A Margin of Lust (The Seven Deadly Sins #1)(15)

"So I shove the panties under the bed with my foot while I try to distract my client with the view out the bedroom window, which, believe me, is nothing to write home about. I think she thought I was a nut case," John Gordon said.

Caroline, Maricela and two other women from the office laughed.

"You should have seen the backyard of the house I showed two weeks ago," Maricela said. "I never take people to a house I haven't previewed, but I had a busy week, and... well, anyway, the whole yard was covered in pink flamingos and dog crap. Que lio. The lady of the house had four Chihuahuas. I guess the flamingos were there to keep them company or something."

The-worst-thing-I've-ever-seen-in-a-house was a popular game among real estate agents, but Gwen was surprised it was being played tonight. Time hadn't had a chance to smudge the stark edges of their recent discovery. Gallows humor boosted bravado she guessed.

"The most terrible experience I ever had, hands down, was the cockroach house," Caroline said, and smiled at Mo as he handed her another glass of wine. She was on a roll.

"You win." Gwen groaned and placed her hands over her ears. "Please don't tell that story again. I don't even like to think about it."

"That's right, you're cockroach-phobic," Caroline said, pretending she'd totally forgotten. "Tell you what, I won't talk about it if you cover my bar tab." She smiled sweetly.

"I haven't heard it," John said. "How do I know if it's worse than my panties if I don't get to hear it?"

"Trust me," Gwen said. "It's worse than a pair of panties on the floor."

"They weren't clean."

"Yuck, and it's still worse."

"Caroline’s on her third glass of wine. That's a lot of money to cough up." John's words were fuzzy. It sounded like he'd had more than three himself.

Several nasty comments popped into Gwen's mind. Before she had a chance to choose the perfect one, Lance appeared at her side. "Tell you what, John. I'll pay Caroline's bill if I don't have to hear about it. I'm with Gwen. I can't stand cockroaches."

John's jaw jutted forward. "You can't leave it alone, can you? Always gotta be the guy. The guy with the ladies."

"Come on, John. That was uncalled for."

"Seriously." John's "s's" slurred together. "You got like a Prince Charming complex or something? It's getting under my skin."

"Hey. Sorry. I haven't been trying to get under your skin." Lance's voice was soothing. He pulled his phone from his pocket and began typing.

"No." John pushed away from the table and swayed on his feet. "Not my skin. The ladies' skin. That's what you want to get under."

"Shut up, John," Caroline said.

"Whassa matter? You got the hots for Lancey boy? Little young for you, wouldn't you say?" John walked to the bar and slapped down his credit card. "Mo, my man, I wanna pay. It's getting stuffy in here."

Lance reached John in two long strides. "You owe Caroline an apology."

"I owe Mo some money."

"You're making a fool of yourself."

"Yeah? Well, least I don't make my living on my knees," John said.

Lance became as still as stone except for the clenching of his right fist. Gwen took a step toward the men. What she was planning to do if a fight broke out, she didn't know. Lance's hand jutted forward. Gwen flinched, but he didn't hit John. Instead, he snatched the credit card off the bar and stuffed it into John's shirt pocket. "An Uber is on its way. Let's go wait outside." Lance gripped the other man's arm and steered him toward the door.

John yanked away and held both hands up in mock surrender. "I'm flattered, but, sorry, you're not my type."

"You need to leave," Lance said.

"I was on my way."

"You're not in any condition to drive."

"Doesn't your flock of hens keep you busy enough? You gotta be all up in my business too?"

Mo came around the bar and placed himself between the men. "You can’t drive, John. Sorry. But my license is on the line."

For a moment John tensed as if he was readying himself for a battle, then realizing he was outnumbered, or maybe that they were right, his shoulders slumped. He got the Uber info and slammed out the door. The brass bell clanged a jarring note.

Nobody said anything for a long moment. Caroline broke the silence. "Talk about a buzz kill. I guess I'm headed home to the cat."

Lance put a hand on her shoulder. "Sorry."

"Hey, it's not your fault. Wife left him for another guy last year. He's mad at the world."

Gwen hadn't known that. All she'd known about John was that he was difficult, prickly and proud. And, she didn't like him much.

Lance handed his credit card to Mo. "Take care of the table."

"You don't have to do that," Gwen said.

"I feel like I kind of ruined everybody's evening."

"How was this your fault?"

"I know how John feels about me. I shouldn't have gotten involved. Should have let Mo handle things."

"You were chivalrous, defending Caroline's honor." Gwen was surprised to hear herself defend him.