“Ah, the ex who recently broke your heart.”

  Jason turned to glare at Dante. “Who said anything about a broken heart? I said I was dumped, not heartbroken.”

  “Don’t those two go hand in hand?”

  “Not always.” Jason took a sip of his soda. “Sometimes being dumped is a good thing.”

  Not for Jason, but he wasn’t going to let on that he was heartbroken. That meant talking to Dante, and Jason would prefer to be left alone. Okay, not really, but the jerk had written him a ticket, so that made him off-limits.

  Worse, Jason’s irritation was being slowly replaced by intrigue. Dante was a damn good-looking guy, all dark looks, with stubble across his handsome jaw. He also had dreamy green eyes that Jason could totally get lost in. So light green that they looked like sparking gems rather than irises.

  “I see we started off on the wrong foot.”

  “God, will you leave me alone?” Jason wasn’t a dick. He really wasn’t, but he didn’t like how overwhelming Dante was. Even on Route 26, Jason had wanted to get out of his car and press their bodies together. What was wrong with him? Stephen had just crushed his world, and had been cruel about it, and Jason was ready to make cozy with the first hottie who talked to him.

  Dante turned away from him, and now Jason felt guilty. For what? He hadn’t asked the guy to make small talk or say anything for that matter. Why did he feel like the asshole now?

  He didn’t want to be that way. He was Jason, who laughed when sober or drunk, worried about paying his bills late, and took out the trash in just his boxers and robe, which was never belted in place. He fixated on the wrong guy every single time, loved trying new foods but hated anything to do with seafood, and liked too much ketchup with his fries. He also secretly cried while watching Finding Nemo.

  And he was insanely attracted to the cop sitting right next to him.

  Appetite gone, Jason tossed a few bills onto the counter to cover his uneaten meal and strode from the diner, out into the hot fall day. Something had to give because Jason did not like who he’d become.

  A bitter douchebag.

  Chapter Two

  Jason was halfway down the street, now wishing he’d eaten because his stomach started to cramp. He’d missed breakfast because he’d been dealing with his broken heart, and the night before he’d been dealing with the actual breakup. Deep down, Jason was kind of relieved. He’d thought Stephen would be the one, but some people had a sixth sense, and he’d seen this coming, even if he hadn’t wanted to admit that to himself. Some couples just didn’t need to be together.

  Sara was a prime example. His sister seemed to have a knack for finding the worst men for her. Then she let a relationship go further past its expiration date to the point that the cops were called.

  Their parents didn’t know about any of that. Sara was good at keeping her less-than-sparkling qualities about herself from them. They didn’t know she smoked weed. Didn’t know that she did some questionable things for money. The only reason Jason knew about it was because they had a few mutual friends.

  He knew about the time she’d gone to some random stranger’s house, tied him up in his basement, ball gag included, at the stranger’s request, then went upstairs and watched TV and ate a few slices of his pizza.

  All for three hundred bucks.

  Jason had tried to tell her how dangerous that had been, and she looked at him as if he didn’t understand how the world worked. Like there weren’t a ton of lunatics out there who would jump at the chance to get someone like Sara—beautiful on the outside, spoiled rotten on the inside—into their homes.

  Only they wouldn’t be thinking about letting her tie them up. She would be the one tied up and at their mercy. Nope. She hadn’t seen it that way. Sara had gotten an attitude with him for looking out for her.

  Their parents thought she was a saint, that she would eventually get herself together and be able to provide for herself. Jason didn’t see that happening anytime soon. He would never wish harm on his sister. He just wished she’d grow the hell up and stop thinking everything was about her.

  Now his thoughts floated back to Stephen. What hurt was the fact that Stephen had said how easy Jason was. He was young and single. He had no kids and worked hard. There wasn’t any time to find the perfect guy. Not the traditional way, like at church, in a grocery store, or wherever else someone found the love of their life.

  So Jason went to the city on the weekends to party. He didn’t think there was anything wrong with that. Contrary to Stephen’s belief—and the others who thought he was loose—he didn’t sleep with every guy he danced with.

