“See? Was that so fucking hard?” She shoves the phone back at me and crosses her arms. “You really are a dumbass sometimes.”
“I’ll drop you off at home if you want.”
“Hell no. I’m not missing this. Is there somewhere we can stop and get popcorn?”
“Fuck you.”
We pull up to the bar a short while later. Ruby excuses herself to take a call while I head inside, muscles coiled tight with nervous tension.
It doesn’t take long to spot Callie at the bar looking like every man’s wet dream in a tight black skirt, and—is that my goddamn shirt? It’s unbuttoned at the collar, showing off a hint of cleavage. She has her glasses perched on the tip of her nose as she reaches for a shot glass filled with pale yellow liquid.
I sidle up to her and lean my elbows on the bar. “Whatcha doin, baby?”
She throws back her shot without sparing me a second glance. “Can’t a girl get shit-faced in peace?”
“Not looking like a sexy librarian in a porn movie. You’ve got everyone in this place staring at you like you’re their next meal.”
She snorts and picks up a martini glass garnished with pickles. “You know what really dills my pickle?”
She’s adorable when she’s pissed off.
I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. “No. Tell me.”
“There’s this preconceived notion that librarians are all abunch of uptight shrews.” She takes the cocktail skewer between her lips and bites off one of the pickles. The way she tugs it between her lips is downright erotic. “Even in porn movies, it always starts off with some woman telling them to be quiet right before they bend her over a desk.”
“I’m struggling to see the problem here.”
She glares at me. “We’re people. We have feelings, too. And that’s not even taking into account the predatory nature of the porn industry as a whole.”
“Do you know how hot it is to listen to you talk sometimes? I fucking love your brain.”
She sighs and rolls her eyes.
I spin her stool, forcing her to look at me. “Tell me what’s really bothering you.”
She shoves hard against my chest, but I don’t budge. “You. You big dumb idiot.”
Ruby materializes on the other side of her and waggles her brows. She points to Callie and mouths the words, “She’s hot.”
Callie follows my gaze and gasps. “You’re Ruby Lynn Hayes! Did you know your brother is a big dummy?”
Ruby laughs. “Runs in the family, I’m afraid.”
“Jax told me about your truck naming scheme. Do you ever wonder if anybody’s got a truck named after you?”
Ruby’s brow furrows. “Huh. I’ve never thought about it.”
“Someday I’m gonna get my own truck. Not a shitty one like your brother’s, obviously. And I’m gonna name it Ruby.”
“I like her, Jax. Can we keep her?”
“She’s not a puppy.”
Callie leans against the bar to flag down the bartender. Her soft curves press up against the hard surface as her round ass strains against the fabric of her skirt. “Have a drink with me.”
I hate the thought of anybody else seeing her like this, so Igrip her hips and position her back on her stool. “I think you’ve had enough.”
Her shoulders slump, and she gives me an adorable pout. “You’re a party pooper, Jaxy.”
