Neither one of them belonged here. He didn’t care if the big bodyguard he’d hired trailed close behind.

“Hold this,” he said to Tanner, who’d muttered, “Oh, shit,” at the same time.

“I’m not missing this,” his partner said and followed him through the back curtain and down the stairs.

He stood unnoticed for now at the bar, where he heard his mother order a gin and tonic for herself. Faith was looking at the drink menu, then whispered something in his mother’s ear.

“A ménage à trois for my friend,” Savannah said with a grin.

Jason closed his eyes and shook his head. He and his partners knew how to make every drink on the menu, and this one included crushed strawberries, fresh basil, white rum, triple sec, lemon juice, Gomme syrup, and ice, mixed then strained. They could be potent and Faith, despite her obvious nerves – she kept licking and biting on her pink-coated lips – had trouble written all over her tonight.

He let her take a sip, which translated into too big a gulp, before he decided to show himself.

“Hello, ladies,” he said, walking over to them, which they had to know was inevitable.

“Jason!” Faith’s exclamation was real.

“Hello, son.” His mother waggled her fingers at him, clearly pleased with herself.

“And what are you drinking tonight?” he asked politely, even though he knew. He wanted to watch Faith squirm.

Behind him, Tanner chuckled.

“A gin and tonic. You know my drink of choice.” His mother shot him a smile and took a delicate sip.

“Faith? What is that in your glass?” Jason asked.

Her cheeks flamed a bright red. “A ménage à trois. Want one?” she asked, finding her cheekiness despite her embarrassment.

“How about you finish your drinks and head home, where it’s safe?” he suggested, keeping his anger in check. He’d left them protected. Yet here they were.

Faith took a deliberately big sip before answering. “I have my very own bodyguard that you hired yourself. You obviously trust him. There’s no reason I can’t have a good time tonight.” And with that, she downed the rest of her drink and placed the glass on the bar. “I think I’ll find someone to dance with.”

“I’ll join y…” At the look on Jason’s face, which he knew was furious, his mother’s words trailed off. “I think I’ll stay with Jack, that’s what you said your name was in the car earlier, right?” she asked of the bodyguard.

“Yes, ma’am.” The man didn’t crack a smile. He took his job seriously.

“Do not move from here,” Jason instructed his mother before heading after Faith.

She’d had a head start and was already on the dance floor and had found a willing partner. A definite Wall Street type with slicked-back hair, a white shirt, sleeves rolled up, and an arrogant look on his face, he had just reached out and put his hand on Faith’s waist.

Jason thought he was going have an aneurysm. Blindly, he stepped forward, grabbed the man’s arm, and swung him away. “She’s with me.”