by Rivi Jacks
Sam stands and holds his hand out to me. “May I have this dance?” We’re dancing when Emma Rae glides in, still in her Murphy’s T-shirt. When the song ends, I sit beside her, and she hands me my emptied beer bottle.
I tip the bottle upside down. “Gee, thanks.” She laughs and gets up to get us another one. “How was work today?”
“Not too bad.” She tips her beer up. “Chip Davis came in.”
“Look out!” Sawyer jokes.
“That boy is as dumb as a sack of hair,” she says with no humor.
I grin at her. “He’s so besotted with you, Emma Rae, he just can’t think straight.”
“He can’t see straight neither. You ever notice he’s kinda cross-eyed?”
“All the better to see you with,” I giggle.
“Yeah, both of you,” Sam adds.
A wry smile curves her lips. “He wouldn’t be able to handle one of me.”
“Emma Rae, no one can handle one of you,” Sawyer teases. He leans over and whispers something in her ear. She laughs and swats his arm.
I glance over at Sam, who winks at me. Both Sam and I think Sawyer and Emma Rae would be perfect together. They share the same temperament and point of view on most things. But, not until they’re both ready to settle down a bit.
One of Sawyer’s favorite songs comes on. He grabs my hand, pulling me out of my chair. I love to dance, but I don’t in front of most people. Occasionally I get over my shyness, but not often.
The door opens. Terry Joe Wooten and Logan Rivers amble in right at the end of the song. “Looks like the party’s startin’ early,” Terry Joe hollers.
Logan pulls his chair over by me when I sit back down. “Sofie.”
“Logan,” I say right back, copying his tone.
He gives me a cute little grin. “You owe me a dance.”
“Oh, I do, do I?” I laugh.
He leans in closer. “You do. Pretty, pretty please?”
He is so dang cute! How can I resist him? When the next song blasts over the speakers, I grab his hand. Boy, give this girl a couple of beers, and she loses all inhibition. “Let’s go.” I know he wants a slow dance, but that’s something he’ll have to earn. I have to feel much more at ease with him first.
He mostly shuffles his feet, uncomfortable with the song. I, on the other hand, bounce around, laughing at his expressions and attempts to grab me. The song ends, and we’re both breathless and laughing. We start back to the table, and I stumble as I notice Lucas at the bar with Sam, watching me. Logan reaches for my elbow to steady me as Lucas’ eyes meet mine. His lips give me a slow, admiring smile.
Lucas is dressed in black again: black tee, jeans, and black leather jacket. He looks positively dangerous. My heart rate is up from dancing, but after noticing him, it won’t be slowing down anytime soon. I sit by Emma Rae, trying to forget about Lucas standing a few feet away.
More people show up, and since Lucas doesn’t immediately sit in on a hand of cards, I decide I will. Bad decision. I can’t concentrate with him in the room. I keep stealing glimpses at the bar where he’s talking to Taylor and Andy, who has his arm around Emma Rae.
I throw in my cards and head for the bathroom. After washing my hands, I step out to Miranda Lambert singing about gettin’ her shotgun. Right away, I notice Lucas isn’t at the bar any longer. He’s standing by the outside door talking to Teresa Ryder, who has on the shortest skirt I’ve ever seen. That is, until I see the girl hanging on his arm.
Linda Stewart is wearing a hot pink tube top. Just a hot pink tube top. Stretched, it barely covers her top or her bottom. Lucas looks as if he’s enjoying them hanging all over him.
I wish I could get my shotgun and chase off those two. Instead, I lean up against the bar by Taylor.
“Sofie,” he acknowledges.
“Hey.”
“No more problems?”
“You should know,” I say, giving him a pointed look. I saw him last night outside my house at about three in the morning. On a trip to the bathroom, I looked out the window as he walked by the security light. I’d been startled until I realized it was Taylor.
He smiles. “We figured it was a good idea after what happened the other night.” Did I mention that when Taylor smiles, it kind of catches a girl off guard and leaves her bedazzled?
“Uh... yeah, Jake told me.” I’m surprised they’ve posted a watch on the house. It does make me feel safer, but also uneasy. “I didn’t see you when I got home at midnight.” I’d gone over to Lucy and Ben’s about nine.
