other patrons in the tavern were suddenly focused on their food and drinks, though Kate pictured their ears pricked up, listening to every word. No one wanted to get involved in a brawl, but everyone wanted to eavesdrop.
The Snake Man glared at Connor. “Don’t start something with me.”
“I don’t want to have to hurt you. But I will.”
Cold and unyielding. The man narrowed his gaze and took a swing at Connor. Connor caught the flying fist and squeezed, twisting the man’s arm behind his back. Connor kicked his legs out from under him and the man slammed to the ground. A sickening crack made Kate wince.
The man groaned. “You broke my arm! My shoulder!”
Connor released him and stood over him until the man rose to his feet and limped to the door, rubbing his arm. He stopped at the door and looked back. “You’ll regret this.”
“No. I won’t,” Connor said.
“Did you break his arm?” Kate asked.
“Probably fractured it. Some people don’t listen and have to be shown what is and isn’t acceptable,” Connor said, returning to his seat. “Sorry about that chauvinist, possessive act.”
Kate wasn’t upset by Connor’s macho overture toward the Snake Man. Connor had said and done what was needed to protect her. The quick switch from calm to violent had surprised her. “Thank you for stepping in. I can’t believe he thought I was a prostitute.”
“Don’t take it personally. I assume a fair number of women in this town work as drug runners or prostitutes.”
“Do I look like a prostitute?” she asked, her discomfort taking on an edge of irritation.
He didn’t answer right away. His gaze traveled down her body.
“Connor!”
His eyes met hers. “What? You asked a question and I was trying to imagine you as one just to see if he somehow misunderstood. Attacking me certainly didn’t give him points for intelligence.”
“And?” she asked. He had better give an answer firmly in the negative.
“Nope, I can’t see it. You’re too classy.”
She took pleasure in his response. Too much pleasure. It shouldn’t matter what Connor thought of her, and thinking she didn’t look like a prostitute was a far cry from saying he found her appealing. “Most men find me attractive.” She was fishing for a compliment and it pained her to admit it, even to herself.
“I know. It’s why I thought Sphere sent you to draw me out. I have a thing for beautiful, smart blondes with killer smiles.”
A thing for her? “You couldn’t have been less friendly when we met. If that’s your technique when you’re flirting, it needs tuning.”
“I wasn’t flirting with you.”
Her heart fell a little. “What were you doing?”
“Chasing you away. Hoping you would change your mind about coming on this trip. Hoping you would admit you were lying.”
“I didn’t run away, I won’t change my mind and I wasn’t lying,” she said.
“We’ll see if that holds.”
Kate had the feeling his statement was about more than this mission. How would Connor react when he learned the role she’d played in his brother’s disappearance?
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