Her breath hitched. “You’re so strong.” Rum-scented breath wafted across my nose. “Just like the drinks,” she hissed before dissolving into giggles.
A slow clap preceded me out the door. More applause broke in.
Ruby tried to crane her neck to look over her shoulder and the move only made her breasts rub against my chest. “Who was that?”
“Probably Cassie and her sister.”
“Oh.” That plump lower lip was out with a pout. “The one you were talking to?”
“She’s just a friend.”
“Friendwith benefits?”
“No. She hits on both me and Teller and neither of us is interested. She wouldn’t be either if I actually dated her.”
She tipped her head back. A groan left her. “The stars are beautiful, but I’m dizzy. You can put me down, you know. I can walk.” She kicked a leg up to show her short heels. “I’ve just been sitting for so long.”
“I know.” She was also drunk.
“I think those guys were flirting with me,” she whispered. “I didn’t know Travis wasengaged. Asshole.”
“Yep.” I was close to the pickup and wishing I’d parked another half mile away to keep holding her. Carefully I set her on her feet and opened the passenger door.
I hovered while she climbed in, albeit a little unsteadily.
Before I shut the door, I leaned in. “Why the hell do you doubt they were flirting with you?” I’d known exactly what had been in each one of those guys’ heads. I wanted to do the same things to her.
She blinked those big, innocent eyes. “I was the only choice.”
“No, you weren’t.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Does Allen know where a woman’s eyes are?”
A small laugh gusted out of me. “No. I don’t think so, Goldilocks.”
I closed the door and got in behind the wheel.
She sank into the seat and gazed out the window. “The stars really are beautiful tonight. The only chance I really get to see them is from the parking lot at Copper Summit.” She twisted in her seat until she was facing me. “Thanks for rescuing me.”
“I should’ve done it earlier.”
A sigh left her. “I enjoyed the attention, but it was also stressful. Are men usually so handsy?”
“Yes.”
“Not you.”
Around her I was.
She curled her legs under her and was quiet the rest of the way home. In the dash lights, I made out her closed eyes. Dark lashes rested on her cheeks and her mouth puffed slightly open.
I parked in the garage, hoping she’d stay asleep. She did.
I loaded her in my arms again and carried her into the house.
“You’re so strong,” she repeated against my chest and wrapped an arm around my neck.
Good thing I was close to the guest room, or I’d be doing this with a hard-on.
