Hook, Line & Sinking (Completed)

5: Is This Flirting?

So excited for this chapter! I hope you'll all enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing this scene.

Vote, comment, follow! Next update will be on Friday, only two days from now. :D yay!

Much love,

Robin

*

Is this Flirting?

Matt was standing behind the bar and waved at the two guys the moment we stepped inside. Almost I took the coward's way out and ducked out of sight behind Dev or out the door before he could see me but then I changed my mind. I had to act normal if I didn't want them to know what I'd seen on Sharkfell and I really didn't want to tell them unless I was sure they'd understand and help.

Matt saw me hesitate in the doorway and frowned but then his eyes slid over my body and paused on the bruises on my underarms and shins. They were for sure much more dramatic than they'd seemed last night and seemed worse than they felt. When he met my eyes again I thought I saw a hint of concern and a question, as if he was asking with his eyes if I was alright.

At that point Mitch had enough of my standing in the doorway like an idiot and pulled me with him to a booth in the corner. Dev had already parked himself there and opened his bag and taken out his homework. I waved at Matt who was now moving out from behind the bar and heading in our direction and allowed Mitch to sit me down on the bench across from Dev. To my surprise he didn't sit down next to me but sat down with Dev.

Matt had reached us by then, "Hey guys, usual for you two?" He was looking at his brother and Mitch and both nodded and uttered a greeting in return. Then he turned his incredibly dark eyes on me and cocked his head to the side, "And what would you like you little trespasser?" I looked around for the nearest menu, located it and saw that Matt apparently also served several fruit smoothies. "Have you got anything with Mango?" I asked, "It's my favorite." I served him with a wide grin when I saw his eyebrows shoot up.

"Well, for you I guess I can fix something with mango then. You're in luck, today's batch is really tasty." He straightened, slid his hands in his pockets and stalked away. I had to admit that the jean cutoffs he was wearing looked fantastic on him. It didn't even seem out of place to notice the bare feet beneath it, it was after all his bar. He could do as he liked and judging from his tanned toes he rarely wore footwear.

"Matt's cool," Mitch said, "He lets us hang out and do our homework here and we get free drinks and everything." Dev said rather grumpily, "Though maybe he'll charge you." "Of course not," Mitch said immediately, "Matt wouldn't do that!"

"I wouldn't do what?" the man in question asked and for some reason I felt my cheeks go hot. "Charge Dani for her drink," Mitch said immediately and without any shame while Dev just sort of rolled his eyes and elbowed his friend to reign him in.

Matt's eyes shot to me and I thought I saw the beginning of an amused grin there. "No charge? I don't know, you weren't all that nice when I dropped you off at home last night..." he said silkily. "Oh no I'll pay, honest it's no problem, you can't run a business if you give everything away!" He started grinning for real now and I knew he was just messing with me but I had to say it anyway. "And I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean to slam your door," I was blushing for real now, "It was just really heavy..."

"And the rest was none of my business, I know," he added quietly. "Drink's free of charge Dani." He was meeting my eyes full on and didn't look away, didn't even blink. It made me feel incredibly uncomfortable and slightly flustered. It was only when Dev sort of scraped his throat that Matt broke the contact and turned to look as his brother. "Here's your cokes gentlemen," he said while placing them and glasses neatly on the table. Now I noticed the tray with drinks for us that he'd been holding.