  He hadn’t even slept with that guy he’d been hanging off of when he’d dared Gem to hook up with someone. That was the problem with small towns. Gossip and slim pickings. Admittedly, Officer Asshole was gorgeous, but Jason wasn’t going there. He’d had his pride and ego crushed, and now he wanted to be left alone to lick his wounds and reevaluate his life.

  Jason looked down at his worn sneakers as he walked, his shoulders slumped. At the rate his love life—or lack thereof—was going, he was going to be a seventy-year-old spinster who’d never found love.

  He was almost to his car when someone called his name. Jason gritted his teeth as he turned. Office Asshole was walking to catch up to him, filling out his uniform nicely. The material strained around the short sleeves, gripping his biceps as if his uniform was in a war with the muscle and determined to win. There was some hair growth along his square jaw, a dark dusting that gave him an edge, an edge that said he might be a cop but he also knew how gorgeous he was.

  Jason grimaced. He’d had enough of guys like that. The ones who kissed their biceps in front of the mirror at the gym, who flashed you their charming but fake smile, who promised you whatever you wanted to hear so they could manipulate you into doing whatever they wanted.

  Even the sun was on the guy’s side. It shined down on Officer Asshole, making his nearly transparent green eyes sparkle like gems and showed off highlights of auburn in his black hair, which, of course, made him even more good looking.

  “What do you want?” A rusty pickup drove past them on the street, making Jason jump when it backfired, puffing out a small cloud of black smoke from its tailpipe. The driver pulled in next to Jason’s car then cut the truck off, but the engine whined and gurgled a moment longer before it fell silent. An elderly man with a long white beard like Santa’s but thin as a reed, wearing overalls and a dirty plaid shirt, headed right for Officer Asshole. Shit, what was his name again? Jason couldn’t recall. The cop had introduced himself, but just that fast, Jason had forgotten.

  “Deputy, I got a bone to pick.” The older gentleman had yellowed teeth and weathered skin, wrinkles marking every exposed inch.

  “Deputy Mykel,” the cop said.

  Oh yeah. Dante Mykel. That was it. Dante looked from the stranger to Jason, as if trying to decide who to talk to. In the end, Dante’s job won out and he turned toward the stranger.

  That gave Jason the chance to escape. He was pretty sure he didn’t want to hear anything the guy had to say. Jason might have been in the wrong for speeding, and doubly wrong for threatening the cop, but he was still pissed at Dante for giving him a ticket he couldn’t afford.

  The only thing he wanted to hear out of Dante’s mouth was that he would take care of the ticket for Jason. Since he knew that wasn’t going to happen, Jason slid into his car and didn’t look back as he drove away.

  * * * *

  Jason headed to his job at five in the evening. It wasn’t as hot as it had been during the day, and he was grateful for the reprieve. August and September were usually the most brutal months when it came to heat, but that heat had bled into October. But the nights were getting cooler, and Jason had a light jacket over his arm as he entered Loose Lips. Merrick was behind the bar talking with the regulars, and some of the tables had customers.

  Loose Lips wasn’t just a hole in the wall, as some called it. A lot of people came there to eat, too. The menu was skimpy, but in Jason’s opinion, bar food was the best. At least to most drunkards.

  The smell of grease and bourbon hung in the air as he made his way to the back to clock in. Jason tossed his jacket on the hook by the back door, stretched, and grabbed an apron off the same hook. It was Friday, and the bar picked up around dinnertime with people getting off work and not wanting to cook, their paycheck in their pocket and treating themselves.

  Some would spend an egregious amount on drinking, but that wasn’t Jason’s problem. He couldn’t save the world, let alone someone who wanted to spend their hard-earned money on booze.

  Denzel, the cook, was at the fryer, tossing in chicken wings and onion rings, his white uniform hugging his lumpy body too tightly. Something trickled off his brow as he turned to Jason. Was that sweat on his forehead or grease? Jason couldn’t tell. Denzel gave Jason a perfunctory, “Hey, Jas.”

