“And for you?” the bartender asked me.Cole looked down at me expectantly. He still looked angry and I thought it bestnot to argue with him.
“Gin and tonic please,” I requested. Ilet Cole pay for my drink, still too flabbergasted to argue.
“I assume you got my note,” his deepvoice rumbled before taking a deep swallow of his beer. God his mouth wasbeautiful.
I nodded.
He looked at me expectantly, his eyesfierce.
“It’s not personal,” I assured him, feelingflustered by his nearness and his intense stare. The man did not mincewords that wasfor sure. He looked gorgeous in dark bluejeans and a dark bluehenleythat made his eyes pop. Tattoos ran up and down both arms, complementing themuscle that flexed as he moved. He searched my expression in that way of histhat made me feel like he could see right through me, and I was forced to lookaway.
“Where’s the rest of your dress?” hedemanded, the change in the conversation throwing me for a loop.
“Excuse me?” I demanded in return, anytrace of feeling flustered disappearing.
“You heard me,” he replied as westared at each other, the electricity zapping between us.
“Thanks for the drink, goodnight Cole,”I bit out, and turned on my heel to stomp away. I didn’t get one foot beforehis hand gripped my arm and spun me around to face him.
“Didn’t say you don’t look hotter thanhell baby, but it’sgonnamake for an exhaustingnight for me if I have to wade in every time some mother fucker looks at youthe wrong way,” he informed me.
I stared at him in utter bafflementfor a minute before I collected myself. Seriously the nerve of this guy!
“I’m sorry, I must have missedsomething,” I said sarcastically. “The last I checked, I was perfectly capableof taking care of myself. There’s no position currently open for ‘Scarlet’ssavior,’” I said as I put my hand to my chest dramatically. “The whole damselin distress thing isn’t really my bag, so clearly you’ve got the wrong girl,” Iadded, as I took a sip of my drink and forced myself not to look away from his nowthunderous expression.
“Scar! There you are,” Kat’s voicesounded from behind me. She stopped short after observing my stare down withCole, the energy still crackling between us. I turned to her, grateful for thedistraction. Her expression was almost comical as she took Cole in, her mouthpractically agape.
“Cole, this is Kat,” I introducedbegrudgingly. “My best friend and roommate,” I added.
“Nice to meet you,” he replied shakingher hand, barely sparing her a glance before his eyes returned to mine.
She grinned and I knew she’d made theconnection of who he was. She’d be gloating later that she had forced me tocome out tonight. “Do you want to join us?” she offered. I narrowed my eyes ather. She was so in for it.
“Love to,” he smirked with a devilishgleam in his eye. Clearly his mood had lifted while mine was still far fromlight. I rolled my eyes as he followed us back to the table. Wes and hisbuddies all turned to greet Cole with clear familiarity.
I narrowed my eyes at him again as helaughed and said, “It’s a small world, sweetheart.”
“You know Wes and Connie?” I asked,surprised.
“Wes and I go way back. That’s why I’mhere tonight, to hang with him,” he said. “Not filling any job openingstonight,” he added in my ear with a grin. His proximity sent a thrill throughme, which served to only sour my mood. I was determined not to fall for thisguy’s routine. And, it was just that, a routine--one I was sure he’d done athousand times. Once he’d overcome the challenge I presented, I would be history,and I had no interest in being a part of that.
“Hmph,” Imuttered. I sat back in my old seat with Kat and Connie to my right, and hetook a place at my left where he leaned over to talk to his friends in that deepvoice of his. Kat nudged me from the side and I could tell she was grinningfrom ear to ear without even looking at her.
“He’s freaking hot, Scar,” shewhispered a bit too loudly in my ear. She’d had a few too many cocktails.
I refused to respond to her, all tooaware that Cole’s conversation had ended and he was probably listening. Hethrew his arm over the chair I sat in, and I realized he was staking a claim intypical biker fashion. Much to my dismay, I found myself a bit turned on by thegesture. There was no denying the sexual energy that passed between us nomatter how hard I tried to ignore it. I needed to get away from him soon beforeI ended up doing something I really regretted, like tackling him. The maninfuriated me, but I had never been so attracted to someone in my life. Justthe press of his outer thigh against mine underneath the table was making ithard for me to concentrate.
He didn’t force small talk on me, butinstead kept close to me as we each talked with our friends. Connie and I keptourselvesentertained by trying to find suitable guys forKat, but the pickings were somewhat limited.
“What are you girls giggling about somuch over there?” Cole’s deep voice rumbled next to my ear, making my heartgallop in my chest.
“Trying to find a guy for Kat,” Ianswered honestly. “So far, not much to choose from,” I added while drinkingthe dredges of my cocktail.
“Need another?” he asked, eyeing myempty glass.
“I can get it,” I replied firmly.
“You can say whatever you like aboutit, but I think my limit for keeping assholes at bay has already been met forthe eveningdarlin’. And with you in that dress, youwalk up to the bar and I’m sure that preppy asshole won’t be alone. So howabout you let me get it and save us both the hassle?” he persuaded, his armstill wrapped around my chair as his fingers began tracing my shoulder in a waythat made me want to scream...and not with fear.