I cleared my throat and answered without looking at him. “Pretty much.”
Two older men were also sitting at the bar, nursing the last of their beers, and I noticed they were unabashedly watching the exchange between Kade and me.
“Last call,” I said to them, forcing my lips to curve into something resembling a smile. I walked out from behind the bar to let the two remaining tables know, too, that it was last call. Usually, I’d just holler it out from the bar, but I felt a pressing need to put some space between me and Kade.
When I returned, Kade hadn’t moved.
“Aren’t you going to ask me if I’d like a drink?” he asked.
“We’re closing,” I replied curtly, grabbing the rack of dirty dishes myself to haul to the back. Maybe I could hide back there for a few minutes and Kade would leave. But just as I turned, Danny was there beside me.
“Don’t be trying to lift that yourself, Kathleen,” he chided me. “I bet it weighs more than you do.” He chortled, his smile blinding as he teased me.
“Thanks,” I said, letting him take the heavy rack. He started humming a tune as he walked away, and let loose with a full-throated verse and chorus by the time he reached the swinging door into the kitchen. Danny had a great voice, and on any other night, I’d have encouraged him to sing a little for me. But not tonight.
“You can ignore me all you want—it won’t make a fucking bit of difference.”
Kade’s words ricocheted through my head, sending me into a new state of apprehension and panic.
It seemed the guys at the bar took exception to Kade, because one of them piped up, “I don’t know where you’re from, Mister,” he said gruffly, “but round here we watch our mouths in front of a lady.”
I looked up now, suddenly hyperaware of what was happening. Kade didn’t take kindly to people telling him what to do, and tonight was no exception.
Catching his gaze, I saw an eyebrow lift in sardonic amusement. “A lady, is it?” he sneered. “My mistake.” The look in his eyes made me shiver, and not in a good way. “Do excuse me,” he said. The words were a humble gesture, but the way in which he said them was not.
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.