Page 27 of Feline Good

It seemed her ‘girl’s night’ promotion went over well. College girls, everywhere. Crowding the bar in droves as August and Asher worked the bar like pros, eating up the attention as if they were starving. Which, fine, like they had said, it’d been fifteen years since they’d spoken to another human. Fine.

But the way Amir leaned over a table full of senior hotties, hands braced on the back of an empty chair as he balanced it on its back two legs, she did not expect. His arms flexed with the force that he used to balance the chair, and when one of the girls reached out to stroke his bare arm, Maya saw red. The flirty grin that stretched his wide lips tugged at her heart strings and made her furious all at the same time.

Instead of giving into her baser instincts and charging the girl like a lioness claiming her mate, Maya forced herself to finish her trip down the stairs in a casual walk. She strode behind the bar and slammed her way into the cooled pantry to grab a bottle of wine.

I’ll just celebrate my fucking discovery by damned myself. Fuckers.

As she passed Asher and August, she patted them each on the back for a job well done and wished them a good night with a too-bright smile. Then she spied the TV in the corner, facing the patrons at the bar. It was tuned to Jeopardy, an odd choice for the Friday night crowd. Arching a brow, she turned to August only to see an innocent look on his face.

He leaned close to speak in her ear over the noise. “It makes for a great drinking game. If they don’t know the answer, they take a sip or a shot. ...And I’m really good at it.”

Maya snorted, kissing him on the cheek in a moment of weakness. He could just be so damned cute! To respond, they turned their heads in sync so she could reach his ear. “It’s fine. Just make sure they all get ride shares. You’ll have to teach me your ways. I never know the answers.”

With a sly grin, he winked at her, a very Asher-like move. “I have plenty more to show you, too.”

She blushed before leaving them to it, spying Amir again.

It took her a minute to recognize the emotion: jealousy. It didn’t sit right with her. Maya had never been the overly possessive, crazy jealous type. Granted, she’d only had one relationship to compare to, but she didn’t think her reaction was normal and refused to show the other two just how much it bothered her. She’d jumped at the chance to have a night off from tending, and if that meant a sacrifice of watching her men flirt with other women, she’d just have to suck it up— Her men? Not that shit again.

Shaking her head and trying to push aside the jealousy, she left the bar area gritting her teeth, ready to return to her quiet, peaceful, cat-man-free haven. If she happened to send the college babe a bitch glare from hell, it was purely by accident.

Right when she reached the stairs, Theo appeared from seemingly nowhere and yanked her to the back, through the kitchen and into her office. His cat ears were crooked, what with all the dragging her by the arm. She chuckled at the irritated expression on his face, sparing a longing glance toward the stairs.

“They told me to leave you alone, but you’re open game since you finally came downstairs. Now, sister, tell me who the hell those male models are that you hired for tonight!”

Her snickers turned to outright, gut-clenching laughter as she doubled over, placing the bottle of wine on the desk to avoid dropping it.

When she came up for air, she had to wipe tear tracks from her cheeks. “Oh Theo, they aren’t models. They’re… friends of mine.”

Theo stepped back, hand to his chest in shocked outrage. “Friends! You tell me about once a day that you don’t have any friends.” Throwing his hands up in exasperation, he flicked a lock of hair out of his eyes and pointed to the bar area. “I leave you here alone for the night on Valentine’s Day night, and I come back the very next day to find three sexy Adonises in your bar. Do you take me for an idiot?”

Maya kept her lips sealed. She knew he was far from done, especially as he started pacing. “I mean, Amir is grumpy, but Asher is the flirt of the night. I swear that man could give classes on how to earn tips. August is sweet too, but quiet. He’s good at remembering the bar menu items though— I mean, he knows it better than me, and this is the first time I’ve seen him. And good god, don’t get me started on his geeky pop culture references. He brought up Star Wars three times in ten minutes. You!” He turned to her with another accusatory finger, and she grinned. “I’m so proud of you. Come here, baby girl.”

Theo pulled her close, fake sobbing his pride as he patted her on the back. “Did you finally learn how to take a dick?”

Maya gasped in outrage, pushing him away. “Theo! You’re awful.” She shook her head. “As a matter of fact, I haven’t slept with any of them.”

His eyebrows could have peeled off and flown away, they rose so high. Maya chuckled at the sight.

“You’re telling me that you’ve had these guys to yourself all day and haven’t taken advantage?”

When she nodded, his voice boomed through the office. “What the fuck is wrong with you! I’m three seconds away from texting Chris and asking if we can have an open marriage. What are you waiting for?”

Rolling her eyes, she crossed her arms and kicked a leg to the side, settling in for a long conversation as she lost her grin and grew serious. “Come on, Theo, you know I’m not like that. I don’t just jump into bed with people. Not after…” Maya trailed off, and a sympathetic look seeped into Theo’s ocean blue gaze.

“Oh, honey, I know. But it’s been what, three years? You need to let go of that asshole, and stop letting him hold you back.”

Maya clamped her lips shut, stubbornness welling up. Theo noticed the look on her face but still chose to continue, albeit with more caution. “Maya, I know he was a controlling dick and how important it is to you to maintain your own control. But look at it from a different angle. By holding yourself back from all the good things that come from a healthy relationship, he’s still got a hold on you. Even if he doesn’t know it.”

Her gaze snapped to him, the pity on his face too much for her to handle.

“I’ll think about it,” she said to placate him. She leaned forward and pecked him on the cheek, wishing him good luck for the rest of the evening, and retreating to her haven.

Passing another glance to Amir, she noticed he had moved onto a new table of college chicks and was flirting like there was no tomorrow. Her rage came flooding in again, and she stomped up the stairs.

As soon as she shut the door and threw the deadbolts to her apartment, the bitch fest was on. In her space, she could complain to herself in private, with no one to judge her. So, like any reasonable woman, she avoided the real issue and focused on something else as she trekked to her room.

“That motherfucker. How dare he! Practically tells me he’s ready to bend me over the library shelves, and then flirts with all those college bimbos!”