Don't Let Go by Jaci Burton Page B

his hands on the bar. “I guess you need toget her used to riding on your bike. Then you can bring her places with you.”
    He hadn’t thought of that. He’d been on a lot of rides with other bikers who brought their little dogs with them. He could make that work. “I’ll have to do that.”
    Bash’s lips curved. “She’d look cute in dog goggles.”
    Brady laughed. “Yeah, she would.”
    They chatted about the baseball game for a few minutes, but then Bash had to tend to a customer, so Brady took his beer and headed back to the table, surprised to see that in the short time he’d been talking with Bash their group had expanded. Molly, Sam, and Megan had appeared, and Chelsea was walking past him on her way to the bar.
    â€œHey, Brady,” Chelsea said, giving him a friendly smile.
    â€œHi, Chelsea.”
    He made his way over to the table.
    â€œSaved you a seat,” Molly said.
    He noticed that the seat Molly had saved him was right next to Megan’s.
    Damn, she looked pretty. She wore tight, dark jeans, some kind of heels, and a white button-down shirt. Her hair was loose, and he wanted to sit down and run his fingers through it.
    Hell, that’s not all he wanted to do.
    He smiled at her. “How’s it going, Megan?”
    She smiled back. “Pretty good, Brady. How was your day?”
    â€œBusy. Yours?”
    â€œIntense. Which is why I’m here tonight having a cocktail.”
    â€œAnd because it’s her birthday,” Sam said.
    Brady’s brows rose. “It’s your birthday?”
    She looked down at her lap, then back up at him. “It is.”
    â€œHappy birthday, Megan.”
    â€œThank you.”
    He liked the blush of pink on her cheeks, as if she didn’t want to make a fuss about her birthday.
    He threw his arm over the back of her chair. “Did you make yourself a cake today?”
    Her lips curved. “I did not.”
    â€œI can’t believe that. You, the queen of everything sweet.”
    Her gaze snapped to his. “Are you making fun of me?”
    He leaned back and gave her a look. “Why would you think that?”
    â€œI . . . don’t know. I’m sorry. I’m in a weird mood today.”
    She tucked her hair behind her ear, and he could tell something was bothering her.
    â€œThat was meant as a compliment, Megan.”
    â€œI know it was. I’m sorry.” She waved her hand back and forth. “I told you. Weird mood.” She polished off whatever she was drinking in two strong swallows. “We should have more drinks.”
    He pulled her empty glass from the table. “I’ll get that.”
    â€œYou don’t—”
    But he was already off to the bar. He needed a minute to try to figure out what was going on with Megan.
    He set the empty glass down.
    â€œLet’s do another round for the table,” he said to Bash.
    â€œGot it. I’ll have the waitress bring those by,” Bash said.
    He nodded, then leaned against the bar top, ostensibly to catch one of the games on TV. But his gaze kept drifting to the table. Megan was in conversation with Sam, Chelsea, and Molly, though she was mostly listening while the rest of them talked.
    So today was her birthday. Shouldn’t she be animated and excited and feeling like the center of attention?
    She
should
feel like the center of attention tonight. She gave so much to everyone around her. She should be made to feel special on her birthday.
    He went back to the table and sat.
    The waitress came by with the drinks for everyone.
    â€œCompliments of Brady,” she said as she handed them out.
    Brady stood. “On her birthday, let’s all drink to Megan, who does so much for everyone else.”
    They all held up their drinks. “To Megan,” everyone said.
    Megan blushed while they all toasted her and drank.
    â€œThank you all so much. This makes me feel very