“Whoa there, woman,” Jace says, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me away from the suitcase.
“Come on, Jace. This won’t take long.”
“No, it won’t because you’re packing clothes that accentuate your … masculine side.”
I glare at him and to prove his point, he reaches in and pulls out an old, grease-stained pair of jeans.
“There is no way you’re wearing this shit.”
I bite my bottom lip.
“Where are your good clothes?”
I cross my arms. “You’re being mean now, there’s nothing wrong with those jeans.”
“Sure, if you want to be mistaken for a homeless person. Hmm, maybe you can ask people for spare change and raise money for the garage that way.”
I snort laugh in spite of myself. “What will you have me wear? Because I’m telling you, I don’t do tight … anything.”
“There’s got to be something good in here,” he mutters, walking to my closet and swinging the door open.
After five minutes of shuffling, he comes back with an armful of clothes. Most of them I have never worn. I went through a stage of trying to be girly, but it didn’t happen and so the clothes ended up at the back of my closet. Now Jace has managed to find each and every one of them.
“You are going to look like a female this weekend,” he says, throwing the clothes onto the bed and then emptying my suitcase.
I watch as he tosses skinny jeans, dresses, bikinis and tank tops in. I scrunch up my nose. “I’m not sure my ass still fits in any of that.”
He stops, stares at my ass, then snorts. “What ass?”
“I’m offended by that statement.”
He laughs. “No you aren’t. Where’s your hair and makeup stuff?”
I don’t answer.
He turns back to me. “Quinn?”
“I don’t, ah, have any. Except my hairbrush, which is already packed.”
“Jesus, it’s no wonder you haven’t been laid for a long time. You’re probably growing cobwebs down there.”
“Hey,” I protest. “I do not have cobwebs. Just a little dust is all.”
“God,” he mutters to himself. “This is going to be a real eye-opener, isn’t it?”
CHAPTER SIX
“Give me another one,” I cry, sliding my shot glass across the long wooden counter towards the bartender.
“And me!”
I turn to Jace, who is sitting on my left side and smile. He wraps an arm around my shoulder and leans in close. “Told you that letting your hair down would prove to be fun.”
“I should listen to you more often,” I say, reaching for the shot glass that has just been placed in front of me. I tilt my head back and let the liquid slide down my throat.
Yes.
Jace was certainly right, this is proving to be awesome. We arrived at the hotel just after 7 p.m. after stopping at a department store for makeup and hair supplies. I straightened my hair after Jace and the saleswoman insisted that I buy a straightening iron and I must admit¸ my hair looks super amazing after using it. Then we got changed and headed to the hotel bar to get our drink on. The race is tomorrow so tonight is all ours.
“Let’s dance,” Jace yells over the music that is slowly getting louder. “I need to find some action for the night.”
Jace tugs me and we both slip off the bar stools and walk onto the small but packed dance floor. We start swaying to the music, hands in the air, smiles on our faces. It feels good to let go. It’s been such a long time since I’ve had the opportunity to be able to think about something else other than the rut I’ve been stuck in my entire life.
A pair of hands find my hips as I swing to the music and my eyes pop open with shock. I glance quickly to my left to see Jace has already snagged a woman and is dirty dancing in the middle of the dance floor with her, so it isn’t him. I stare down at the fingers curled around my body and hope to hell I’m not about to turn around and see King Kong trying to grope me, because that wouldn’t be cool.
I turn slowly and gasp loudly when I see it most certainly is not King Kong, but instead a jerky, hot as hell, custom car builder. Tazen Watts has his hands on me, and he looks about as shocked as I do that we’re both in the same place at the same time and worse, he’s got his hands on me. I watch the recognition hit his face and his eyes widen, the chocolate depths filling with a good range of emotions. Then his hands drop and he steps back.
“Fuck,” he says. “I didn’t expect to see you here!”
So charming.
“I’m sure all your dreams have come true, now that I am.”
He grins. “Yeah, you’re probably right about that. Rocking dress, by the way. Makes your ass look great.”
God. Such a man.
“It would seem the good lord dislikes me enough to put me in the same place as you and your cheesy compliments. Next you’re probably going to tell me I look like I fell from heaven,” I mutter, stepping past him.
“Ouch, angel. Is there any need to be so hostile? I was going to go with public singing to win you over, but you just ruined that chance for yourself.”
“Unlucky for me,” I scoff, walking to the bar and ordering a drink.
I take the drink I ordered and swallow it down, and then I turn to him. “Are you going to follow me all night?”
I step past him before he can answer, and decide I need fresh air. My head is spinning and I need to get out of his space before I throttle him or drown in his charm. I push through the crowd of people and out the front entrance. Then I make my way quickly towards a large tree just off the sidewalk. I reach it and press my back to it, taking a deep breath.
“Do you always run so fast from attractive males?”
Well, I guess he’s not done with me just yet.
“I didn’t see any, so that question is not even worth an answer.”
“Ouch, for someone so little you really know how to pull out the insults.”
I glare over at him, screwing my face up. If he doesn’t get the hint, he’s blind. “Why are you following me? Don’t you have someone else to torture?”
He grins at me and I want to hit him in the face. “No one could possibly be as entertaining as you,” he leans in close, “angel.”
“Do I look like an angel to you?” I mutter. “Honestly?”
He drags his eyes away from mine and slowly runs them down my body, over my dress, down my legs and then says in a husky whisper, “Fuck yeah, you do.”
Jesus.
“Listen, Tazen, it was nice chatting but I’m done here.”
I turn and walk back towards the bar. It’s quiet out tonight, with only a few people wandering about on the streets. My head spins and I take hold of a nearby pole, leaning against it and pressing my forehead to the cool metal. I really have had too much to drink. The warm summer air tickles my face and I steady myself, enjoying the way it feels against my skin.
“You look good with your hair down.”
I sigh and open my eyes. Tazen can’t take a hint.
“What do you want from me, Tazen? You’re acting like a bad smell that just refuses to leave.”
He laughs, deep and husky, and then I feel his body press up against my back. I gasp and go to step forward, only to realize there is a pole in front of me and there is no forward. My skin breaks out into a thousand tingles and I’m trying to suppress the shudder threatening to rise. I hate how good it feels to have him leaning against my back.
“You’ve caught my attention, little angel. I’m curious.”
He whispers this into my ear and I have to close my eyes, because all I can think about is how amazing his perfect lips would feel against my skin.
“I don’t want to be the center of anyone’s attention,” I rasp. “Especially not yours.”
“Funny,” he says, running a finger over my shoulder. “I think you want it more than you’re willing to admit. How long has it been since you’ve had a man want you, Quinn?”
God, the way he says my name.
“I don’t want you to want me. What I want is for you to leave me and my garage alone.”