“I was there. I’m just sneaky.” He dazzles me with another smile. “Save my spot, I’ll be right back.”
“Okay,” I say, giggling softly. My body tenses when I sense Lucas at my back.
I can physically feel his presence. He leans his hip against the bar beside me. “Sofie,” he says by way of greeting.
I barely glance at him, thinking it’s a good thing he can’t hear my heart race. I’d be so embarrassed if he knew the way he affected me.
“How are you tonight?” he asks, in his smooth-as-silk voice.
“Fine.” I glance at him. He regards me with a sly look. “What?” I demand softly.
“I had no idea you could dance so well.”
“That’s because... you don’t know anything about me.”
“Oh, you’d be amazed what I know about you, Sofia,” he murmurs with a smile.
I stare at him and I can feel myself start to get tense. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Why is he so good looking and why do I have this overwhelming desire to lean into him and nuzzle his neck? Geez! I’m losing it here.
He ignores my question, slips his jacket off, and hangs it on the back of the bar stool nearest him. My mouth drops open, and I promptly shut it. He has on a sleeveless black T-shirt stretched just right across his chest and stomach. His arms are the right amount of muscular. He looks good. I glance about the room. Every female is looking at him, practically drooling.
He turns back to me, and I see the humor tugging at the corner of his mouth. I think he’s aware of his effect on women. How could he not be? I’m sure they flock to him. I wrap my arms around my middle.
“Dance with me.” His voice is low, causing a vibration to play along my spine. A slow song is playing, and my stomach tightens when I think about dancing with him—being in his arms.
Gazing into his compelling eyes, I want to fall right in and never find my way out. I scrape my teeth across my bottom lip. The pain I inflict helps me get a grip, and I shake my head. “No, thank you, but I’m sure someone else here would love to dance with you.” Why does he want to dance with me when he clearly enjoyed being with Linda and Teresa. And why the hell does that bother me?
“I don’t want to dance with anyone but you,” he says, slow and deliberate. I watch his mouth as he speaks. He has beautifully shaped lips. When I glance up, the look in his eyes makes things flutter in my stomach. I swallow and turn away. His laugh is dark, sensual. “I have every intention of getting what I want,” he assures me.
What? What does he want? Ignoring him, I spin around to look for Taylor.
“What did you do last night?”
I face him. “I don’t think that’s any of your business.” My voice sounds soft, breathless.
“Hot date?” I’m pretty sure he is reminding me of the other night when he agreed with Sawyer that hot dates are the best.
In as haughty a voice as I can muster, I retort, “I don’t do hot dates.”
“Too bad.” I hear the humor in his voice. I wonder if he finds everything amusing.
“I don’t think so.” I turn to leave, but he grabs my arm and pulls me close. “Let go of me!” I hiss. My heart slams against my chest at his touch.
“Maybe you need to do a hot date.” His breath flows across my face, and I fight the urge to lean into him.
I make an exasperated sound. “If you’re referring to yourself as a hot date, I’m sure I’m not missing much.” Oh, what a liar I ca
n be.
He laughs. “Harsh.” He loosens his grip, and I pull away.
“Why don’t you go peddle your… charms to someone else?” I snap. My best defense is anger.
He regards me with a hard look in his eyes. He blinks, and I see his eyes soften and become amused. “You enjoy baiting me, don’t you?” he asks. I look away, ignoring his question. He leans a little closer, pulling my gaze back to his as he inhales deeply. “Hmmm—careful, you might discover you’re playing with fire.” He grins and walks away, leaving me bewildered.
What does he mean by that? I’m trying my best not to play with him at all. I instinctively know I’ll go up in flames. I try to be sneaky, looking to see where he’s gone. When Taylor comes back, I’m able to turn and get a good look while masking my true intent. Lucas sits at one of the poker tables with Teresa behind him. Linda is at the same table, trying to sit on Sawyer’s knee.
“What?” Taylor asks, seeing the look on my face.
“If Deputies Porter or Graves come by tonight, they’ll have something to go on.” I gesture toward the guys playing poker. Just the week before, the deputies dropped in on a friendly, unofficial visit. So they claimed. “That little gal sitting on Sawyer’s lap is only sixteen.”
