Chapter 6

“No. I’d never call you that.” His usually soothing baritone sounded strained, like he was recovering from a fist to the chest.

“It’s okay. I’ve been called worse,” I assured him.

We sat for a few minutes finishing up our beers. So much for our first date. The short-guy name-calling had obviously upset him a lot more when he was growing up than it had me. And it had pissed me off no end. The green hadn’t done its job this time. I’d just managed to remind him of something painful instead of being a relaxing and calming drinking companion. Damn.

I put on my coat and watched as John walked to the bar and settled up with Stone. He seemed calmer now, like he’d decided to ignore whatever had been bothering him.

Before we got to the outside door, he stopped and looked over at me. He squinted and shook his head.

“Sorry,” he mumbled, looking me in the eye. “I don’t know why I…”

Yeah, well, I didn’t know why he did either. But I nodded. “No problem.”