There was not as much alcohol in his system as there was in the pretty lady's at the other end of the bar. He'd been watching her drink for a good portion of the night, and he had two thoughts. One, she was either Irish or just that good at holding her liquor. Two, she was hot as hell and he was feeling a little lonely himself.
He was often lonely these days. He had a great job at Hips and Hearts, but since the disbandment of the LDF, he hadn't really had many friends. And then Kyler had gone and disappeared along with Kaden, his best friend. He didn't know where they were or why they had gone, only that they were gone and it hurt to be alone in his apartment. He downed another shot of vodka, a drink he'd grown used to during his time with Caliban.
With that shot, a small measure of courage came to him and he rose from the bar stool he occupied and lay his vouchers on the counter there. And then, lumbering the way his animal counterpart did, he approached the dark haired woman holding a worn violin case as if it held the key to her very existence. He leaned his elbow upon the bar, smiling to Mr. Knox. The man didn't often tend his own bar, but once in a while he ventured out and it was always good to see him. Gunnar knew that he and Kaden had been close and it was something they had in common.
He looked down at Aeryn and smiled. She was drunk. But she wasn't stupid. No, this was not a woman to be taken advantage of. Not that he would do that anyway. He liked them willing. He looked over his shoulder to note that the lycan who'd previously occupied the seat behind him had vacated it. Apparently he didn't like Gunnar's ass in his face. Fine by him. He plunked his happy ass down and nodded toward the violin case. "How well can you play that thing?"
He knew there had to be an instrument inside. There was no real reason to hold onto something that tatty unless it held a violin, or was filled with gold pieces and diamonds. He rather doubted the latter, though, as gaunt as she was. He took a deep breath and the corner of his mouth hitched up when he discovered her scent. Werewolf. Nice. He wondered if she were as feisty as her animal counterpart.
"I'm Gunnar, by the way." His voice was as deep as expected from one of his stature, and it was laced with the accent of his homeland. He held his huge hand out to her to shake. "I think I saw you here last night, but you haven't been around for very long, have you?"