Heath (Wild Boys After Dark, #2)(31)

He nodded toward a table in the corner, where Mick Bad, Dylan’s eldest brother, sat with Logan, Jackson, and Cooper.

“The Bads and the Wilds, at it again.” Dylan laughed. He slid a bottle of beer across the bar to Heath. “Logan said you’ve got a girlfriend now.”

Leave it to Logan to apply a little indirect pressure. Ever since he’d fallen in love with Stormy, who used to work at Dylan’s bar, he’d been singing the praises of love and monogamy.

“Logan’s right, although I’m not sure why he’s talking about my personal life.” Heath sipped his beer to hide the grin spreading across his lips from thinking about Ally.

“Cut him a break. He just said that you might blow them off to spend time with her.” Dylan took the towel that had been hanging over his shoulder and wiped down the bar. He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “I wouldn’t blame you. Spend time with a babe, or spend time with that crew? Easy choice in my eyes.”

Heath laughed. “Thanks for the brew. Good to catch up.” He crossed the crowded floor, weaving around tables and clusters of people and heading toward the sound of his brothers’ laughter.

Logan turned just as Heath noticed Amanda, Ally’s sister, sitting at a nearby booth with a guy who was wearing a suit and sitting pin straight, like he was on a job interview. Heath stopped midstride and looked around for Ally.

“Hey, bro. What’s up? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Logan pushed a chair out from the table with his foot. “Have a seat.”

Heath shook off his surprise and sucked back his beer as he lowered himself onto the chair. Questions ricocheted through his mind, the most prominent being, Where is Ally? She’d said she was going out with her sister. Heath pulled out his cell to check the last few texts from her.

“Jackson and Coop were just telling us about that upcoming photo shoot for Sage Remington, that sculptor you like. Stormy wants to go, so I’m sure we’ll rearrange our schedules to go. Why don’t you and your girlfriend join us?”

Sage Remington was Heath’s favorite sculptor. Normally he’d be all over this opportunity, but he was too sidetracked over Ally to respond.

“I guess the zoo worked out for you, then?” Jackson asked.

“Zoo? What have I missed this week?” Cooper, their youngest brother, leaned across the table and eyed Heath. The top few buttons of his dress shirt were open. Cooper’s tie hung loosely around his neck, and the new beard he’d been sporting lately gave him a swarthy look.

Heath let his brothers bounce their questions around for a while and quickly scanned his texts from Ally. None of them mentioned her plans for tonight. Of course they didn’t. That would have been difficult to fit in between I can’t wait to get my hands on you again and Wear your favorite tie next time I see you. He hadn’t even thought to ask her about her plans again. He was tempted to call her, but he didn’t want to look like a jealous *. Nor did he want to feel like one. But much to his dismay, he had the jealous part down pat.

“Cut him some slack. You guys are worse than my brothers.” Mick lifted his beer and winked at Heath.

“Heath going out on a real date is newsworthy. I want to hear the zoo story.” Cooper narrowed his midnight-blue eyes and leaned back in his chair. “Spill your guts, bro, or I for one will hassle you all night long.” He said all night long really slowly, a sly smile spreading across his face.

Heath wanted to call Ally, or at least text her, without the pressure of his brothers hanging over his shoulder. He knew there had to be a reasonable explanation for her not being out with her sister tonight, but that didn’t stop his gut from churning. He shoved his phone in his pocket rather than try to iron things out right this second. He eyed Amanda and then turned his attention back to his brothers.

“You want the scoop?” he asked Cooper.

“Heck, yeah,” Cooper said. “Jackson and I shot a lingerie commercial at the zoo once. Remember that, Jackson? That was some freaky shit. We hooked up with the models afterward.”

“That was some freaky shit,” Jackson said with a smirk.

“Well, there wasn’t any freaky shit to speak of on our date. We walked around the zoo at night. End of story.” He sucked back his beer, unable to resist texting Ally. He was about to pull out his phone when Logan drew his brows together and leaned closer.

“Something wrong?” Logan asked.

Heath shook his head. “Nope.”

“I told you,” Logan said. “Give me a little background info and I can have everything you want to know in ten minutes.”

“I’m good. Thanks.” He trusted Ally, didn’t he?

Yes, I trust her. I trust her completely.

That didn’t stop his gut from twisting into a knot. He’d believed that the reason he didn’t want a relationship was because women were too clingy and because he didn’t want to get hurt. But what he’d forgotten was what it felt like to worry about being hurt. How could he turn off this awful feeling?

He pulled out his phone and sent Ally a text. Miss you and wish you were here.

“Texting zoo girl?” Cooper asked. “What’s her name, anyway?”

“Allyson Jenner. She goes by Ally.” Just saying her name made him feel better.

“Ally, nice name. So where is she tonight?” Jackson asked. “You could have brought her along.”