Man of Honor (Battle Scars #3) - Diana Gardin Page 0,3

long time ago. It’s swirling around inside me now like silt in the ocean.

Churning, churning, churning.

When Lenny slides my drink toward me, I grip the glass in one hand and take a long, burning swallow. As the amber liquid slides down my throat I close my eyes and grimace.

Never wanted to be like her. And having a drink right now doesn’t mean I’m turning into her. It’s just been a rough day.

“I’ll have what he’s having.”

The sugary sweet voice comes from right beside me, and when I open my eyes I see that its owner is anything but. A bleached blonde dressed to impress has sidled up next to me at the bar. She leans over the shiny wood, her enormous tits nearly falling out of her low-cut top. My eyes slip down her body to take in the tight black leather pants and spiky heels. When I meet her eyes, the bright blue irises are sparkling with knowing allure.

“Hey there. Mind if I have a seat?” She puffs her red lips out in a pout. “Doesn’t seem to be anywhere else to sit.”

Out of the corner of my eye I see Lenny roll both of hers. I nod toward the empty stool beside me, indicating that she should sit if she wants to.

The blonde’s lips curve into a seductive smile as she hops up. Her thigh brushes mine and my dick springs to attention. My body responds to hers like it knows exactly what comes next, and it’s eager to get to the finish line.

I glance at the blonde again, and she bats her lashes at me. Making up my mind, I nod to Lenny.

“Her drinks are on me.”

Lenny tries and fails to hold in her sigh. “Sure thing, Drake.”

“Drake?” The blonde leans over my arm, dragging a long fingernail across my inked skin. “Nice name.”

I down the rest of my drink and shove my glass back toward Lenny, wordlessly asking for another. Shaking her head while giving me the side eye, Lenny obliges.

It’s going to be a long night.

2

Mea

Order up!” Boozer barks as his bald head appears above the food window in the kitchen of See Food.

“Got it!” I put down my glass of Sprite and pick up my plates of food, balancing a large tray while arranging the four heaping platters of seafood on top, then push through the swinging kitchen door backward and enter the bar area. I’ve only been working here for about a week. I’m still thanking my lucky stars that Lenny and Boozer hired me without any experience. I need all the money I can stockpile if I ever want to get my yoga studio up and running.

In this century.

Breezing past Lenny, I bump her hip gently with mine where she stands rinsing glasses at the sink behind the bar. “You good?”

She smirks at me. “I should probably be asking you that, doll.”

Shooting her a sassy wink, my tray wobbles slightly, and Lenny catches one mug of beer just before it tips off the edge. Groaning, she grabs my shoulders to steady me. “Lord, girl. You might be the death of this place.”

I scoff. “Please. Berkeley did it, and she’s ten times clumsier than I am.”

Lenny smiles, half-moon wrinkles forming around her lips. “Berkeley had years of practice. You’re meant for greater things than this old place. Just like she was.”

I glance down. “Maybe. But for now, this place is saving my ass. And so are you.” I lean over and kiss her cheek before brushing past her toward the high-top tables surrounding the bar. Hearing a throaty giggle, I whirl around. My chocolate brown curls slap me in the face as I zero in on the curvy blonde poured into her clothes at the bar. Yep, she’s the source of the giggle. Rolling my eyes, I start back on my path.

But something catches my eye and my steps stutter, then freeze.

The blond chick has large, spectacular, and most likely fake, breasts. They’re currently squished up against a solid brick wall of a man. First my eyes follow the veins in his muscular forearms, exposed by the white collared shirt he’s wearing, sleeves rolled up. Then my gaze wanders to the open collar, where the thick, winding lines of ink swirl up toward his neck. And that neck…muscular and thick, just like the rest of his perfectly sculpted body.

A body I know very, very well.

Lastly, my eyes land on a face that simultaneously makes my blood boil and my toes curl. Olive skin,