.

searched his face, but wasn’t convinced. “That’d be easier to believe if I hadn’t busted you just this morning.”

      He needed to get her past that. “I needed a distraction, that’s all.”

      Dubious, she asked, “Sex?”

      “Best distraction I’ve ever found.” He’d still been in his early teens when he’d learned that girls brought light to the darkest shadows. He’d always been big for his age, always looked older, and girls had taken his quiet, cautious nature as maturity.

      While other boys were busy playing ball or...fuck, maybe G.I. Joe for all he knew, he’d been running interference for his little sister. He’d defended her verbally, and when that didn’t work, he’d protected her physically. For as long as he could remember, he’d done his best to shelter Pepper from the reality of their lives—which often meant accepting the brunt of the abuse himself. As a result, turmoil sometimes exploded inside him.

      Thanks to a high school cheerleader, he’d lost his virginity at fifteen. What an eye-opener that had been. He’d learned that grinding release had a profound way of emptying his mind and body of pent-up tension. With sex as a stress reliever, he could cope with whatever life threw at him.

      But none of that had anything to do with Avery.

      “Rowdy?”

      That gentler tone set him on edge. She’d watched him get lost in thought, and damn it, he never did that. Definitely not with women. “What?”

      “Is something wrong with the bar?” Concern softened her expression. She touched his arm. “With you?”

      “No.” Did she honestly think he’d go mewling to a woman if he did have a problem?

      “Then why did you need a distraction?”

      Damn it. He’d said too much. “It’s getting late.” He checked the time. “You’re going to miss that bus if we don’t get moving.”

      “Oh, shoot!” Jumping away from him, she shrugged into her lightweight jacket and gathered the new shirts and aprons together. After slinging her purse strap over her shoulder, she rushed to the break room door and...hesitated. “Are you leaving now, too?”

      Right behind her, Rowdy took the shirts from her. “I’ll walk you out.”

      Her shoulders loosened. “Great. Thanks.”

      Expecting an argument more than easy acceptance, Rowdy asked with suspicion, “How often do you take the bus?”

      “Always.”

      So night after night she left on her own? At two in the morning? And here he’d always thought her so sensible. Had he known, he’d have been walking her out every night.

      They weren’t in the best area, and even though the street never completely emptied of passersby, it could still be dangerous for a woman alone. There were a lot of alleyways, parked cars and deserted buildings where a woman could disappear.

      Since he’d locked up earlier, Rowdy turned off the remaining lights as they went to the back door. He couldn’t quite keep the irritation out of his tone when he asked, “Is there a reason you take the bus?”

      “Yup.”

      While waiting for her to expound on that, he opened the door, stepped out with her and then locked it up again. When she said nothing more, he prompted, “Care to share?”

      “Sure.” Already striding ahead, she said over her shoulder, “Soon as you tell me why you needed a distraction.”

      So he hadn’t thrown her off the track at all, huh? Avery wasn’t like other women. She wouldn’t take a hint, and she sure as hell didn’t defer to his wishes.

      Taking several long steps, Rowdy reached her as she headed to the bus stop at the front of the bar. Unfortunately, at least from her point of view, the bus had just turned a corner and was disappearing from sight.

      “Great.” She glanced around in what looked like worry, then dropped onto a bench, opened her purse and started digging around.

      Rowdy stood over her. “What are you doing?”

      “Finding my phone so I can call a cab.”

      Not happening. “Why don’t you be reasonable instead and let me drive you home?”

      She found her phone and lifted it out.

      “Avery.” Crouching down in front of her, Rowdy took her small hands in his. She was so petite, so fine-boned and feminine.

      “What?” Something showed in her eyes, maybe anxiety. Possibly even fear.

      Protective instincts jumped to the forefront of his brain. “You don’t trust me?”

      “It’s not that.”

      “Then what?”

      Slumping back, she gave him a narrow-eyed glare. “If you have to know, I’m not sure I trust myself.”

      Now, that was interesting. “You mean with me?”

      Grudgingly, she muttered, “You are a temptation.”

      Still? Even after she’d busted him getting head from a one-night stand? That surprised Rowdy, and sent a rush of lust through his bloodstream. “Then...”

      She got huffy. “Get real, Rowdy. All the women want you.”

      Her perceptions of him were a bit skewed, but why disillusion her? “Not all.”

      Chin up, she stated, “I won’t be just another body in a long line of one-night stands.”

      Like one night would even come close to taking the edge off. And yeah, that was unusual. One night was normally more than enough...with other women.

      Apparently not with Avery.

      As independent as she might be, his little bartender had a very old-fashioned way of looking at things. “Why not look at it as mutual fun?” He gave her his most wolfish smile. “We both know eventually you’ll be in my bed.”

      “Really?” Never one to disappoint, Avery said, “Why don’t you hold your breath waiting for that to happen?”

      He laughed, kissed her knuckles and said, “Just for that, I’m going to make you ask real pretty.”

      “That,” she said, “isn’t going to happen. The other... Well, I have enough common sense to know I don’t want to go there.” Her gaze dipped to his mouth, and she sighed. “Not yet.”

      Not yet? Meaning... “Maybe soon?”

      She shrugged.

      Well, that had his dick perking up. In some instances, a shrug was as good as a resounding affirmation. His shoulders knotted with restraint, but he managed to say, “Okay, then,” without too much satisfaction.

      He’d sort through things, figure out her reasons for waiting and find a way around them. But until then, he didn’t want to scare her off. “Let’s agree that there’s no reason for you to splurge on a cab. I made you miss the bus, so I’ll see you home.”

      She studied the moon shadows lurking between buildings, frowned at a few dark cars parked near the curb. A stranger walked up the street, head down, hands in his pockets.

      On a deep breath, Avery checked her watch—and bit her lip.

      Taking that as another sign of agreement, Rowdy rose to his feet again. “It’s late. No way will I leave you out here alone, so run up to my apartment with me, okay? I’ll grab my car keys.” He took one step off the curb, ready to cross the street—and realized that Avery hadn’t moved. He turned back to her. “Coming?”

      Clutching her purse, she stared at him with confusion. “I don’t understand.”

      With anticipation