Heart Beats (Joker's Sin #3) - Davidson King Page 0,19

drink.

“He was busy, and I was people-watching long enough to know you wanted as far away from that side of the bar as possible.” He shrugged. “Call me curious, but I wanted to know what got your briefs in a twist.”

“How do you know I wear briefs?” I shook the ingredients and poured them into a glass.

“Please, I could tell you what’s under anyone’s clothes.” He winked, and I handed him his bay breeze, umbrella with fruit and all.

“Interesting. I’ll have to see this superpower in action.”

“You just did, sugar.” He sipped his drink and scanned the crowd. “So tell me, is it the purple-headed skank?”

“How do you know she’s a skank?” I chuckled.

“I don’t. I’m trying to be a supportive friend and hate on whoever you’re hating on.”

As if summoned by the devil himself, Trinity appeared and started coming closer to where I was. I sighed and Sparkles rolled his eyes.

“Claws out, Shane, let’s shred this—”

“No, Sparkles, please.” I laughed, truly happy he was here when she approached.

“Gimme a shot of tequila, and…” she tapped her chin homing in on Sparkles’s drink. “One of those.”

I didn’t respond, just got to work making her drink. I didn’t know why she was bothering me, but I was sure it had something to do with Ledger.

“What color purple was your hair when you dyed it?” Sparkles asked her as I started mixing Trinity’s drink.

“I just had it dyed. It’s called breathy lavender.” She ran her fingers through her strands as I handed her the tequila and bay breeze.

“Oh…um it’s lovely.” Sparkles turned away from her, and I wanted so much to high-five him.

“Don’t like purple? Just neon pink?” She took the shot and sipped her drink.

“Oh, no, no, I love purple,” Sparkles said. “I have this purple sweater. Got it about five years ago. It was so vibrant, but I ran it through the wash one time too many, and now it’s a dull purple. Comfortable, but I wouldn’t dare wear it out in public.”

Trinity’s eyes widened, and I could tell she was about to say something to Sparkles, but he hopped off the stool. “Oh, gotta run, my love is summoning me.” He was gone so quickly, she never got to speak.

I went to go help someone else, but Trinity reached across the bar and gripped my wrist.

“You want to let go,” I growled.

“I don’t know why you seem to hate me so much.”

“I don’t hate you, Trinity.”

She scoffed but let go. “Bullshit.” Her eyes lifted to where I was sure Ledger was. I knew that expression; he was gorgeous when he was in the zone…Hell, he was gorgeous all the time. “You don’t think I’m good enough for him?”

“No, I don’t,” I answered her.

She shot me a cocky grin. “I guess I’ll have fun proving you wrong, then.”

I wasn’t a violent person, and I had never hit a girl, but I was seriously contemplating changing that. She rushed off to the other side of the bar, leaving me seething and unable to respond to her barb.

Knowing that Trinity and Ziggy would be going to Ledger’s after work, I didn’t plan on sticking around after cleaning up. Max said I could go a little early since I’d come in and done so much prep today. I didn’t really want to go to my place and think about all the ways Trinity was going to try and land Ledger, but I also couldn’t stand to watch her touching him every chance she got as he made sure his equipment was all set.

“Ledger,” Ciro shouted from across the club. Everyone had long gone.

“What’s up?” Ledger moved away from Trinity and over to where Ciro was. I had a feeling he was going to ask him about what I mentioned earlier, and I felt better knowing Ciro would be in the loop. An extra set of eyes was always a good thing.

As the two of them talked, Trinity and Ziggy were sitting at the edge of the stage, laughing. I said good-bye to Max and headed out. There was a late bus, which always worked perfectly for me, but I had forty minutes, so I didn’t have to rush.

I passed Ledger’s car and smiled as I remembered driving home from the con in it. God, that was awkward. I rounded the club and started walking along the sidewalk toward the bus stop.

“Shane?”

I turned to the sound of Ledger calling me. “Yeah?”

“What are you doing?” Ledger wasn’t an idiot, I knew he was well aware