  “Hey.” Jason grabbed an order pad off one of the shelves and went to work, taking orders as his own stomach rumbled. He’d eaten a bowl of noodles when he’d gotten home, but that hadn’t been enough. His stomach felt like it was trying to crawl its way out.

  “That’s a mighty loud growl,” Merrick said when Jason walked behind the bar to give his boss a drink order. “Why don’t you take a break and grab something to eat?”

  “My break is in two hours. I can hold out until then, unless my stomach is driving customers away.”

  Merrick gave him a smile. That was one thing Jason liked about the guy. Merrick was easygoing, hard to temper but, when he was pissed, watch out. Jason swore one time that he’d heard his boss growl, like an actual animal, but the bar had been loud, and Jason had chalked it up to hearing things. There were others who worked as bartenders, like Tay and Mack. Jason liked both of them, and it didn’t hurt that all three men were downright gorgeous.

  Though Tay made Jason wary. The guy was nice enough. He just reminded Jason of a biker because of how he looked, like his edges were really rough.

  Tonight, though, it was just Merrick behind the bar.

  He started toward the table at the back and stopped. Stephen was sitting there, three other guys with him. They were laughing about something, unaware that Jason was standing there wishing he was anywhere else.

  No. Jason was not going to let Stephen make him scurry away. He was going to face his ex-boyfriend with his head held high. Jason had nothing to be ashamed of, even if Stephen had been a total jerk to him.

  But did his ex have to look so freaking good? Stephen used to come into the bar just to see Jason. He had flirted with him, making Jason blush. Now he eyed Jason as Jason approached, a glint in his eye.

  Jason forced himself to smile. “What can I get you guys?”

  They shared some kind of snicker that had Jason wondering what Stephen had told his friends. From the way one of them was looking at Jason, he could tell what was on the guy’s mind, and it wasn’t anything good. What was the guy’s name again? Jason had met Stephen’s friends before, when they’d been dating. Brett. That was it. The guy looked like a linebacker, as if he’d had to stuff his body into the booth. His arms were barrels, while the guy next to him, Chad, was thin, with plenty of room between his body and the table.

  The other guy was Kevin Brandt, and Kevin had always given him the creep vibe. Jason had tried, at one point, to tell Stephen that he didn’t want to hang around Kevin, but Stephen had dismissed Jason’s concern.

  That should have been a red flag while he was dating Stephen.

  Everyone gave their order, and Jason was glad none of them had had any snide remarks. He still didn’t like the way Kevin eyed him, so he hurried away.

  “Everything okay?” Merrick asked as he sliced a lime. “You look a bit flushed.”

  “Just hot in here,” Jason lied, though it wasn’t technically a lie. The front door had been propped open to let in any stray breeze, but the only thing coming in was heat. The evening wasn’t as bad as during the day, but it was still hot.

  “The heatwave is supposed to break in a few days.” Merrick tossed the halved limes into a container before starting on more. “Stay hydrated. Racing around the bar is making it feel hotter.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.” Jason took Stephen and the others’ orders to the back, handing the paper off to Denzel. When he came back out, he grabbed four beers and headed to Stephen’s table. Too bad Jason couldn’t have someone else serve his ex, but so far, his coworker hadn’t shown up.

  For now it was just Jason and Merrick. Thank god the bar wasn’t crowded yet. Maybe that was what Jason needed, an excuse to drop their drinks on the table and hurry away.

  No such luck.

  “Since you and Stephen didn’t work out, how about you give me a chance?” Kevin smirked at him, but those eyes… Jason wasn’t sure what it was about Kevin’s brown eyes, but they reminded him of a serial killer’s eyes. They were void of any kind of emotions. Even his smirk seemed calculated.

  “I’ll take a crack at you,” Chad said. “Always was a bit jealous that Stephen never shared you.”

  “Nah.” Brett waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t want something everyone else has had.”

  “Why don’t you hook up with my friend?” One of Stephen’s brows arched. “For old time’s sake?”