Taylor chokes on his beer and whips out his cell phone. “Call him. Remind him of that.”
Sawyer answers on the fourth ring. With Linda on his lap, he has to juggle her around to get to his phone. “Yo!”
“Yo, moron.” He looks in my direction, and Taylor chuckles. “You’re making Taylor nervous over here... with that jail bait on your lap.”
When I say “jail bait,” Lucas’ head turns toward me, and I meet his gaze dead on.
“We were just discussing what would happen if we should get another visit from our friendly deputies.” I tear my gaze from Lucas’ and look back at Sawyer.
“Hey, man, thanks for the tip.” Sawyer closes his phone and is already standing as I hand Taylor’s cell back. We watch Sawyer usher Linda to the door while she tries to hang on to him. Teresa doesn’t want to go either; she’s all over Lucas. Sawyer yells across the room to her, and she looks pissed as he escorts them out the door.
I’m irritated at the pleasure I feel when Lucas doesn’t leave with Teresa. I glance toward his chair. Everyone is taking a break, and I don’t see him. I look around the room.
“Looking for me?” he asks by my ear.
I snort softly. “I was looking for Sam.”
“Is that right?” I hear the soft rumble in his chest as if he’s laughing at me. He is so full of himself!
Sawyer says, “He went to pick up Rose.”
The outside door opens, and Jake and Diane enter with Nick and Bobbi right behind them. Diane’s eyes immediately find mine. She mouths, sorry. I smile at her and turn around. Someone’s hung a mirror on the wall behind the bar, and from where I stand, I can see the door. This is the first I’ve seen Nick and Bobbi together since the night.
“If it distresses you, I can take you home,” Lucas offers softly.
I’m annoyed at the way I react to his words. The notion of leaving with him, being alone with him makes me weak in the knees. I think about telling him not to worry about my business, but I don’t want him to think Nick being with Bobbi bothers me. “It doesn’t,” I insist, looking him in the eye.
His gaze bores into mine. Whatever he sees convinces him I mean what I say. He gives me a slow smile as one corner of his mouth lifts. I’m on the verge of losing all coherent thought when he tilts his head down, takes my hand, and looks at me from under his lashes. My senses reel.
He gives my hand a gentle tug. “Let’s get out of here.” His voice is dark and alluring.
Oh my.
I realize I want nothing more than to be with him. I desire Lucas Santiago, but he is surely a forbidden sin. I pull my hand from his and wrap my arms around my middle, protecting myself. I have no idea how to handle these feelings. They frighten me.
“Sofie?”
I search his eyes and see a trace of amusement, and feeling as if he’s laughing at me helps. Glancing about, I notice we’re alone at the bar. “Um... I don’t go out with strangers.” It’s the only thing I can think to say.
“Ah.” That’s all he says. I peek at him from under my lashes and see him studying me. He rubs his thumb across his bottom lip, causing me to part mine. “What should we do to remedy that situation?”
I take a deep breath and force myself to search the room for Emma Rae or Diane. I need him to leave me alone. A girl can only be so strong, and if he keeps up this assault, I’m not sure how long it will be before I start acting like Linda Stewart. I glance back at him. He’s facing the room, leaning against the bar. The man flat-out oozes sex. I’m feasting on his muscled arms and the way his shirt fits when he turns his gaze on me. The predator staring out at me almost drops me to my knees.
He reaches to steady me. “Okay?” he asks as his mouth quirks, somewhat sardonic.
I jerk my arm away from him. “No! Leave me alone!” My voice sounds desperate.
He lets me go.
I’m still shaking when I lock myself in the bathroom. I lean against the door and slide to the floor, drawing my knees up to my chest. I’d speculated if Lucas was a supernatural or not. What I saw in his eyes gives new meaning to his title of hunter. I have little doubt he’s dangerous. Extremely dangerous.
The truly frightening part? I think I want him.
“Sofie?” Diane knocks softly on the bathroom door.
I take a deep breath and stand. Reaching behind me, I unlock the door and step to the sink. I’m splashing cold water on my face as Diane and Emma Rae crowd into the too-small bathroom.
