What kind of bar was this?

Not a single security guard had stepped in to stop them. Vincent’s arm stayed firm around her. He angled his body, shielding her from the growing aggression.

“It’s fine,” he said softly, his voice low and gravelly.

Then, with a quick glance toward the entrance, he added, “Security’s here now.”

Katelyn let out a shaky breath, the tension in her chest easing just slightly.

Even so, the closeness between them felt too much. Vincent’s presence was magnetic, almost overpowering, his energy pulling at her senses.

It made Katelyn uneasy as heat crept up her neck and over her face. Was it embarrassment? Or was the bar simply too hot?

Finally, security stepped in, ushering the troublemakers away.

The bar manager approached quickly, his head bowing as he stopped in front of them.

“I sincerely apologize for the disturbance,” he said.

“To make it up to you, we’ll be giving you a fifty percent discount on tonight’s drinks. Would that be acceptable?”

Katelyn seized the moment to move away from Vincent. She shifted to sit beside him, adjusting her dress as she did.

Her thoughts spiraled. What was she supposed to say in this situation? So, she stayed quiet and waited, letting Vincent take the lead.

Vincent let a small smile tug at his lips.

“That’s fine,” he replied.

“Just make sure we’re not interrupted again.”

Your adventure awaits at gα?ησν?s?c〇m

The manager’s shoulders relaxed as he nodded gratefully.

“Of course. You can count on it.”

Before he turned to leave, his eyes landed on Katelyn. She hesitated, words forming in her mind but catching in her throat.

Anything she said now might come across as an excuse, and she wasn’t sure how to explain without making things worse. Instead, she reached for her wine glass, her fingers trembling slightly as she brought it to her lips and took a small sip.

Vincent didn’t miss her reaction, but he stayed silent.

His hand brushed subtly against his side. It was as though he could still feel the weight of her against him.

After the manager left, the silence between them became unbearable. Katelyn shifted in her seat, her fingers twitching against the fabric of her dress as she tried to think of something to say.

Before she could speak, Vincent scowled and said in a low voice, “He’s here.”

Her breath hitched, her heart pounding.

She followed his eyes toward the entrance, and there he was—the man from the surveillance footage.

.

.

.