Chapter Sixteen
Jamie couldn’t help but beam as she served up beer to her customers at the pub. It was the same crowd and same situation that bothered her days before, but now it felt like the greatest job in the world.
What a difference a little love could make. All evening long she’d had a silly grin plastered to her face and had been practically floating around. Every time someone or something threatened to annoy her, she just thought of Lucan, and all the worries vaporized.
Even May being May wasn’t enough to knock the smile off her face. Although the little shit had tried on more than one occasion, with more than a few complaints or fake accidents that required her to leave the floor.
It didn’t matter. May was a self-absorbed little twit, and she didn’t have Lucan.
It wouldn’t be all that much longer before her shift was over, and Jamie could see him again, or at least she hoped so. They hadn’t really discussed any plans.
All her worries were gone though. After last night, she no longer had any concerns about him not coming back to her. She now knew they’d connected in a deep way. She also now knew it was true that hybrids didn’t do one-night stands.
Jamie had nearly made it past Aaron’s table without having to talk to him when he called out her.
“You seem to be in a good mood,” Aaron said smoothly, not even trying to hide his leer. Big surprise. Creepers had to creep, she supposed.
It didn’t matter, though. Nope, not even Aaron was going to ruin her good mood. She would keep the smile on her face and just go right about her business. She could do this. All she had to do was keep thinking of Lucan, and everything would turn out all right in the end.
“I am in a good mood,” she said, and smiled.
He stared back at her. Or more her tits really. Jeez, the guy just didn’t know how to even try and not come off poorly.
Jamie noticed, for the first time, that he was looking a bit more disheveled than normal, with greasy hair and rumpled clothing. She wondered if he’d slept in his clothes.
She shook her head. The last thing she wanted to be thinking about was what he did at night to cause that. She needed to just last until the end of her shift, and she could be with Lucan again.
“What’s got you in such a good mood?”
Jamie shrugged. There was no way in hell she was sharing exactly why she was so happy.
“Just had a good night.”
The smile that was on his face wavered a little, and she wondered if he guessed just why she was so happy. An obsessed guy like him might get jealous, even though they weren’t in a relationship.
Jamie jumped when his hand covered hers. A chill swept over her at his clammy touch.
The creep had never been so bold as to touch her hand ever before, but of course today was the day he would try this shit. It was like the universe was determined to sour her mood.
“You should let me be your boyfriend,” Aaron said, staring at her.
Jamie was taken aback by his words. Sure, he might stare at her in ways that made her feel more than uncomfortable, but he’d never gone so far as to ask her out. That was more than crossing the line in her book, especially since she’d done nothing to lead him on. If anything, she’d done the opposite.
“I’m sorry,” she said, pulling her hand away quickly. “I’m already seeing someone.”
This time there was no mistaking the scowl on his face as he leaned forward. “You can’t do better than me,” Aaron hissed. “You should really rethink your position.”
Jamie frowned at the man. Just who the hell did he think he was? She couldn’t do better than some pervert in a skeevy pub?
She didn’t care if he was drunk, high, or had a bad night. She didn’t have to put up with his crap.
“I’ve got beer to pour,” Jamie said, and hurried over to the bar before she decided that beating the shit out of him was a good idea. She’d been floating on a cloud of happiness, and the damn creeper had yanked her back to earth.
There was a loud clatter in the corner as Aaron stood and stomped out the back exit, glaring at her the whole time.
“Good,” she mumbled, and flipped him off mentally. Prick.
May snorted. “What’s the matter? You all have a lovers’ spat?”
Jamie scowled at her. Now that her good mood had been shattered, all her annoyance defenses were down.
She debated for about the millionth time if a swirly would be considered an assault. Maybe the judge would grant leniency considering the person. They could call it the “May Defense.”
The bell to the front chimed, but she was busy getting beers and didn’t bother to turn toward it. Her good mood was sullied thanks to asshats and bitches.
“Oh, looks like this one’s for me,” May purred.
Jamie watched as the younger woman prowled her way to the bar. Her mood brightened, as she realized the reason for May’s sudden enthusiasm: Lucan.
May leaned against the counter and spoke in her most seductive of tones. “What can I get you, big guy?”
“Jamie.”
May snorted. “What?”
Lucan didn’t even spare the poor girl a glance. He stared directly at Jamie, his brown contacts in place to disguise his amber eyes. “I want Jamie.”
May scowled at Lucan and then Jamie in turn. It seemed like the mood-killing was going around that night.
Jamie grinned as she made her way over to the counter.
“And how do you know him?” May spat at her, a look of pure disbelief etched on her face.
Jamie could tell it was killing the other woman that a man like that hadn’t even blinked at her. “He’s my boyfriend.” She smiled.
May huffed again and grabbed the beers from the bar. “I’m taking these out. Don’t spend too much time with your boyfriend.” She muttered something under her breath about taste.
Jamie grinned as May stomped away, then turned to stare at Lucan. She blushed a little that he’d caught her being so petty.
“Sorry,” she mumbled. “I just didn’t have a good word for what we are.”
Lucan sat down on the seat across from her and pulled her in for a small kiss on the lips. “Boyfriend sounds nice,” he whispered.
Even after all the things they had done, he could still make her heart race like a school girl.
“You off soon?” he asked.
She glanced at the clock and nodded. “Half an hour,” she said. “Any luck with the… case?”
Lucan grunted. “They’re still going through all the paperwork we found at the house, but there has to be something.”
Jamie nodded. She knew he’d catch the person responsible for the deaths of the townspeople, hybrids, and soldiers.
“We figure there has to be some sort of base nearby,” he said quietly. “We find that, and we can end this mind control shit.”
“Are you staying over tonight?”
Jamie hadn’t really meant to ask that, but it just sort of bubbled up before she could stop it. She’d like to claim it would make her feel safer, but really it was more about lust than fear.
Lucan stared at her, and she wished like hell he wasn’t wearing those stupid contacts. She loved it when his eyes lit up.
“Yes,” he said. The low deep growly sort of way he said it made her shiver a little.
“And Nikon?”
Lucan frowned a little. It seemed that he was just as confused about the whole situation as she was. It didn’t seem as if the other hybrid and Leah were actually doing anything besides sleeping, from what she could tell and what little she could drag out of her friend. Which was slightly weird, even by the standards of the hybrids.
But who was she to judge? If it brought the two of them happiness, then the relationship, or whatever you wanted to call it, was good enough she supposed.
“He’s still keeping your friend safe,” he said.
Jamie nodded. There wasn’t much more she could ask for really. Leah needed someone, and it seemed like Nikon was determined to be just that person.
The bell jingled again, and she watched as a gaggle of college kids came in.
Lucan groaned at the loud group. “I’ll just wait outside for you,” he said quietly.
Jamie nodded. “I’ll be as quick as I can.” She smiled.
She watched him walk out the door before glancing back at the clock. Twenty minutes. She could so do this.