“Listen, I appreciate the…whateveryou’re trying to do,” I sighed with a wave of my hand.
His brows rose in amusement as hewatched me, his face mere inches from mine.
“But your efforts are lost on me. Youshould find some other girl whose going to go home with you, because I’m not,”I said firmly, gesturing around the room to all of the potential one-night standsat his fingertips.
“Are you always this much of a pain inthe ass?” he demanded, his eyes incredulous.
“Just trying to save you some time,” Ireplied.
“Another gin and tonic?” he asked asthough I hadn’t spoken.
“Suit yourself,” I shrugged, before noddingthat he had my drink right. He squeezed the back of my neck briefly before hestood up to head to the bar. The gesture stoked the fire I already hadsimmering for him. It was possessive and yet reassuring. I liked it a lot. Itried not to watch his ass as he walked away, but those Levis fit him entirelytoo well for me not to.
“How do you know Cole?” Connie askedexcitedly, taking the opportunity to get the scoop, and forcing me to swallowthe saliva in my mouth and tear my eyes from his ass.
I shrugged, a bit embarrassed that I’dbeen caught ogling him. “I don’t really, he was at my mechanic shop last weekand he ended up giving me a ride home. Now he’s here.” I shrugged.
“Something tells me he intends to getto know you a lot better,” she replied.
I wrinkled my nose. “I don’t datebikers,” I uttered quickly.
“Honey, I don’t care if he’s afreaking alien from outer space. If Cole Jackson takes a shine to you, you gowith it. And that’s coming from someone who’s madly in love with herboyfriend,” she said with a grin.
Despite my reservations, I reallywanted to know more. “What’s he like?” I couldn’t help but ask, my curiosityoverwhelming me.
“I don’t know him well,” she answeredtruthfully. “Just hung around him a few times at the club and out and aboutwith Wes. But he keeps to himself a lot. He’s always been polite to me, buthe’s clearly not someone you fuck with,” she said, telling me something Ialready knew.
“Yeah, and how many women have youseen him go home with?” I asked dryly, already knowing the answer to that aswell.
“A few,” she admitted. “But I have yetto see him stake a claim the way he’s doing with you tonight,” she added.
“Yeah that’s only because I’m notdropping my panties for him just because he throws me a smile,” I replied knowingly.“He just likes the chase.”
I’d grown up watching men like Cole,beautiful and powerful men who valued their bikes more than the women on theirarms. Because of who my father was, they’d stayed clear for the most part, butI’d watched them go through women like water. It had always baffled me how thewomen hung around the club just hoping formore,readyto be used at a moment’s notice. That had never been for me, and being myfather’s daughter, he would have killed anyone who tried anyway. My father hadbeen overprotective (to say the least), and at times it had driven me crazy.Now I just missed his guidance and protection. I missed everything about him,every day.
Kat snorted, speaking for the firsttime and snapped me back out of my thoughts. “Or it could be that yourdevastatingly gorgeous and smart and he knows he’s met his match.”
“You’re biased,” I pointed out dryly,as Cole returned with my drink ending any further discussion.
“Thanks,” I said, as he handed me mydrink and reclaimed his seat next to me.
“Don’t mention it,” he replied easily.
“Anyone try to feel you up?” I teased,taking a sip. As long as he knew where I stood I might as well have a littlefun.
He chuckled. “Only one person in hereI’d let do that. Anyone else would lose a limb,” he replied, looking at me witha twinkle in his eye.
I blushed and turned my attention backto the bar at large, which was now packed beyond anything I’d ever seen.
“Is it always like this?” I foundmyself asking him.
“What? This busy?”
I nodded.
He shrugged. “I don’t come here a lot,I take it you don’t either, but I’d say this isn’t all that unusual.”
I simply nodded watching the crowd,feeling slightly annoyed with all the people.
