“Yikes. Wonder what that’s about,” Amanda said as she turned back to Sam, but he was still looking toward the bar. She followed his gaze as his eyes shifted to something behind her. Zach and Evie were standing close in a similar embrace, but Zach was also staring daggers at the woman in question.

The bartender waved toward someone by the front entrance, and then a bouncer, who Amanda had thought was just a random patron, came toward the bar. The bartender appeared to be explaining the situation, then pointed over toward the dance floor. Something about his angry gesture made Amanda’s chest tighten a bit. Something felt off. The bouncer held his hand out for the phone. The woman refused to hand it over, but it looked like she was showing him something on the screen. That didn’t seem to be enough. He motioned to her and her friend and then started urging the two women toward the door.

“I deleted them. Fucking relax,” one of the women shouted over the music. Amanda couldn’t hear what the bouncer said in response. It seemed like everyone in the place watched as they were escorted out. Sensing the odd shift in mood, the DJ abruptly changed the song, and Amanda absently noted the opening bagpipe screeches of “Jump Around.” A few more people rushed to the dance floor and that seemed to break the trance.

“Wonder what that was all about?” Sam said, more to himself. His arms were still wrapped around Amanda’s waist even though he’d stopped moving.

“Clownery probably.” The sound of her voice seemed to snap him out of it. He looked down at her and smiled.

“Probably,” Sam chuckled. “Wanna slow dance to House of Pain?”

“Of course I do.”

“Good, ’cause I’m using your body to hide my erection,” he joked.

“Oh, then we better stay like this all night.”

They went back to swaying to the music, but Amanda couldn’t help but notice the bouncer when he came back in the door. This time he stopped and nodded in their direction. She watched as Zach excused himself from Evie. As he walked by he didn’t even look at Sam, but he touched him on the shoulder, his cue for Sam to come with him.

“I’ll be right back,” Sam said, letting her go. A knot rose in Amanda’s throat. Two random women getting kicked out of a bar shouldn’t have been a big deal. She was sure a few more liquor enthusiasts might be escorted out before they closed for the night. That didn’t change the fact that Sam and Zach were suddenly involved.

“You want some water?” Evie shouted over the music, clearly trying to distract her.