I hesitate at the door, and almost change my mind and run right back to Briggs’s house.
But then I spot Ma behind the bar, with a man who looks like an older version of Briggs himself. His mother must sense my presence because her eyes lock on mine. She gives me a questioning look. I smile and give her a little half-wave before stepping farther into the bar.
I don’t have a plan, but it turns out that I don’t need one, because I only take a few more steps before a heavy arm falls over my shoulders.
“Well, hello there. I didn’t expect to see you here, little darlin’.”
Reflexively, I stiffen but force myself to relax before turning to face the man. “Hi!” I force a smile and flirty lightness in my voice. “Joey, right?”
The man, who looks to be a little bit younger than Briggs, frowns, but it quickly turns into a leering grin. He’s not unattractive, but compared to Briggs, he might as well be. And he definitely puts out creeper vibes. Still, at the moment, he’s my best option. And I did just get here.
“Got sick of Wolf already, huh?” He doesn’t wait for me to answer. “Don’t blame ya. He never did know how to have a good time. I’ll buy you a drink, darlin’.”
Joey steers me toward a table in the middle of the room, where two other men are seated. Mugs of beer fill the table between them. “Boys, this is…”
“Mia,” I supply, considering he’s forgotten that I introduced myself when we met earlier.Before Briggs punched him in the jaw.
“Mia.” Joey nods. “You like beer?”
I don’t. But I don’t want to be picky. So I nod. “Sure do.”
He pours me a mug and watches while I lift it to my lips. The drink smells yeasty and sour. It turns my stomach, but I could use a little liquid courage, so I force myself to take a few big gulps before setting it down.
I swallow hard, and a little burp escapes my throat. Joey and the others laugh, but it doesn’t seem to put them off.
Joey has his arm around me again. He pulls his chair so close to mine that his rough denim-clad leg presses up against my bare thigh.
I tug at my short skirt that rucked up to an indecent length when I sat down. Not that Joey’s noticed; his eyes are lockeddirectly on my cleavage that, without my sweater that I left in my bag, is pressed up and spilling out of my top.
“So what brings a sweet thing like you to town, Mia?”
There’s no way I’m telling them why I’m really here. Or that my brother lives in town. I can’t imagine that these men are friends with Jamie. Not based on Briggs’s reaction earlier. Still, it’s better if they don’t know. “Just a little holiday,” I lie. “What is it you boys do?”
“What do we do?” Joey’s heavy hand pulls me closer to him. His fingertips dangle precariously close to the top of my breast.
Instead of the tingles I felt with Briggs earlier, I’m feeling something very different with Joey so near. But the alcohol is already working its magic, and the sharp edges are starting to soften.
“We have a good time.” Joey laughs. “Don’t we, boys?”
The others join in Joey’s laughter and exchange glances with each other.
I swallow hard and lift my mug of beer to my lips once more. I grimace through another swallow of the sour liquid and gasp when a hand slides over my bare thigh.
I didn’t notice the man on the other side of me move closer. His hand is heavy and hot on my skin but I don’t have time to react, because Joey’s hand has also slipped lower and is now openly fondling my breast over the top of my shirt.
“Oh.” I try to slide back a little, away from both of them, but I’m pinned in. “I don’t think?—”
“Come on, darlin’. This is exactly what you’re looking for, isn’t it?”
“Dressed like that in a place like this.” The man across the table lets out a low whistle. “This is exactly what she’s looking for.”
“And you came to the right place.” Under the table, the man grips my thigh so tightly, I squeal, and Joey takes that moment to close in on me.
His breath is rank and hot against my cheek. “You are looking for a good time, aren’t you, darlin’?”
Oh God.
No. I don’t want my first kiss to happen like this. I’m such an idiot.
