Grey noticed Avery’s eyes widen and her cheeks flush. She took a huge swig of her drink and looked like she was trying to blend into the background.
“Kelsey.” Grey waved at her then met Avery’s eyes. “Avery.”
“Hi, Grey.” She only managed to eek out two whole words for him. When she turned toward Trip, her expression relaxed. “Trip. Imagine seeing you here on Ladies’ Night.”
“Where else would I be?” Trip inserted himself between Kelsey and Avery, effectively boxing out the other guys.
“Hey, man,” one protested.
“Sorry.” Trip casually swigged his beer. “Didn’t see you there.”
“Trip, Grey, meet George and Dylan, from Montrose,” Kelsey supplied, helpfully.
Predators, not dates.
“Montrose?” Trip shook his head while making a tsk-ing sound. “Sorry, guys. We can’t let out-of-towners poach our favorite girls.” Trip waved his beer over the crowd. “Don’t worry, though. Lots of other women here.”
Grey had to chuckle when Avery choked on her drink, her eyes bulging at Trip’s audacity. Kelsey couldn’t seem to decide between being flattered or angry, but in either case, she maintained indifference toward Grey.
George or Dylan, Grey wasn’t sure which, tipped up his chin. “Hey, asshole, why don’t you mind your own business?”
Trip raised one brow and set his beer on the bar, straightening every inch of his muscular stature, and set his hands on his hips. He smiled while looking down—way down—at the guy, then wrapped an arm around Kelsey’s shoulders. “This here gal is my business, aren’t you, baby?” Trip brushed a kiss on her temple, which seemed to snap her out of her confusion.
Kelsey slapped him on the shoulder and shot him a puzzled glare. “Hey!”
“Aw, come on.” Trip tugged at her hair. “You can’t stay mad forever.”
Before Kelsey could utter another protest, George and Dylan waved in disgust and walked away.
“What in the heck are you doing?” Kelsey eyeballed Trip like he was a lunatic, which Grey thought might just be true.
“Just goofin’ around. You girls weren’t seriously interested in those two yahoos, were you? Trust me, they were just looking for a quick . . . y’know.” Trip smiled and finished his beer.
“Unlike you.” Avery smirked, rolling her eyes.
“You’ve got a sharp tongue, sweet PT. Surely you can think up better uses for that particular body part than taking me down a peg or two.” Trip glanced at Grey with a mischievous expression, ignoring Avery’s snorted response, and then returned his attention to her. “Come on, girl, you look like you want to dance.”
“No, I don’t.” Avery shook her head.
“Sure you do.” Without waiting, Trip grabbed her hand and dragged her toward the dance floor. As they brushed past Kelsey, Grey heard Avery muttering something about Trip being crazy.
He didn’t have a great vantage point from where he and Kelsey stood, so he stretched his neck to watch them cut through the crowd. Although he knew his friend wouldn’t make a pass at her, jealousy still took root as he watched Trip twirl Avery and hold her close. She may have protested at first, but now she was smiling and joking around with him.
Grey stabbed his fingers through his bangs. That should be me.
“Oh. My. God.” Upon hearing Kelsey’s incredulous voice, he turned toward her. “It’s Avery.”
“Huh?”
“Avery is the girl you like. The complicated situation.” Kelsey crossed her arms, frowning. “Just look at you staring after her, all moony-eyed.”
“I’m not moony-eyed, for chrissakes.” He chugged his beer and surreptitiously searched for Trip’s cowboy hat.
“I can’t believe this.” Kelsey shook her head, appearing somewhat crushed, which made Grey feel bad. “Have you told her yet?”
Grey shrugged one shoulder. “Sort of.”
“She didn’t mention it to me.” Kelsey narrowed her eyes and turned toward the dance floor. “Wonder what she’s waiting for?”
“She’s a good friend, Kelsey. Your feelings are one of the reasons she shot me down.”
“Shot you down? Really?” Kelsey played with her necklace and shifted on the stool. “So, she’s a good friend for turning you down, which I suppose means you think I’m not a good friend if I don’t tell her not to worry about my feelings.”
“I don’t know you well enough to know if you’re a good friend.” Grey set his empty bottle on the bar. “Guess I’ll know soon enough.”
Kelsey’s pointed stare gave nothing away. Dammit. He shouldn’t have said anything. Now Kelsey would blindside Avery, a development that would not win him any points.
Before he could do any damage control, Trip and Avery rejoined the group.
“Brrr, it’s chilly on this side of the bar,” Trip quipped when neither Grey nor Kelsey did more than grunt at their return.
Avery tapped Kelsey’s shoulder. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” Kelsey faked a smile.
Avery’s brows rose then she looked at Trip and shrugged.
“Looks like you need a turn to dance, little lady.” Trip clasped Kelsey’s wrist and practically yanked her off the stool. “Come on now, but watch that top. We don’t need you spilling out of it and starting a frenzy on the dance floor.”
“What did you just say?” When she beat against his shoulder, he just laughed and weaved her through the crowd.
“Does that approach really work with women?” Avery mused aloud as she watched them disappear.
“Surprisingly well.” Grey grinned and stepped a little closer. They stared at each other, she apparently as tongue-tied as he. Get a grip, Grey. “Want another drink?”
Just then some loudmouth chimed in. “Watch out with that one, man. If you get a Randall too drunk, you could end up getting sued or fired.”
Avery’s attention snapped toward the booming voice, her jaw tensing. But Bambi’s spine stayed ramrod straight as she looked that guy dead in the eye. “Jonah.”
Oh, hell. The bartender—make that ex-bartender.
“Where’s your brother? Too chickenshit to show his face in here?” Jonah smirked. “Come to think of it, he’ll probably have a hard time getting service in any pub in town from now on.”
If Grey was reading Avery’s expression correctly, she was about to lay Jonah out with a zinger. One day that pride of hers would land her in a heap of trouble. Still, he found it kinda hot. Unfortunately, right now Grey didn’t have the physical stability to properly defend her.
“Just like you’ll have a hard time getting a job at any pub in town.” She pinned Jonah with a pitying stare. “I guess your sex life will suffer, too, now that you can’t give away free booze to loosen up your targets.”
Oh, Jesus.
Jonah’s face turned tomato-red when his pal laughed at Avery’s retort. The big man lunged toward her, looking as if he might punch her in the face.
“Hey, pal, cool down.” Grey stepped between them. “Do us all a favor and walk away.”
Jonah shoved at Grey’s shoulder. “Who the hell are you?”
Protect the knee. Count to ten.
“Grey Lowell.” Grey held one arm out to protect Avery from getting caught in the middle of a scuffle. “I’d suggest you don’t touch me again, if you know what’s good for you.” Where the hell was Trip when he needed backup?
Jonah’s hands shot up in surrender, but his voice dripped with sarcasm. “I’d kick your ass if I didn’t think you’d sue me afterward, fucktard.”
“Fucktard?” Grey glanced at Avery, whose forehead creased with concern. If Avery hadn’t been in harm’s way, he’d have gladly clocked the asshole. Harnessing all his patience, he simply crossed his arms and stared at the jerk.