“No way are you twenty five.”
“I’m almost twenty one.”
Ford studies my face, causing my heart to race. Heat flushes across my chest, rising in my gut before settling between my legs. Despite my plan to play cool, I’m already suffering from a serious case of lust. I plan to blame the whiskey.
“You look like a little girl,” Pax says, glancing around the bar. “Are you Lucky’s out-of-town bastard? Is that why he plays protective daddy with you?”
“I don’t know my dad, but Mom said he had giant ears. Lucky’s ears are pretty normal.”
Pax rests his head on the table and laughs. I don’t know if he’s laughing at me or with me. He’s probably just drunk. Narrowing his eyes, Ford leans closer. He pulls off my hat and touches my chin. Turning my head back and forth, he studies me.
“Your ears are normal too,” he says, handing me back the hat. “Maybe that ear thing was a lie.”
“Why would she lie about that?” I ask, laughing from my whiskey buzz.
“Women lie about all sorts of things. Some even lie about little things just to keep their skills honed for the big lies.”
Smiling at him, I instantly know I’ve made a mistake. My whole demeanor is too welcoming. Hell, I might as well flash red meat in front of a predator.
Ford holds my gaze and I can’t look away. His eyes are a dark blue, not brown like I first thought in the dim lighting. With them focused on me, I see nothing else. His expression is inviting, revealing none of the poonhound asshole I know he must be. Lucky warned me about these guys, but I still want to move closer to him.
“Rumor has it you’re working at the Oregon.”
I only nod and sip my whiskey. As my gaze remains on him, my fingers get curious. I struggle to keep them from reaching for his face
“Most nights, I drive past the hotel and now you work there. Hmm…I should stop by and test the mattresses.”
At some point, I decide to reach for his face. My hand is halfway to its destination before Ford’s words slap me awake.
“No.”
Ford gives me a casual smile and takes my hand. He studies the palm for a moment then places it against his bearded cheek
“Is this what you were looking for?”
“No,” I mumble, unable to form a more profound word.
Keeping my hand against his face, Ford stares into my eyes. I think he’s trying to hypnotize me. To my horror, it’s working too.
Suddenly, I remember Pax sitting with us. Not only him, but I’m aware of the other people in the bar. Feeling exposed, I pull my hand away then lean back and look around.
“Playing it cool,” Pax says to Ford who grins.
“A girl can’t give it away too easy. Wouldn’t be classy.”
I want to say something to set the record straight. Yes, Ford is hot. Since his little hypnotizing trick, he’s the hottest man on earth. Even so, I have no interest in giving anything away, let alone what they’re hinting.
I might come up with a really confident way of making myself clear, but I never find out. The men’s gazes leave me and focus on someone at the door. In that moment, I’m invisible.
Ford is beautiful and I still feel the warmth of him on my fingertips. Now though, he’s a predator facing his prey. The men at the door are rough looking, but so are most of the guys in the place.
“Go to the restroom,” Ford says, without even glancing at me. “Don’t come out until Lucky sends for you.”
I should ask questions. Demand them really. Except I’m out of my league. Even hating to feel like a kid, I slide out of the booth and never look back. With all of the bar’s predators on alert, my gut warns me to avoid making eye contact as I hurry to the restroom.
A few women enter the restroom before a waitress shows up and locks the door. They ignore me while playing on their phones. I think to ask what the hell is happening, but keep my mouth shut.
The whiskey did a number on me, so I sit on the toilet for a long time. I don’t vomit, but rest my head against the wall and think about my new life.
Hearing loud noises coming from outside the restroom, I close my eyes and imagine my new bed. Darby’s house isn’t my home yet, but it’s a sanctuary compared to hiding in the toilet stall. I crave my little flowered room so badly that I nearly cry.
Eventually, the waitress unlocks the door and leaves. While the other girls leave too, I wash my hands and wait for Lucky. He finally arrives and waves for me to follow him. We walk past a relaxed bar and I spot no sign of trouble. Most of the men are gone including Ford and Pax.
Once outside, Lucky walks to his Harley and climbs on. I join him, still feeling nauseous from the booze. I’m tired and homesick too. Lucky doesn’t say a word the entire ride to Darby’s house. Only when I climb off and prepare to go inside, does he open his mouth.
“I’d have thought you’d dig Pax,” he says before giving me a wink and riding away.
8
Ford