that hot gargoyle, did ye?” She grinned at me as I grabbed a bar napkin and started wiping. “No, Austin’s not mad at you. He’s struggling with having another alpha in his territory without being able to force submission.”
A wave of uncomfortable fear washed through me. Their fight had been so brutal…the violence of it uncontrolled.
“They would’ve ruined this bar. I wouldn’t have thought Austin would jeopardize his place of business.”
“Allowing Damarion to treat the patrons badly, without recourse, would’ve been jeopardizing this place. It was bound to happen. If the circumstances had been different, they would’ve rumbled right when they met. Instead, they had to do their jobs and make sure you were safe and your people were secure. Ye pulled rank then, and ye did it again now.” She smiled with pride. “The best bit? They are both happy to let ye do so. They are happy to let a Jane with new magic push them around. I regret ever having thought about retiring. This is a good laugh. I am absolutely tickled, so I am. I bet Austin never, in a hundred million years, thought he’d end up in this situation. He says he wants to leave town, so he does, but I bet you he’s also desperate to stay. I got a tenner on it with Edgar.”
My mood darkened for the second time that night, dragging me low. “It doesn’t sound like a good laugh. The last thing I want to do is create upheaval.”
“Ah, you’re grand. ’Tis good for him, you’ll see. Anyway, what were ye mumbling on about just now? What are ye too old for? Sex on the first date? Because I’d beg to differ. You’ve been on the merry-go-round and ridden enough horses by now to do as you please. Don’t even go on a date. They’re a load of bollocks anyway. Just fashion yerself a cowboy, grab a ride, and see how hard he bucks, eh?”
I smiled through my mood. “He’s young. Damarion, I mean.”
“What are you on about? He can’t be more than six or seven years younger. Yer just not used to it because women usually have to date older men if they don’t want an eejit. But that’s for younger women—we’ve enough troubles that we’d do better being less mature, not more. Yer not lookin’ for a long-term thing anyway, right?”
“God no. I just need someone fun to take the edge off…being lonely.”
“Is that code for needin’ to get laid? I can’t tell.”
I could feel my face heating.
“Ah right, yeah. Thought so.” She nodded. “Yer just findin’ yerself, you are. You don’t need to go worrying about nothin’ t’all. All you need right now is a willy that stands up as long as you need it to. Trust me, younger is better. Maybe aim for twenties. It’s never fun when they’re done before you’ve even gotten goin’.”
I blew out a slow breath, her talk greatly helping. It felt like the clouds of doom had parted, letting in a little sunshine. That sunshine was cutting through all the crap I’d been brainwashed to believe about what “proper” women could and could not do.
“Thanks,” I said, reaching for the bottle.
“I got it.” Austin strolled up behind the bar, ignoring someone waving to grab his attention. He wrapped his large, scarred hand around the wine bottle.
“Are your hands soft, Austin?” I asked without meaning to, my mind running away from me.
A crease worked in his brow and his body tensed. “When they need to be,” he said, his voice deep and rough.
“She means soft, not gentle,” Niamh said. “When does your shift end? We need to talk before she can’t function anymore.”
“Good Lord, my tolerance isn’t that low,” I grumbled as Austin pushed the glass of wine my way and affixed the cork.
“Ye still do, yes,” Niamh said. “As soon as ye grow into that power of yours, it won’t wear you out so. I have faith ye’ll be able to hang on a little longer.”
“I’ve got help on the way,” Austin said, pointing at someone further back in the crowd to get their order. “And no, they aren’t soft to the touch. I’ve never… That’s not something…”
“My hands aren’t either.” Niamh analyzed her palms.
“Shut up, yes they are. So is your face, I can tell.” I slid my fingers across her palms.
She yanked her hands away. “Janey Mack, do you wash yer hands with sandpaper or something?”
I huffed out a laugh. “Clearly I need to invest in some magical skin