He shrugged. His expression was unapologetic, as if grabbing was part of the whole biker bar experience. Perhaps it was. He stared at her hard again, his eyes traveling from her head to her knees and back up. Ria felt Cam tense as if preparing for battle. She should stop and take this situation down a notch.
The drunken man’s gaze ran up and down her body again, stopping at her head. “As a matter of fact, youdolook really familiar, sweet thing.” He pointed to her head. “It’s those blue streaks in your hair. Wehavemet before, haven’t we?”
“No. You haven’t ever met her before,” Cam said with a glare. He took a step backward, pulling Ria along. “Come on, let’s go.”
The guy’s eyes narrowed and he snapped his fingers. “Wait a minute. I remember now. I saw you singing karaoke last night at the Smokin’ Hog Saloon.” He glanced at Cam. “And you went home with him, didn’t you?” He suddenly sounded aghast, accusatory and critical at the very idea of her association with Cam.
Ria sucked in a loud breath of indignation. “That’s none of your business—”
The bartender moved a step closer. “That’s it. Go home, Randy. Or I’ll call someone youareafraid of.”
“Oh, yeah? Like who?”
“Like your old lady.”
“She ain’t my wife. I can do whatever I want.”
“Oh, okay. So I should go ahead and call her and tell her what you’re up to right now?” the bartender threatened, pulling a cellular phone from the pocket of his jeans.
Randy slammed his chair forward and grabbed for the phone, missing it when the bartender moved quickly. “Now wait just a dang minute. That’s not what I said.”
Cam pulled his wallet out and offered the bartender some money. “For the second round,” he said. “We’ve got to go.”
The man waved away the cash. “No worries. On the house for your troubles.”
“Do we really have to leave?” Ria asked. Dang Randy and his grabby drunken antics, ruining her first pool game that they hadn’t even finished yet. Plus, they hadn’t even listened to all the songs she’d selected from the jukebox.
The bartender said, “Go ahead and finish your game. Randy was just leaving. I’ll make sure he don’t bother you two again.” The bartender smiled, revealing a row of slightly crooked front teeth.
“Okay. Thanks.” Cam grabbed the two beers off the tray one handed and walked with his arm around Ria to the far side of the pool table. Randy got up, stumbling and grumbling all the way out the front door.
The bartender picked up his small tray and followed Randy outside. Cam offered Ria one of the beers that had been on the house. She knew that meant free.
“We can really stay?”
“Sure. I guess so. To finish our pool game at least.”
“And listen to the jukebox.” The second song came on and Blondie belted out the next tune Ria had selected. Cam nodded and a sudden grin shaped his features. “And listen to jukebox music.”
He gestured for her to take her turn. She bent down to the task as the front door opened. She expected the bartender to return, but instead saw a tall figure out of the corner of her eye.
“Are you kidding me?” Cam said under his breath.
“What? Who is it?”
“Diesel,” he said glumly.
Diesel, your brother, the one I’m supposed to hide from?Ria turned her head toward the front door in time to see the large figure of Diesel Grey in the doorway.
Ria remembered him. Diesel had welcomed the cruise liner’s passengers into the way station the afternoon they’d arrived at the Big Bang Truck Stop. Delighted to see someone she knew, sort of, Ria forgot Cam’s instructions to avoid his brother and waved.
“I remember him,” she said, and continued waving at the man they called the Fearless Leader.
Cam grabbed her hand and pushed it down to her side. “He can already see us, Cam, whether I wave or not.” She shot her other hand up and waved again, earning a rather disgruntled look from the man at her side.
“We are trying to be incognito. You only know him because of the way station in the basement. Listen to me, Ria. Donottell him who you are.”