“Are you okay?” Diane asks as I pat my face dry with some toilet paper. Maybe I should suggest getting paper towels.
“Yeah.” I glance at their reflections as I comb my hair away from my face with my fingers. “Why, what’s up?”
Emma Rae looks at me with speculation. “Lucas sent us in here to check on you.” I shrug, but I can tell by her expression I’m not fooling her. “I think we should go. We’ve got some things we need to talk about, things I need to tell you, Sofie.”
I give her a searching look. “Okay, why don’t you both spend the night at my house?”
Out of the bathroom, I discover, to my relief, Lucas has left with Taylor. Nick and Bobbi are gone too. No doubt they’ve left to have sex. I know, how catty of me.
Meow.
Jake and Andy escort us to the house and leave us alone when they go back outside.
“Do you have any chips?” Diane asks as we settle in my bedroom. “I’m starving.”
“On top of the fridge.” She leaves to grab the chips, and I prop a couple of pillows up against the headboard.
“Sooo,” Emma Rae drawls.
“So?”
“Andy told me Lucas is totally gone on you.”
“What!” I sit up straight.
“Mm-hmm.”
“Emma Rae, do not tease me on this.”
“I’m not! Andy said he’s never seen Lucas this way. He doesn’t deny or even try to hide how he feels about you. Andy said all the Guard is real curious about you because of Lucas’ actions where you’re concerned.”
I stand, too tense to sit still. Diane returns with chips and sits on the bed. She must have heard our conversation because she adds, “Jake says he’s glad Lucas is interested, so he’ll help protect you...” Her voice wavers when she sees my face.
“Jake knows?” I stop pacing.
Diane nods, her eyes large. “Is that a problem?”
“Sofie, don’t tell us you aren’t interested in that man,” Emma Rae says in her no-nonsense voice. I sit on the edge of the bed. “Okay, give. What’s going on with you?”
I look at my hands. “I... have feelings for him. He takes my breath away. My heart pounds anytime he’s near.” I look up at them. “I don’t have to see him to know he’s walked into a room. I feel him.”
“You said he made you uncomfortable but—how romantic!” Diane is all dreamy eyed.
“I knew it!” Emma Rae exclaims. “I knew you were hot for him.”
“As much as I’m attracted to him, I’m afraid. There’s something...”
“What?” Diane asks. “I don’t understand. Jake wouldn’t let Lucas anywhere near you if he felt you were in any danger.”
“I don’t know what it is, but...” I let the sentence hang because I’m just not sure how to put my fear of Lucas Santiago into words.
“You’re afraid he might physically hurt you?” Diane asks, frowning.
I shrug. Maybe. No way can I tell them what he let me see tonight. I know it was no accident. He wanted me to see.
“You’re really worried about this, aren’t you?” Emma Rae asks.
“I feel so... out of my depth with him.”
“He won’t be easy to ignore,” she predicts.
I exhale sharply. “You’re telling me.”
“Did you see the way Teresa was all over him?” Emma Rae’s voice is full of disgust.
“What? Teresa was there?” Diane asks.
I tune them out as Emma Rae fills Diane in. I think about what Andy told Emma Rae. I’d be lying if I denied a part of me wanted things to be different. And Lucas may only be interested because I act as if I’m not. After all, we’ve just met, so how can he be so taken with me? Maybe for the same reason I can’t stop thinking of him.
I wake later and hear Jake in the kitchen. I slide out of bed, careful not to wake Diane or Emma Rae. I’m standing in my bedroom doorway when he comes down the hallway. “Jake? Is everything okay?”
“Are y’all still awake?” he asks, grinning.
“Just me.”
“Everything’s okay. Andy just took off. Lucas and Cal relieved us. I gotta get some sleep. Night,” he says as he heads for the stairs.
“Jake?” He turns back. “Thanks.”
He smiles. “Night, kiddo.”
I smile back. He hasn’t called me that in a long time. I move to my bedroom window and pull the curtain slightly. Straight back from the house, in the shadow of the garage, I think I see movement. Lucas steps into the light as if knowing I look for him.
