It seemed the man who’d spoken to Kade thought the same way I did, because I saw his jaw harden and he pushed his stool back from the bar. I hurried over before he could get up, forcing my lips into a smile.

“It’s okay,” I said, trying to forestall him. “Really. It’s not a problem. Did you need to settle up your tab?”

The man, I thought his name was Wade, seemed reluctant to let it go, but I guess he also didn’t want to make trouble for me, because he gave a curt nod and tossed some money down on the counter.

“I’ll just get you some change,” I said, but he shook his head.

“Keep it.” He gave me a fatherly smile and a pat on the arm from his work-roughened hand. “You be careful gettin’ home tonight, you hear?” He gave Kade a hard glare.

“I will, thanks,” I said, slipping the change from his tab into my pocket. He left and his friend finished off his beer and left, too.

Carol brought over the tabs for the remaining two tables and I ran them through the register. The one table left and two of the guys from the other as well, but Matt and his buddy Steve remained. I noticed them talking quietly to each other and casting glances at Kade, then me.

I could see where this was going. Shit.

I hurried behind the bar as Carol brought back a tray of empty glasses from the two tables. She, too, eyed Kade sitting behind me.

“What’s with him?” she asked in an undertone. “He looks like bad news. Really bad news. Want me to go call Roger?” Roger was a deputy on the town’s small police force. He ate lunch here all the time and I’d noticed had taken more than a passing interest in Carol. It didn’t surprise me that she would have his number.

“It’s okay,” I said, though I wondered if I believed that myself. “I . . . know him.”

Her eyes widened to the size of proverbial saucers. “You know him?”

I nodded. “He can be a bit of an asshole,” I said, which was a massive understatement. “I’ll get rid of him. It’s fine.”

She looked skeptical but nodded. “Okay. If you’re sure. I’m going to head home, okay? My prep’s done for the night and my feet are killing me.”

I could certainly relate to that. I’d pulled a nine-hour shift with two half-hour breaks and the dogs were barkin’.

“Yeah, no problem. See you tomorrow.”

I turned around as she left and wanted to groan with dismay. While I’d been busy talking to Carol, Matt and Steve had approached Kade, each taking a stool on either side of him.

“It’s closing time, buddy,” Matt said to Kade. “Way past time for you to go.”

He could have been a breeze blowing for as much attention Kade paid to him. Instead, his eyes were locked to mine.

Matt and Steve exchanged glances and silent communication.

“We don’t want any trouble,” Steve added. “Come on outside with us and leave the girl alone.”

Kade rested an elbow on the counter and crooked his finger, beckoning me.

I swallowed, taking hesitant steps forward until I stood directly in front of him. He crooked his finger again and I leaned toward him, my ponytail swinging forward over my shoulder.

Kade caught my hair between his fingers, tugging lightly until my stomach was pressed against the curve at the edge of the bar. Then I felt his lips near my ear, his fingers trailing down my jaw in the lightest of touches, though it felt like an electric current. A shiver danced down my spine. Then he whispered to me.

“I’ve killed ten men over the last few weeks. Do you want me to make it an even dozen?”

The warmth of his breath against my skin was in stark contrast to the ice that froze my veins as the meaning of his words sank in. In stunned horror, I jerked backward, my shocked gaze again meeting his. The corner of his lips lifted in a chilling smirk.

“Matt, Steve,” I said, my voice sounding strangled, “it’s okay. Come on, I’ll walk you out.”

Matt looked at me like I’d lost my mind.

“No way, Kathleen,” he said with a disgusted snort. “We’ll stick around until you’re done.”

“You’ve been busy,” Kade said conspiratorially to me.

My jaw fell open in shock at his insinuation.

Kade turned to Matt. “Let me guess, the quarterback? Captain of the football team?”

My cheeks burned because, yes, that had been Matt exactly in high school, right down to captain of the Rushville High School Lions football team. Which was, coincidentally, one of the reasons he’d never noticed me. Girls had trailed after him like they were kitties and he was catnip. Why he wasn’t married yet, I had no idea. I hadn’t asked and he hadn’t said.

“What’s it to you?” Matt retorted.

Kade shot me a sideways look. “Knew it,” he said in an aside.

“Matt, really, you and Steve should just go,” I pleaded. I still had prep work to do, but I’d forgo it and pay the consequences tomorrow if I could just get Steve and Matt to leave. I pushed back from the bar, intending to round it and physically walk them outside, when Matt grabbed my arm, pulling me to a halt.

“What’s going on?” Matt asked, his brows creasing in confusion.

But I was no longer looking at Matt. I was looking at Kade, whose gaze was fixed on Matt’s hand wrapped around my wrist. Kade’s body tensed and a dangerous light came into his eyes. Alarm shot through me. I jerked my arm out of Matt’s grip and hurried out from behind the bar.

“Please, just do what I say,” I said, taking Matt by the hand. “It’s okay. I know him and it’ll be fine.”

Matt let me tug him to his feet and Steve reluctantly followed. I led them out the door and into the parking lot.

“You know that guy?” Matt asked, his disbelief evident.

I nodded. “Yeah. I used to . . . work for him.” What else was I supposed to say? How to explain? I was engaged to his brother, but then I fell in love with him, then I got pregnant and told him I loved him. Then he left me. Yeah, not even I wanted to try and make sense of that pathetic story.

“What’s he doing here?”

Good question.

“I don’t know,” I said, “but I’m sure it’s nothing. He can just be a jerk, that’s all. I’ll be fine.”

“Are you positive?” Matt asked. “Because I don’t mind waiting. I’ll follow you home, make sure everything’s all right.”

“I’m sure. It’ll be all right. I promise.” I smiled. “But thanks so much for wanting to stay and help.” Because it was nice of him. Matt was a nice guy, a good guy, and I didn’t take that for granted. Impulsively, I gave him a hug. He was hard and solid in my arms, hugging me back in the slightly awkward way of a big guy who was aware of his size and didn’t want to unthinkingly crush something much smaller than him.

I stepped back and Matt considered for a moment, studying me, then gave a reluctant nod. “Okay. If you say it’s all right, then I guess it is.”

“It is,” I reiterated.

Steve waved at me and I thanked him, too, watching as they got in their separate trucks and left.

I pondered just walking to my car and driving home, but that would only be delaying the inevitable. Best to see what Kade wanted and send him on his way. Then at least I’d get a decent night’s sleep.

Fat chance of that happening, I thought with a sigh, heading back inside.

Kade had moved to the windows of the pub, startling me as I opened the door to go back inside.

“Were you watching me?” I asked sharply, my eyes narrowing.

“No,” he said flatly. “I was watching the quarterback.”

Before I could retort, the music suddenly got louder.

“What the hell is that?” Kade asked over the strains of Florence and the Machine.

I sighed. “Danny likes to turn up the music after closing and sing while he cleans the kitchen.”

Kade’s eyebrows flew up. “He sings this?”

I laughed unexpectedly at the look on Kade’s face. “No. He likes me to sing, too.” It had become our little ritual, Danny and me. Once he’d heard me singing to myself, he decided that belting tunes out after closing was a great way to “clean out the old pipes,” as he put it. Once everyone was gone, he’d put on different music and turn it up. It was fun and helped pass the time while I finished my work. Sometimes he came out and we’d sing something together before we locked up.