Jared (The Protectors #2)(66)

“I see you got my last message.”

Jerking her head up her eyes met Jared’s black narrowed glare and he was pissed. She couldn’t pull her eyes away from his, but she knew standing next to him were Damon, Sid and Nicole. “How did you find me?”

He totally ignored her question. “See you got your job back.”

Tessa shrugged her shoulder. “Listen, I’m busy.” She finally glanced at the rest of them, but Nicole’s eyes snagged hers and she was surprised to see understanding. “Can I get you guys anything?” Her years of bartending kicked in, she couldn’t be rude and if they were in her bar, they were customers.

“Yeah, four beers.” Damon spoke up, pulling a barstool out for Nicole. Sid and Jared both took a seat. The area around the bar quickly emptied when the Warriors walked up.

Turning, Tessa reached into the long cooler and pulled out the beers. Setting them on the counter she glanced in the mirror and again met Jared’s eyes which were turning back to their beautiful golden color. Looking away she quickly finished opening beers. Grabbing all four, she turned and set them down in front of each of them. “It’s on the house.” Tessa nodded at Damon who was handing her a fifty. Instead of putting it back in his pocket he dropped it in her tip jar.

“Thank you.”

Damon nodded. Tessa continued down the bar taking and filling orders. Damon, Sid and Nicole talked amongst themselves, but Jared sat silent watching her every move.

“Hey Tessa!” An older man yelled from the pool tables. “Can you be a doll and round us up a couple of beers.

“Sure thing Doug.” Tessa yelled back already on the move to fill the order. Taking the beers over, she sat them on the table before picking up the money.

“Keep the change doll.” Doug smiled picking up his fresh beer saluting her with it. “Sure is good to have you back. That new bartender don’t take care of us like you do.”

“Flattery won’t stop me from cutting you off Doug.” Tessa teased. Everyone around the pool table laughed.

“Can’t blame an old guy for trying.” He yelled after her.

Tessa smiled, walking back to the bar. Her eyes met Jared’s, who had turned completely around to watch her. He sat in a relaxed pose, both elbows propped on the bar behind him. Stopping in front of him she sighed. “What are you doing here Jared?”

Surprise flashed across his face before he hid it behind a cool mask. “Guess I could ask you the same question.”

“I have bills to pay and was able to get my job back.” Tessa replied, refusing to look away.

“At what cost?” His question came out in a growl.

Tessa’s face turned bright red, but she managed a bitter laugh. “What does that matter to you?” She so

wasn’t going to go there, but for him to say something like that totally pissed her off.

“What in the hell does that mean?” He grabbed her arm as she tried to pass.

“Nothing Jared. It means nothing.” From past experience she knew how this conversation was going to go and she honestly didn’t want a repeat of what she went through with Otis. She tried to jerk her arm away, but he wasn’t having it.

“If you need money I have plenty.” Jared glared down at her. “I am the reason you lost your job.”

Tessa shook her head. “I don’t want your money.”

“How much do you need?” His glare didn’t lessen as he dug into his back pocket.

“I said I don’t want your money.” She hissed, hating that he was not hearing her. “I’m not your whore.”

That stopped him cold, his eyes narrowed. “I never said you were.” His voice lowered dangerously. “You wanting to pick a fight?”

“Yeah, maybe I am.” She replied in her best bitchy tone. “I mean how much am I worth Jared…hum? Is two hundred too much? Let’s see, we slept together for what, a week, so yeah I think that would be fair.”

Jared turned to look at Sid. “Cover the bar.” He pulled her toward the front door, his face a mask of pissed off vampire. Once outside, he walked her around the side of the bar. “You are not a whore and I don’t ever want to hear that come out of your mouth ever again. Understand?”

“I’m not supposed to leave the bar.” Tessa replied, shivering from the cool air and his intense stare.

“Fuck the bar!” Jared yelled, then closed his eyes as if counting to ten. “This morning when I left our bed everything was fine, so fine in fact I expected to find you still in my bed.”

Tessa cocked her eyebrow. “So you expected me to lay in bed until you decided to come back from whatever you had to do.” She snorted. “You don’t know me very well.”

“Obviously I don’t, but I didn’t mean it that way.” Jared frowned. “Stop playing games and tell me what is wrong.”

Anger gripped Tessa making her grind her teeth. “Playing games?” Her voice rose while her face heated with anger. “Playing games? I see you with a woman, bent over a pool table clawing at your back not even a half an hour after you left me and you say I’m playing games. Screw you!”

Jared stopped her from leaving, understanding flashing in his eyes. “I was feeding Tessa.”

“I don’t give a rat’s ass what you were doing…Jared.” Tessa spat out. “Let me go.”