Equity (Balance Sheet #3) by Shannon Dermott

my pants. I took a shot with my fist against the wall, feeling my knuckles split against the stone. The pain was release and killed the lust in less than a second. I planted my head on the cool stones, wondering what the hell I was doing. I’d made an arse out of myself for nothing. I still lost the girl.
    When I walked in, I didn’t immediately see her. I took my seat while Griff eyed me.
    “So I ask again. That’s the lassie that has you all pent up?”
    I nodded, not bothering with a lie. The group of men that had been flirting with my girl stared daggers at me. I felt my chest puff up, spoiling for a fight. I needed to vent my anger, and what better way that knocking heads like the old days? I knew Griff would have my back and we’d easily take the four. We had more times than not been outnumbered with worse odds.
    Then she appeared. I found myself lost in her movements. She was graceful in a way I’d never noticed before. She pointedly didn’t look my way.
    “Why is she here taking over my job?” a voice said from over me. I faced Keely, whose frustration seemed to rival mine.
    I shifted back in my seat and pulled her into my lap. Bailey turned in time to catch Keely’s giggles. Without taking my eyes from the woman I loved, I kissed Keely with everything that belonged to the redhead half a bar away from me.
    Focused on her through it all, I watched Bailey’s eyes grow wide. Then she turned and ran out the back. She was most certainly jealous.
    When I pulled away from the kiss, I caught Griff’s stunned glance at me. Fuck . Griff was in love with Keely, which was one of the reasons I steered clear from her. The other had been that I had always seen her as a little sister. That was, until last night.
    Knowing Griff would understand my little display, I ignored his glare. I asked Keely, “Why are you still working here?” I waited for a response, fighting the urge to chase after Bailey.
    Keely was saved from answering when Ennis, my mother’s boyfriend and the proprietor of the bar, called for her assistance. From the exchange and his pissed glance my way, I knew he was going after Bailey, probably to give her a ride so she didn’t walk back to my mother’s in the dark.
    Griff caught my attention. “Are we done here?”
    I nodded.
    “Then let’s get out of here. Want to go to a club?”

Chapter Eighteen
     
    Bits of dust plume rose from underneath my stamping feet. The sun was low in the sky, barely a glowing ember. It didn’t matter though. I just needed to get the hell out of there and away from that asshat.
    It was a strange word that I hadn’t used before but fitting. I was in an extraordinary and beautiful place. I’d only been trying to fill my empty day by taking the asshat’s mother’s suggestion to make my way to the only pub in the area run by her boyfriend Ennis. We had gotten word that Turner wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow morning.
    Ennis been the kindest man I’d ever met and understood immediately why Kalen’s mother swooned when she spoke about him. When he looked taken back by an early rush and I offered to help, he looked relieved.
    Then Kalen had come in like a summer storm, all beautiful and deadly. It had taken all my gumption to ignore his turmoil and advances. He wanted me and didn’t at the same time. No girl wanted that. So I’d fled. What else was there to be done?
    The faint hum of a motor came from the distance. I didn’t turn around. I feared Kalen had been forced after me. I balled my fist in preparation to tell him exactly where he could shove his ride when an open window pulled beside me.
    Ennis. I stopped. His gentle smile was all the nonverbal words I needed.
    On our way back to Moria’s he said, “Aye sweet lass, my son,” he began.
    I glanced over at him with my brows knitted in confusion.
    “He’s not my son by blood. But he’ll always be like a son to me, eh.” He waited a beat. I gave him a tiny smile, letting him know I understood. “That boyo,