Challenging the Center (Santa Fe Bobcats #6)(39)

“Kitten here is not your garden-variety bartender. No, no, boys, and she’s not here to help her ‘work her way through college.’” Red ended this with air quotes and a wink. “She’s a special one who’s ready to ace your heart and backhand into the right man’s arms. She’s a tennis pro!”

“Jesus Christ,” Michael growled as he threaded the needle between two men who were shouting suggestions about strip tennis and getting a good grip on their rackets. Coming to a stop at the edge of the bar, he motioned for Kat to get down.

She didn’t even look in his direction.

“Kitten here is guaranteed to hold you to love… in tennis anyway. But love’s not on the menu tonight, boys. Open the wallets, and let’s see how we welcome our sweet tennis-playing bartender!”

Kat did a little runway walk down to the end of the bar and back again, clearly enjoying herself.

Michael had to unclench his fists before they started shaking. What the hell was she doing?

A man behind him offered a hundred, which had been the standard opening bid for almost every woman before. A few men raised it by ten or fifteen dollars each until it was just under two hundred. Nobody had received over two hundred that night.

And through it all, Kat looked unruffled, even posing for a photo when someone held up their phone.

When he heard Red utter the words, “Going once,” he nearly lost it and yelled out, “Two hundred fifty.”

Kat’s eyes found his in the crowd, and hers widened a fraction in surprise. But her smile stayed in place, frozen, as if she wasn’t sure how to act.

“Two fifty,” Red purred. “Now we’re talking.”

“Hey, isn’t that guy famous?” someone asked to his left.

“No, he just looks like it,” said another.

“No, he’s a Bobcat,” a third commented.

“Going once, going twice, sold to the Bobcat with excellent taste!” Red called out, ruining any chance Michael had of getting through the experience unrecognized.

Or was that Kat who ruined it…

“Kitten, go claim your prize. Or is it the other way around?”

The bar crowd laughed, and Red signaled with her hand, and the music began to throb again. Kat stood still as a statue on top of the bar, as if she’d forgotten how to get down.

Michael approached—the seas of humanity parting for him all of a sudden—until he reached the end of the bar where she stood.

Red hopped down so she sat on the bar beside Kat’s feet, her own legs dangling over the edge. “So, looks like you scored my newest bartender. Couldn’t let her go to another fella?”

“Is she done for the night?” he asked, still craning his neck to watch Kat’s expression. It was blank.

“Done?”

“I paid for her company, didn’t I? So she should be done with her shift. Cut her.”

“Sure thing. Soon as you settle up with Diane over here, we’ll send our Kitten on her way.” Red patted his head, and he jerked out from her touch. She just laughed. “You’re a prickly one, aren’t you? No worry. I’m sure you’re more fun when you aren’t feeling the hot sting of jealousy. Take care of our Kitten. She’s a good worker.”

If Michael had it his way, she’d never step foot inside the bar again. This place was toxic for her. But Kat climbed down—finally—behind the bar and waited while he cashed out his tab—auction price included—with the bartender named Diane. Then Kat motioned for him to wait for her outside. He knew she’d come out the side entrance after going through the employee hallway and nodded he would meet her there.

And when he did… he’d be getting his money’s worth. Two hundred and fifty dollars’ worth of lecturing.





Chapter 11





“So, hi.” Kat edged the door closed behind her, shutting out the music of the bar and all the ruckus. “I’d ask how your night was going, but I think I know the answer.”

Michael’s expression could have been carved from stone. He stood, hands in the pockets of his jacket, feet braced apart, ready for a fight.

“Okay, so it wasn’t my best night.” Kat sighed and tucked her own hands away, walking toward him. In the dim light of the alley, he was nearly a menacing figure. For the first time, she actually felt the full weight of his potential strength that he kept well-banked around her. What that strength could do if he unleashed it. And knew, without a doubt, he’d never let it off the chain with her.

At least not the physical portion.

“But it was funny, you have to admit.” She slowed her steps, uncertainty taking over as he didn’t move an inch. “This was a last-minute thing. I didn’t ask to get up there. I wasn’t dying to get auctioned off like a pig at the market. But once I was up there, it seemed best to not cause a scene and go with it.”

“Not cause a scene.” It was the first words he’d spoken since she left the building, and they made her shiver a little.

“Well, a bigger scene,” she amended, finally reaching him. Looking up, his face was shadowed by the poor light, and she cursed that she couldn’t read his expression. See how hard his jaw was set, if his eyes were blazing with anger or if they crinkled at the corners just a little in concealed humor. “I thought throwing myself into the crowd and crowd surfing out of there would be a bigger problem than if I just enjoyed the situation and moved on.”