“Don’t you dare talk to me like that. I’ll be right back with your bill.” She turned to leave, and the denim jacket guy grabbed her wrist, tugging her down so his face was right in front of hers, sending chills racing down her spine. She yanked her arm free. “Don’t you ever—”

Diesel’s hand shot in front of her and grabbed the guy by his shirt, hauling him to his feet, then higher, his legs dangling beneath him. Diesel got right in his face, muscles bulging, teeth gritted. “Get the fuck out of here. If you ever come back, they won’t find your body.” Those cold eyes slid to the others, who were now on their feet. “That goes for you assholes, too.” He dropped the guy he was holding, and the guy stumbled back. Diesel took a step toward him.

“Let’s get out of this shithole.” Slick sneered.

Diesel stood guard until they left, and then he turned around, pinning Tracey in place with a piercing stare. “Still wanna have that talk with Red?”

“Yes. He was just an arrogant jerk. I could have handled him.”

“The same way you handled me?” he asked gruffly, but it was clear he wasn’t looking for an answer as he lowered his face toward hers, just like he’d done in the kitchen, the same thrumming heat and dark warning vibrating off him. “You do your job and let me do mine.”

He walked back to the bar, leaving her fuming once again.

Diesel watched her even more closely after that, but it was the prolonged stares of a different kind he was giving her that wreaked havoc with her nerves. Or maybe she was imagining the way he was looking at her because of the things Dixie had said. Either way, by closing time, she was more than ready to go home.

“Thanks again, Trace,” Dixie said as she and Jed headed out for the night.

“Anytime,” Tracey called over from the pool table area.

Dixie was trying to cut back her evening hours now that she was married, and she had been interviewing for new waitstaff all week. But Tracey never minded sticking around a little later to do the extra cleanup. After all, while Dixie’s husband, Jace, was waiting for her at home, Tracey had nothing but an empty house waiting for her. Izzy was out of town, visiting her family for the weekend.

When she finished cleaning, she put away the supplies and went to grab the trash, but Diesel had already taken it out to the dumpster. She pulled her phone from her pocket, focusing on ordering an Uber since her car was in the shop, rather than looking over at Diesel as she walked out the front door and into the warm August night.