ALL BETS OFF

Lucian glanced around the room and rolled his eyes. Lyla had said she wouldn’t be gone long, but he was sitting alone in a bar and time seemed to crawl past slower than he’d like. He turned his attention back to the bartender, who was taking off his apron and rolling up his sleeves.

“You’re leaving?” he said, and the bartender nodded.

“My shift is over,” he replied, smoothing his shirt. “I could whip up something for you before I leave,” he added with a smile, and Lucian shook his head.

This was his third glass and, in his opinion, that was more than enough. “I think...