Shocked gasps rang out again.
“Tammy, please save this conversation after Ray just ruined it,” Ruthie said.
Tammy gave a small smirk and tilted her head in thought. “Coleslaw. I don’t really care for cabbage or mayonnaise on their own, but when people put them together, I can only assume it is because they are trying to kill me.”
“Tammy, no one could kill you. You’re too much of a badass,” Stella said, using her fork to point at her.
“It’s true,” Ruthie said, sticking a French fry in her mouth. “I took one of her self-defense classes, and her roundhouse kicks would put Chuck Norris to shame.”
Tammy laughed. “I appreciate the compliment, but I’ve got nothing on Chuck Norris and his abilities. Remember, ladies, he won an arm-wrestling contest with both arms tied behind his back.”
I chuckled, as did all the women at the bar.
“Who is this?” Axel asked, pointing at her. “The Chuck man you are talking about. Did he serve in the military with you?”
The small chuckles grew louder.
“I wish,” Tammy replied, but Axel’s confused face remained. “Chuck Norris was the greatest and most famous badass in the whole world.”
I wasn’t entirely sure that satisfied Axel’s curiosity, but he let it drop for now.
Tammy bent over to grab some extra containers of lemons and limes from their small mini-fridge below the bar. My gazemoved like a magnet to her full, luscious backside, remembering how amazing and soft it was in my hands.
She cleared her throat, and my gaze jumped back up to meet hers instantly.
She tilted her head to the side and lifted her brows at me. “Are you looking at my ass?”
“Yep,” I replied with zero shame.
“Well, stop.”
“No can do.”
Her hands moved to her hips as she gave me a small glare. “You’re a grown-ass man. You can absolutely stop.”
I shrugged, my smile full of amusement. “Okay, maybe I can, but I won’t. I like what I see, and I’m not afraid to admit it.”
She groaned and rolled her eyes, but I saw the pull of her lips into the barest smile as she turned to face the other direction.
The other women next to me giggled, but I avoided eye contact with them, instead choosing to keep watching Tammy. I was drawn to her, and I found even when I knew sex was off the table, I genuinely enjoyed being around her.
About an hour later, all the women left, as Ruthie’s husband Jack was their designated driver and took them all home.
I was wiped out from not getting great sleep last night, and I wanted to surprise Tammy tomorrow morning at her place with breakfast again. I’d missed that opportunity this morning and wasn’t going to make that same mistake twice. So just after eleven, I finally called it a night.
The place was still busy, so Axel was going to stay and close with Tammy. I would have stayed, but knowing she wouldn’t be closing alone made me feel better. Plus, it was Andre’s turn to be the designated bouncer and bodyguard for the night, so she technically had two men who would walk her out and make sure she was safe.
Andre was a large guy, the ideal body build for a bouncer, but he was also friendly and down-to-earth. He had joined the group because of his friendship with Diego, and they both seemed to get along great with Tammy.
Just thinking about Tammy had me excited for breakfast tomorrow. She was feisty, chatty, and knew what she wanted, which was refreshing.
That little ball of fire and sass was quickly becoming important to me, and I found I didn’t mind one bit.
TEN
TAMMY
I was ready for Ray this time.