  “Old time what?” Jason’s jaw dropped, and he felt his entire body catch fire from embarrassment. They’d never had an open relationship, had a threesome, or anything else that would make Stephen think Jason would be game for this. In fact, it had been Stephen who’d cheated on him, and Jason had been stupid enough to forgive him.

  “Come on. Give me a chance.” Kevin slid his finger down Jason’s arm. Jason yanked his arm back like he’d been burned. “Don’t be a prude.”

  Stephen chuckled and winked at Kevin. “Trust me. He’s never been a prude. You should see him work his way through a club.”

  “Work your way through us,” Chad said. “I’m sure Brett will come around if you give him a good enough reason.”

  Tears stung Jason’s eyes. Why on earth had he ever thought Stephen was the one? Why on earth had he given a part of himself to the jackass? Why had he never seen what a true monster Stephen was before now?

  They’d dated six months, and a part of Jason felt like he was dying as the men leered at him.

  “How about all four of us at once?” Chad bounced his brows. “We could make it worth your while.”

  “All four of you at once, huh?” Jason popped a hip out, resting his hand on it, though inside he was mortified. “Only if you four drown in the lake first.”

  Brett chuckled, but the other men scowled. Kevin was still watching Jason too closely, as if imagining Jason’s demise.

  “Problem?”

  Jason jumped at the voice behind him. Then he stiffened. The four men looked away, except Kevin. He still held that malicious gleam in his eyes. “No problem, Officer.”

  “Jason?”

  “Yeah, Jason,” Stephen said. “Is there a problem?”

  It felt like high school all over again. Bullies picking on Jason and a teacher rescuing him. That save had only made Jason’s life harder. He suspected that would be the same if he allowed Dante to interfere.

  “No problem.” Jason glared at Stephen. “Just taking orders.”

  Jason turned and sidestepped Dante but wavered for a moment when he saw how Dante was dressed. Blue jeans that hugged him nicely, but not too tight. A black button-down shirt and polished boots on his feet. How on earth did he wear that shirt in this heat?

  How on earth had Jason managed not to molest the guy? Dante looked damn good in his uniform, but in street clothes, he was lethal. So much so that Jason had forgotten about the jerks behind him.

  He hurried away, tail tucked between his legs, and headed for the kitchen to see if Stephen and the others’ orders were ready. Jason was not looking forward to returning to them, but what choice did he have?

  After entering the kitchen, he saw the plates were ready. Jason took a steady breath, shoring himself up.

  “What happened out there?”

  Jason groaned. “You’re not allowed in the kitchen.”

  He turned to find Dante standing just inside the door. The guy’s arms were crossed, making his biceps look even bigger than they already were. “What was going on with you and those men?”

  “Nothing.” Jason gritted his teeth. “The blond is my ex, but we were not catching up on old times.”

  It was bad enough Stephen and his friends had mortified him. Jason did not want to tell Dante what those assholes had said. He didn’t want Dante to know the rumors spreading around The Manacle.

  If only a hole would open up and swallow him.

  Dante didn’t look as if believed everything was fine. He studied Jason, just like Kevin had, but the cop didn’t give off any creepy vibes. The intense gaze was still off-putting, and Jason wished Dante would leave this alone.

  “Fine.” Dante sighed before he turned and walked out of the kitchen.

  Jason sagged against the stainless steel counter, rubbing his hand over his forehead. He just had to make it through his shift. Then he could go home and drown himself in his fucking tub.

  Chapter Three

  Dante went out into the interior of the bar and took a seat right next to Jason’s ex-boyfriend’s table. He wanted to see what was going on and stop any harassment. With his preternatural hearing, he’d overheard what those humans had said about his mate, and Dante was shocked he’d been able to keep his composure.

  Jason finally emerged from the back, carrying a tray. Dante watched his mate closely, watched as Jason set the tray on the table and served the men. Not one of them said a word, a few looking Dante’s way.

  As if Dante wasn’t even there, Jason walked away, set the tray on the bar top, and went to another table to take an order. It was fifteen minutes before his mate finally came over to him.