One King's Way (On Dublin Street #6.5)(10)

“Got it.” Joss took the lager from him, and Craig hurried down the bar to Rain.

“A text from ‘Mum’ popped up on the screen,” Rain said, handing him the phone. “Thought you might want to know.”

“Thanks.” He gave her a tight smile and quickly pulled up the text.

I had a wonderful night. Drew was a gentleman. I’m home safe and sound so you can stop worrying and get on with work. Talk to you later. Love, Mum xx

Craig sighed in relief.

Glad to hear it. I’ll call around tomorrow. Night.

“Everything alright?” Rain said.

He looked at her and was surprised to find she appeared to genuinely care. Christ, he wanted to kiss her so f*cking badly. Why was she here? What the hell was going on with her? Craig suddenly found himself irrationally angry and he knew it was because Rain Alexander was a mystery that was beginning to frustrate him in more ways than one.

“She’s fine,” he said.

Rain’s concerned expression turned blank at his sharp answer, and he instantly regretted his tone.

“Craig, if you’re done?” Joss shouted back down the bar.

He sighed and looked back at Rain, but she was avoiding his gaze as she glanced around the bar in that searching way of hers. He strode away to take a customer’s order. Alistair passed him as he mixed a cocktail.

“Who’s the gorgeous brunette?” he asked as he cleaned out a glass.

Craig shot Rain a look. She had her back to the bar now, her eyes searching the club. “Fuck knows,” he sighed.

“I thought you knew her.”

“Knowing her name doesn’t mean I know her.”

Hearing the dismay in his voice, Alistair grinned. “Could it be you want to know her though?”

“Only in a biblical sense.”

Alistair studied him and then grunted. “If you say so.”

As soon as he walked away, he was replaced by Joss. She was grinning at him. He frowned. “What?”

“You have a crush.”

His whole being revolted at the idea. “I’m a grown man, I don’t have a f*cking crush.”

Joss shot Rain a look. “Yeah, you do. You can’t stop looking over at her and I have a feeling she’s the same woman Jo was telling me about. Apparently you could barely pry yourself away from her last Saturday.”

“Your point?” he snapped.

She laughed outright at his tone. “Oh man, I’ve been there. I get it.” She patted his shoulder in comfort. “Just go with it. And I must say she’s a f*ck of a lot cooler than most of the women you hook up with. And she’s stunning. If I were a guy . . . yeah, I’d go there.”

An image of Joss and Rain together fogged up his brain. “Why would you say that?” he groaned in frustration.

Joss laughed harder. “You need to grow up.”

“I’ll have you know that you saying you’d do Rain would have any man of any age picturing it for months to come.”

“I said if I were a man, I’d go there.” She shook her head. “Head out of the gutter, Craigy boy. We have work to do.”

A lull eventually arrived, so he could get back to Rain, and when he did he discovered she’d ordered a number of shots from one of his colleagues. It was daft, but he was annoyed she couldn’t wait for him to return to her before ordering.

“Moving on to something stronger?” He gestured to her empty shot glasses.

Her mouth twisted into a surprisingly adorable moue.

He leaned over the bar, locking onto her eyes with his. “Am I really that annoying?”

She sighed heavily. “No. It’s not you.” She groaned and leaned her head in her hands. “I shouldn’t have had those shots. I’m a lightweight.”

“Your break time, mate.” Alistair slapped him on his shoulder as he passed.

Craig nodded. “Right.” He walked to the end of the bar, lifted the latch and stepped out onto the club floor. He moved through the crowded bar area and pushed his way to where Rain sat. There were a number of guys who’d eyed her up over the course of the night, but for whatever reason none had approached. The guy standing next to her looked like he was getting ready to try his luck. Craig gave him a look that persuaded him otherwise, and then he gently rested his hands on Rain’s slender hips.

She jumped in surprise and tilted her head back. “How did you get back there?”

He grinned at her confusion. “Magic. Come on.” He tugged on her gently and to his surprise she willingly slipped off her stool. “Let’s get some water in you.” He took her small hand in his and tightened his grip as he led her back behind the bar. Ignoring Joss and Alistair’s inquisitive looks, he guided Rain through the back hallway and into their staff break room. He pulled a bottle of water out of the fridge and then led her to the battered table and chairs in the corner.

Once he had her seated with the water, he got his sandwich out of the fridge and offered her half.

“I’m not hungry.” She waved it away, staring at him in suspicion.

“Eat,” he insisted. “It’ll soak up all those shots.”

“Four shots,” she corrected him as she took the sandwich. “You’re making it sound like I’ve had loads.”