He turned, keeping his hands on the wheel, his eyes wide as he was hit with a strange combination of shock and anger. “Are you serious?”
“Yup. I’m officially out of a job.” She then threw him a smile. “Where do you think I got all this free time to bug you?”
“Ah, hell. Did you at least kick the bastard in the nuts?
“Actually, yeah.”
“Good. If you hadn’t, I would have offered up the services of some guys I know who’d be happy to do it for you.” No lie about it. Suddenly, he felt a strong desire to pummel that lemon-peddling shit Calvert.
She cocked an eyebrow. “No need for violence on my account. And anyway, I’m pretty capable in the nut-kicking department.”
“Well, tonight’s on me. I hope you can hold your liquor.”
“Do you always solve your problems with alcohol? You know that won’t work, right?”
“I know, but I’d like to forget one or two things for a while.”
“And how are we getting home afterward, Mr. Forgetful?”
Their banter made him smile. “Well, if we’rereallysuccessful at forgetting, I’ll call my driver. Franky won’t mind stowing my truck in his garage overnight. God knows no one will steal it. Don’t worry, I won’t abandon you.”
He could tell from her pensive expression she recalled their last conversation, all of it. “I could always take a bus,” she said. “I have before.”
“Not on my watch.” The idea of Kate waiting at a Vegas bus stop late at night was about the least appealing vision he could conjure up. It gave him a weird, nauseating stab in the gut, like it would end up as an episode of CSI someday.
It was time he admitted to himself that this woman fascinated him in a way he didn’t quite understand. From the moment she’d first set foot on the pavement near Vice, he hadn’t been able to wrestle her out of his head. Part of the reason he’d shown up at her door was the hope that spending an evening with Kate would allow him to see the real her. And that in getting to know her, he’d find something he disliked, and give himself a reason to stay away.
It wasn’t working. He did like her. A lot.
He wished he didn’t. He didn’t have time in his life for romance, or whatever foul desire plagued him. Romance, right. His inflated cock wasallabout romance right now. No doubt his cock wanted to order her some flowers and recite her some poetry, too.
No, he just wanted to sleep with her, and the slight hitch in her breath when she looked at him told him she wanted the same thing.
He stifled a laugh. As if she’d have him. He was pretty sure she still thought he had horns hidden under his hair somewhere.
They pulled in at Franky’s and parked near the back, right next to Franky’s Harley. While Kate gathered up her purse, he got out and opened her door for her. She put a foot on the ground and grasped his outstretched hand, eyes shimmering with a hint of disbelief. “No one opens doors for women anymore, do they?”
“I just did.”
“Noted.” She slid out of the car, her face still pink. “Crowd looks a little rough tonight. You sure about this?”
A couple of familiar bikers stood outside the front door, taking drags on their cigarettes. “I happen to like things a little rough.” He smiled and put a hand on the small of her back as he led her toward the entrance. She continued to tense as they reached the door, so he put her out of her misery. He called to the bikers. “Beck. Nolan. How’s it going?”
Nolan, a leather-clad bear of a man, smiled from behind his full beard . “Doyle, man. How’s the new place?”
“Awesome. You gonna ditch Franky one of these nights and come see it?”
The two of them laughed, as if leaving Franky’s was a physical impossibility. “Only if you promise to save me one of those pretty pink cocktails with the umbrellas,” Nolan crowed.
“People pay fifteen bucks for those pretty pink cocktails. Gotta give the customers what they want.” He turned to Kate. “Kate, these are my buddies Nolan and Beck.”
Kate didn’t seem to know how to react. “Um, nice to meet you?”
Beck, a handsome shit-disturber, reached for her hand and kissed it, lingering a little too long for Liam’s liking. “Honey, the pleasure’s all mine.” He grinned like he wanted to eat her up. “Doyle, where have you been hiding this sweet thing?”
Her giggle came out like a snort. “He hasn’t hidden me anywhere, but he probably wishes he could. I’ve been causing him trouble.” She turned at smiled at him, more comfortable with the situation now. “Isn’t that right, Liam?”
“Honey, whatever trouble you’re selling, I’m buying,” said Beck.
