Page 17 of Bodyguard By Night
“Ancient.”
“Hey,” Clay interjected as he sat down at the table, dragging Rachel onto his lap.
“Aww, you’re not old, honey.” Rachel looped an arm around his shoulders. “You’re just right for me.”
My eyes lit up as I saw Shamrock guy come up the stairs with a platter of nachos. “Because you’re almost thirty.”
“Hush,” Rachel hissed. She straightened up and her eyes got wide. “Oh, hey, are those for us?”
“Mostly me.” I waved to the waiter. “You definitely delivered on the big.”
He grinned at me. “I do love to exceed expectations.”
Clay grabbed his glass to make way for the food. “Those look great, man.”
Shamrock’s smile brightened. “Can I get you any drinks, ladies?”
Rachel nibbled on her lower lip and scanned the platter for the perfect chip. “Well, if we’re having nachos…”
“Margaritas,” I said happily.
“I’ll need to see your IDs.”
I handed mine over. He took it and scanned the details. “Willow. Finally got your name.”
“You only need to check the particulars, not memorize her address, creeper.” Ransom snatched my license back from him.
The guy’s face went to stone.
“If that’s the way you talk to people, no wonder someone threw a punch.” I tried to pluck my ID out of Ransom’s fingers. My alternate PO Box address was on my license, so it didn’t give any details anyway. He held it tighter and we played tug of war for a few seconds. “Excuse his rudeness. What’s the best margarita on the menu?”
“Ruby’s got a special blend,” Shamrock said tightly.
I glanced at the logo on his shirt again and saw there was a name stitched in the middle. “Well, Kyle. We’ll have two of those on the rocks.”
“Sounds good.” His smile was a bit less friendly as he quickly typed something on a clunky-looking tablet.
I elbowed Ransom beside me. “Apologize.”
“No.”
“He’s sorry.”
“No, I’m not.”
Kyle tucked his mini tablet into his apron. “I was just checking her name, man.”
“If she didn’t give it, then you don’t need it.”
“Oh my God. Did you forget how to flirt? Or just never knew how?” When Ransom just flared his nostrils at me, I nudged him behind me. “I mean, if itwasflirting. Probably not now,” I muttered. Dammit, Kyle was cute too. “Thanks, Kyle. We really appreciate the quick nachos. And can’t wait to try out Ruby’s margaritas.”
“Right.” He glanced at Ransom one more time with a shake of his head before he headed down the stairs.
Ransom’s breath was warm on my neck as he stood right behind me.Don’t react. Don’t react.
Would it be wrong to check my jacket to make sure it hid all the things reacting?
“Thanks for being an asshole.”