do no such thing. You will do no such thing, Paul. If this guy is looking for Sky, there’s a reason she doesn’t want to be found.” The two shared a look. Eric’s was heated. Paul’s was still torn.
One of the women smiled at Rain.
I pulled Rain in front of me, fitting my chest to her back, and my hands found her hips.
She drew in a sharp breath, but her hands rested over mine.
“Okay,” I said. “You guys don’t want to violate Ski’s trust, and we get that, so we’ll let it go.
We’ll try to make sure she’s okay another way.
Since we’re here, how about a drink?” Rain pressed back against me, her nails digging into my hands.
I muffled a grunt as she moved her ass over my groin. And just like that, my pants got a whole lot tighter. Rain could draw blood if she wanted. I wasn’t moving. She felt damn good in my arms.
“I’ll take a beer,” I added.
“I’ll take whatever you like mixing,” Rain said.
That earned a smile from Paul, and Eric slid onto the barstool next to us. He continued to watch us with narrowed eyes. “How long have you known Sky?”
Paul frowned, but Eric didn’t notice. He was fixated on me.
“Well, we’re twins. So my whole life.”
Paul laughed.
Rain tensed all over again.
Eric didn’t react. “Uh-huh. Twins, you say. Who was the oldest?”
I stared at him, trying to figure out his game. “I was, by twelve minutes.”
The guy jerked away from the bar, smirking. “So not your whole life.”
Paul placed Rain’s drink in front of her. “Dude. What is your problem?”
Eric gazed at him, wide-eyed. “What? We’re conversing. I’m trying to get to know Sky’s big brother. What’s wrong with that?”
Paul narrowed his eyes. “You’re interrogating him, and you don’t know the circumstances. He and Sky might be good in a few days.”
Eric snorted, folding his arms over chest. “We’re talking about Sky here. She’s the queen of grudges.”
That made me laugh, and both turned to look at me, seeming startled. My hands dug into Rain’s hips. “Sorry, but yeah. You know my sister.”
Paul looked torn again. “I know her better than Sherlock Holmes here.” His eyes flickered to Eric. “And I know how much she adores her brother.”
Eric jumped in, “Which brother? Maybe it’s a different one.”
Paul groaned. “She’s only got one brother. Her twin brother. And she gushes about him all the time.” He raised his eyebrows at me. “What kind of beer would you like?”
“Whatever’s local. Right now a beer is a beer for me.”
“Ha!” Eric practically yelled. “If you knew Sky, you’d know how opinionated she is about different beers.”
“Fuck’s sakes.” Paul pinched between his eyebrows. “I’m going to call her. She can decide if she wants to talk to you herself.”
I relaxed. “Thanks, man. Appreciate it.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Moving away from us, he pulled out his phone and lifted it to his ear.
After Paul began talking, Eric hummed. “I just wanted to protect her.” He huffed to himself. The fight seemed to have left him. “You two are adorable, but you don’t have to be scared of us gays. We don’t bite.” He winked again and this one felt genuine. “Unless you ask nicely.”
I realized my hands had slipped under Rain’s shirt, my thumbs smoothing over her hips.
“Oh. No. I’m not holding onto her because of that.” I gestured toward the table of women. “I’m a jealous fucker, and one of those girls was giving her a lusty look.”
Eric grinned, glancing over.
Rain jerked forward. “What? Where?” Her head tilted to the side. “Oh.”
“Oh?” I tipped her head back to look at me. “Oh?”
She laughed, and I went still at the smile on her face. She was radiant. “I mean, she’s hot, if it’s the one I think you’re talking about.”
I growled.
Eric laughed.
“What?” She gave me a look before turning to Eric. “He’s a really good brother, but this whole thing is confusing to me. We had hate sex a week ago.”
“Rain,” I snapped.
Eric’s eyes went wide. “Hate sex? Tell me more.”
Rain laughed. “Part of it’s my fault—”
She stopped abruptly because Paul had returned, sliding his phone into his pocket. He grabbed me a beer from beneath the counter.
“Bated breath here, dude,” I said through gritted teeth.
He was silent until he’d delivered the beer with a flourish. “She’ll be here in fifteen minutes.” He beamed at me. “Cash or credit?”
Eric slumped. “And they call me dramatic.”
I tossed my card on the bar. “We’ll start a tab.”
I knew my sister. Fifteen minutes was an hour and a half in Skylar-speak.
We might as well get comfortable.