“Look what the cat dragged in,” Sherry crowed. My soon-to-be-fired business manager had come out of the office to watch the Naomi show.
Nash dragged his eyes away from Naomi’s ass and flashed her an easy grin. “How’s it goin’， Fi?” he asked.
“Never a dull moment. You here to see the new girl?” she asked slyly, shooting me a look.
“Thought I’d drop in and see how Naomi’s first day is going,” he said.
“You and half the fucking town,” Max said as she breezed by with a tray of drinks.
“She’s doing great,” Sherry told him. “Despite some head-butting with management.”
Nash glanced my way. “Doesn’t surprise me.”
“Hi, Nash,” Naomi chirped as she passed us on her way to the bar.
He nodded. “Naomi.”
Sherry elbowed me in the gut. “Somebody’s got a crush,” she sang.
I grunted. Two somebodies had a crush, and if I had anything to say about it, neither of us was going to get the girl.
“Pull up a stool, Chief,” Silver said.
Nash took her up on the offer and sat at the corner closest to the server station.
“On call or off for the night?” Silver asked.
“Officially off.”
“Beer it is,” she said with a little salute.
“Don’t you have payroll to approve?” Sherry asked innocently as I hovered behind my brother.
“Maybe I already did it,” I hedged, watching as Naomi approached Wylie’s table again.
“I get an alert when it’s been submitted, smartass.”
Tattletale technology. “I’ll get to it. Don’t you have businesses to manage?”
“Right now, I’ve got a man to manage. Quit being a dick to Naomi. She’s good. The customers like her. The staff likes her. Your brother likes her. You’re the only one with a problem.”
“My place. I get to have a problem if I wanna have a problem.” I sounded like a fucking toddler denied a cookie.
Sherry slapped a hand to my cheek and squeezed. Hard. “Boss, you’re a perpetual ass, but this isn’t like you. You never paid attention to new hires before. Why start now?”
Naomi breezed by again, and it pissed me off that I watched her every step of the way.
“Come here often?” Naomi asked, giving my brother a full wattage smile as she trayed up another round of drinks.
“Thought I’d drop by and give you the good news.”
“What good news?” she asked, looking hopeful.
“I cleared up your little grand theft auto misunderstanding.”
You would have thought my brother had just whipped out a solid gold 10-inch dick with the way Naomi flew into him and wrapped him in a hug. “Thank you thank you thank you!” she chanted.
“No man-handling the customers,” I snarled.
She rolled her eyes at me and gave Nash a peck on the cheek that made me want to set my own brother on fire.
“Also figured I’d see if you wanted a lift home after your shift,” he offered.
Fuck me.
She didn’t have a car. She probably rode her goddamn bike here and planned to ride it home after closing. In the dark.
Over my dead fucking body.
“That is so sweet of you to offer,” Naomi said.
“Not necessary,” I said, butting into the conversation. “She’s already got a ride. Sherry’ll take her.”
“Sorry, Knox. I’m off in ten,” my business manager said smugly.
“Then so’s she.”
“I can’t close out my tables and do my side work in ten minutes,” Naomi argued. “Max is showing me how to close in case you don’t fire me after tonight.”
“Fine. Then I’m driving you home.”
“I’m sure you have better things to do than to drive a needy pain in the ass home.”
“Burn,” Fi whispered gleefully.
“I’m driving you home. Law and Order lives right upstairs. You’re out of his way. It’d be an inconvenience to him to haul your ass home.”
I knew I’d pushed the right button when Naomi’s smile faltered.
“I don’t mind,” Nash insisted.
But Naomi shook her head. “As much as it pains me to admit, your brother is right. It’ll be late, and I’m out of your way.”
Nash opened his mouth, but I cut him off. “I’m driving her.”
I could probably keep my mouth shut and my hands off her for the five-minute drive.