Several female heads swiveled in Josh’s direction, openly admiring the tall, broad-shouldered cowboy in dark blue jeans, boots, and a pressed denim shirt. He was wearing his good straw cowboy hat tonight, and Tory had to admit he looked delicious.
Dressed in a short jeans skirt and a white ruffled tank that dipped low enough to show a little cleavage, she fit right in with the women, cowboys, and bikers who sat at scarred wooden tables scattered around the plank floors.
She was glad she was wearing her cowboy boots, even if they were plain brown and already a little worn. Her hair was getting longer, falling in loose copper curls that just brushed her shoulders.
She felt Josh’s hand at her waist and looked up to see a possessive gleam in his eyes. She could still recall the stunned look on his face when she had walked out of the double-wide onto the porch where he was waiting.
Clearly, she needed to exchange her T-shirts and jeans for a sexy skirt and blouse more often.
“Stay close,” he said softly. “Half the guys in here are undressing you with their eyes and the other half are trying to figure a way to get you in bed.”
She flushed. Surely he was kidding. But when she looked around, she caught several openly admiring glances.
“This way.” Josh urged her toward a table off to one side. She almost didn’t recognize Carly and Linc, who wore black leather as easily as expensive business suits.
They rose as she and Josh approached. Carly gave her a hug and Linc kissed her cheek. “So he finally let you out of the house,” Linc said, his massive biceps straining the sleeves of the snug black T-shirt beneath his black leather vest. “I thought maybe he had you chained to the bed.”
The heat returned to her cheeks. Carly elbowed him, and he grinned, digging sexy indentations into his cheeks.
“Ignore him,” she said, but she grinned back. Lincoln Cain was impressive, no doubt about it. But no more so than his wicked-hot, blue-eyed brother.
“Tag’s over there with Baldy, Wolf, and Lenny.” Linc pointed to a group of bikers sitting a few tables away. She could read the nameASPHALT DEMONSon the back of a vest worn by a blond biker with his hair pulled into a ponytail.
A guy with shoulder-length shaggy brown hair got up and strode toward them, pulled out a chair, spun it around, and sat down facing them.
He turned to Josh. “Hey, bro, good to see you.”
“You too, Tag.” Josh introduced Tory. Linc ordered another pitcher of beer and more glasses.
The drinks were served by a busty, big-haired blonde who was eyeing Josh like a juicy piece of meat. If he noticed, he didn’t encourage her. Tory ignored a bubble of jealousy she pretended not to feel.
Linc poured glasses of beer for her and Josh, and filled a glass for Tag.
“Linc says you’ve had some trouble,” Tag said to Josh, taking a drink of his beer.
“That’s right. Group of bikers vandalized the ranch after the barn raising. Tore things up, got into a slugfest with me and a couple of marine buddies who work for me, fired off some shots. Any guess who it might have been?”
“I don’t have to guess. I know who it was. Part of a bunch that call themselves the Street Marauders. Operate out of South Dallas. Deal drugs, run prostitutes, stuff like that. I heard they were in town.”
Josh shook his head. “I don’t get it. I’ve never even heard of these guys. What the hell beef did they have with me?”
“The Marauders work for hire. Advertise on the Internet in some of those soldier-of-fortune magazines. If the job pays enough, they’re up for just about anything.”
Tory’s pulse kicked up as the first stirrings of alarm moved through her.Someone paid them?
Josh leaned forward in his chair. “You’re saying someone hired those guys to tear up my place?”
“Most likely. If they stopped at vandalizing your property, that’s probably all they were paid to do. Could have been a whole lot worse.”
Josh slanted Tory a look and she knew he was thinking the same thing she was. Her heart was thrumming. She didn’t want to believe it was Damon, but she did.
“They still in town?” Josh asked.
“I heard they left late last night. After Linc called this morning, I asked around. Looks like they’re back in Dallas.”
“So their job here is done,” Josh said darkly.
“At least for now.” Tag stood up from his chair. “That’s all I got. But I’ve put the word out. If the Marauders show up in the area, you’ll be the first to know—and you won’t have to deal with them alone.”
