I blew out a puff of air as I leaned against a light pole across the street of the fourth bar Tex had been to. In the time we’d been apart, he hadn’t visited Blu once or shown up at my place. I know I told him to never come back but a part of me hoped he wouldn’t listen.

The night was nearly over, and the early morning was creeping up. It was two forty-five, and the last bar was already emptying. I kept my gaze fixed across the street, waiting for a certain cop to exit. Four o’clock struck, and my stomach twisted. The bouncer who’d been lounging outside went in. Before I knew what I was doing, I was halfway across the street.

“Wait,” I said.

He stopped and glanced my way. “Sorry, we’re closed. Go drink at home.”

“Emerson, come here,” someone inside shouted.

“I’m not here to drink. I'm here to pick up my…” My what? Toy? My chest tightened, but the person inside called the bouncer again.

“I have to go. Maybe you missed whoever you’re looking for.” He attempted to close the door.

I cut the distance between us in two easy strides. With my hand on the door and foot on the ledge, I stopped it from closing.

“I highly doubt that.”

He blew out a breath. “It’s been a good night. Don’t fuck it up. Get out.” He stood taller and puffed out his chest.

If he thought he was intimidating me, that was hardly the case. If anything, it was annoying me. The more time he wasted stood between Tex and me.

“Emerson, I’ve been calling you. We have some guy passed out in the men’s bathroom again,” a woman said. She turned, and her green eyes widened.

“We’re closed. Sorry, come back tonight.” She popped a hand on her hip and looked at Emerson.

“I’ve been trying—”

“The man in the bathroom. I’m here to get him.”

Both of them turned to look my way. The burly bouncer’s gruff eyebrows dipped. “How would you know it’s who you’re looking for?”

“Did he text you or something?” the woman asked.

No. I wish he had.

“Black hair, blue eyes, chiseled jaw. His license number zero one two four four four six three one.”

She shrugged. “Fucking good enough for me. Come get him.” She turned on her heels but stopped just as the bouncer let me in. “His tab.” She eyed me from head to toe. I didn’t have to be a mind reader to know she’d picked out the designer clothes. I bypassed my gun and pulled out a roll of money. “This should more than cover it. “