A Secret to Die For (Secret McQueen) (29 page)

I turned from him and strode to the bar, trying to slow the erratic beating of my heart. Once I was safely behind the counter, I apologized to the gentleman I’d injured in my rush to get between Lacey and Erica. He displayed his purple thumb, clearly angry over what had happened. To make amends, I gave him a drink on the house. He went from annoyed to understanding, accepted the gesture. Alcohol always seemed to tame the savage beast.

I peered up at the clock—12:58 a.m.
Wonderful
.

I was on for another hour. Afterward, I had a meeting with a guy who scared the piss out of me. So much for making it to the gym.

“Bartender!” Lonnie’s deep bellow ricocheted off the ceiling like a frazzled fart.

I stomped over, feet pounding against the plastic mats, anger and agitation coursing through me. I always kept my head with Lonnie, but damn it, this was getting old. Deena would just have to find it in her heart to forgive me.

“What the fuck do you want, Lonnie?” I couldn’t be certain, but I assumed my eyes had turned black—something that happened when my temper was stoked. The change in color was the first warning you’d pushed my big red button, or so I’d been told. For once, he didn’t order me around. Instead, he gawked at me, lips slightly parted, eyes wide and shocked. “What do you want?” I repeated, softening my voice. “Can I take your order?”

“Can I have a Crown and Coke, Rhiannon?” he asked politely.

Stunned by the swift change in his attitude, I managed to keep a straight face as I made his drink. He watched quietly as I poured the Crown, mixed in the ice and cola, and even thanked me when I placed the effervescent drink in front of him.

The evening seemed to be full of surprises.

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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

11821 Mason Montgomery Road Suite 4B

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A Secret to Die For

Copyright © 2014 by Sierra Dean

ISBN: 978-1-61921-447-7

Edited by Sasha Knight

Cover by Kanaxa

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

First
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
electronic publication: December 2014

www.samhainpublishing.com