Free Justice Burning (Hellfire #2) by Elle James Page A

grinned. “I’m seeing double tonight. Maybe I’ll get twice as lucky.”
    “Aren’t they a little young for you?” Beckett asked.
    “As far as I know, they’re single, live on their own and are over twenty-one.” Shooting a frown at Beckett, he added, “I’m not that much older.”
    “Nine years is a big gap to a twenty-one-year-old woman,” Chance agreed.
    “Eight. I’m not thirty yet. And you’re just jealous you didn’t see them first.” He tipped his head toward them. “Tell you what, I’ll let you have one of them, while I dance with the other.”
    “Assuming they say yes.” Chance stood. “You can have both. I prefer my women a little more seasoned.”
    Rider rested his hand on his brother’s shoulder, his lips twisting. “That’s right, you’re in the over-thirty age group now. You like them a little slower so that you can catch them.”
    Chance punched Rider in the arm. “Keep it up, little brother. You’re turning thirty in a couple of months.”
    “Yeah, but I’ll be secure in the knowledge that you will always be older.” Rubbing his shoulder, he made a beeline for the Banks twins, Hayley and Alexis.
    Nash shook his head. He and Rider used to tease each other endlessly when they were teens. One year apart in age, they’d had the same friends in school and went to the same places. Since Nash had joined the army, he’d lost some of the ease of familiarity they’d shared as kids. Realizing he and Rider weren’t as close as they once were made him sad. The war had changed Nash. Joking around like he had before deploying to the Middle East and Afghanistan wasn’t as easy. He’d seen too much death. At times, he wished he could be that kid again, without a care, his mind still innocent of the atrocities humans suffered at the hands of terrorists.
    “Sorry I took so long,” a soft voice said.
    A beer appeared on the table in front of him. While he’d been watching Rider and Chance spar verbally, Kinsey had dragged Beckett to the dance floor. Nash sat alone but for the redheaded waitress leaning over him. He inhaled, expecting the scent of honeysuckle, only it wasn’t honeysuckle, instead she smelled kind of citrusy. Nash almost opened his mouth and said he wished she still smelled of honeysuckle.
    Phoebe laid her tray on the table and slipped into the chair beside him, her bare knee touching his jean-clad leg.
    In that moment, Nash wished his leg was as bare and touching hers, skin to skin.
    She reached out and touched his arm. “Thank you for helping me today. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t come along.” She gave him a tremulous smile. “You were like a knight in shining armor, swooping me out of the mess I’d gotten myself into. Now, I have clothes, shoes, a place to stay and a job. All in less than twenty-four hours.” Her smile widened, and she pulled a wad of cash out of her pocket. “And the bar patrons tipped me enough to pay for a tire.”
    He curled his fingers around hers and the cash. “You need to call the rental car company and have them pay for the repairs.” The woman who hadn’t had a cent to her name, probably didn’t have food in her pantry, yet she was more concerned about fixing a tire to a vehicle that didn’t belong to her. “They probably have insurance to cover tires and fender benders. You should keep your cash and buy a loaf of bread.”
    “Oh, I will,” she said. “But I want to pay your brother first. I’d like to have it back as soon as possible.” She pulled her hand away and toyed with the edge of the drink tray. “Umm, the rental is paid through next week. I hope I can figure out some kind of transportation by then. I’ll get the rental car company to reimburse me later.” Phoebe jumped to her feet and grabbed the tray. “I’d better get back to work. There are so many thirsty men in this place.” She rushed away, glancing back with a worried expression, her bottom lip clamped firmly between her