Even though she can hold her own, I jump up before I can question what the fuck I’m doing. Shoving past Tawny, I charge over to the asshole. I’ve seen his kind one too many times before. But I’ve never seen anyone like Tigerlily.
The moment I reach the table, I grip her bicep and yank her up before Thumper has a chance to say jackshit. She yelps in protest, but has no choice as I shove her behind me. Thumper glares up at me. This dog isn’t happy I’ve taken away his toy.
“Excuse me. Me and Tigerlily were talking.” His friends are silent, watching for any sign to intervene.
“Well, you’re done talking,” I reply calmly.
He tongues his cheek, furious. “We’re done when I say we’re done,” he spits, standing abruptly and kicking back his chair.
He’s a few inches shorter than I am but tries to make up for it by puffing out his chest. I can’t help but snicker.
“You have anything else you want to say to him?” I ask Tigerlily, my eyes never wavering from Thumper.
“No,” she says with bitter conviction.
I like how she doesn’t cower in fear. She had no qualms about slapping Thumper, even though I’m pretty sure she’ll get into shit for scaring off clients. Her name takes on another meaning, and I decide Tiger is a better suited moniker for her.
“You heard the lady,” I taunt. “You’re done.”
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” he snarls, rounding the table and getting into my face.
As long as he doesn’t touch me, this doesn’t have to end badly…for him. “I’m someone who doesn’t manhandle women. Now, you have two options.” I raise a finger. “One, you can sit the fuck back down and enjoy the show.” I then raise another finger. “Or two, you can enjoy a ride in the back of an ambulance. The choice is yours.”
His nostrils flare as he exhales angrily while clenching his jaw. He assesses whether he can take me, but I stand my ground, not at all intimidated by his smoke and mirrors.
“Fuck this place!” he finally says, childishly sweeping his hand across the table and hurling all the glasses and pitchers of beer to the floor.
One glass is left standing, and as he goes to smack it off the table, I seize his forearm and squeeze hard. He peers down at my left hand, appearing to read over the word tattooed across my knuckles. It says wolf. The right hand says lone.
“You touch that glass, and I’ll break it over your head.” My threat isn’t empty.
When he senses I’m not playing, he rips his arm from my grip and glares. “C’mon, boys. Let’s go. This place is a dump anyway. And their beer tastes like piss.”
Thumper and his friends brush past me, but I stand solid, protecting Tiger until the last of them is gone.
I take a deep breath, then drop to a squat to pick up the broken glass. I have no idea what came over me. So much for staying hidden in the shadows. The need to protect Tiger was instinctive, and I don’t know why. What I do know is that she’s dangerous, and I need to stay away.
Twelve long years of planning won’t be thrown away for a nice ass.
However, the moment she squats down beside me, all thoughts of staying away get shot to shit. “Hi.” Her voice is sweet like cotton candy.
I meet her big green eyes and nod.
“Thanks for what you did. Thumper is a jerk, but he’s one of my clients who’s into the girlfriend experience.” When I arch a brow, she clarifies, “I pretend to flirt with him, and he tips me generously. I can handle myself but thank you. Things were getting a little out of hand.” She licks her glossy red lips, and I instantly have the urge to wipe my thumb across her mouth, smudging her perfect lipstick and leaving her a beautiful mess.
I nod again, not interested in small talk.
“I’m Tigerlily. Lily,” she amends quickly, extending her small hand.
Glancing down at it, I don’t shake it. “Bull.”
She appears embarrassed and quickly jerks her hand back.
“Get up from there,” Lotus demands, hands on her hips as she stands by the table. She has every right to be pissed at me for throwing out her customers. I obviously misread the situation. Thumper wanted the girlfriend experience, meaning he wanted Tiger to beat his ass? There is so much wrong with that picture.
With hands filled with broken glass, I stand and place the pieces on the table. Tiger also stands.
“Sorry. I’ll split,” I say to Lotus, as she watches me closely.
She raises a thin eyebrow. “You got someplace to be?”
“No, but I figured you’d want me gone. I just lost you paying customers,” I explain bluntly.
When she shakes her head, I wonder what’s going on. “You just did what my main bouncer, Andre, should have done.”
“Oh?” I reply, running a hand over my head. “I didn’t realize you had any bouncers working here.”
“Exactly my point,” she counters, drumming her fingers against her waist. “Andre was too busy chatting up some barfly to notice that one of the girls he is paid to protect was getting manhandled.” She looks over at the giant who is standing sheepishly by her side.
I instantly don’t like Andre. Apart from the fact he looks like a slimy greaseball with his thinning ponytail and black handlebar moustache, he dropped the ball when it came to protecting someone who was relying on him to keep them safe.
“You want a job?” Lotus asks unexpectedly. Both Andre’s and my eyes widen.
“A job?” I question, in case I’ve misheard her.
She nods, her blonde ponytail bopping with the sharp movement. “Yes. It appears Andre needs help.”
Andre looks moments away from ripping off my arms. “I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes.” But tough fucking luck. “But I can start tomorrow.”
“Great. Come in around five p.m.”
Fucking A. Seems my plan of blending into society has come about sooner than I thought. I planned to be a chameleon and appear to be on the right path. Although a more “respectable” job would probably be better suited, this will get my PO off my ass. It’s a perfect ruse.
My revenge starts now.
As Lotus brushes the glass into a trash can, I say, “You know, I can fix this table for you.” I place my palm on the top and rock it, showing her how unsteady it is. I couldn’t help but notice this place is in desperate need of some maintenance. I almost fell on my ass thanks to the shaky barstool.
She stops mid sweep, her lips shaping into a slanted grin. “Good with your hands, are you?”
Her comment drips with innuendo, and I can’t help but smirk. “You have no idea.”
She fans her cheeks dramatically. “Come in at twelve.”
With nothing further to say, I turn and am about to head back to the bar to finish my beer, until I notice both Tiger and Tawny are watching me. I suddenly feel very uncomfortable.
Lotus picks up on my discomfort immediately. “You want to be a Bird Dog here; you’ve got to be comfortable around the girls. Tawny?” She looks at the attentive blonde. “You happy to take Bull out back?”
Bird Dog must be slang for a bouncer who takes care of whatever happens “out back.”
“Yes, Lotus,” she replies, grinning wickedly.