side tonight.
“Whatever. Just...get her home until I can sort out the chaos,” Meg said, frustration overwhelming her. “Ugh. And to think I left daddy's company for this,” she muttered to herself.
Firefly stepped up to me and stuck out his big hand. “Walk with me, babe. We'll make sure you're safe from a concussion or some shit, and then I've got a surprise for you. Something that oughta go far to take the edge off that stick up your ass.”
“Okay! You're really pressing your luck,” I said, taking his hand reluctantly.
More surprises were exactly what I didn't need today. But if it was half as thoughtful as the wine the other night, then maybe he'd prove me wrong.
I caught myself as we headed for his bike, shaking my head. What the hell was happening here?
Firefly shouldn't be rattling around in my head when I'd just survived the fight with a stripper. I'd narrowly avoided losing my job, my only chance to stockpile some cash for the life I wanted after all this.
Every muscle I had tensed up, and I realized with horror what was happening.
The big, arrogant, bossy bastard was kicking his way into my heart, one day at a time. God help me.
* * * *
W e went by the clubhouse for half an hour. An older woman, Laynie, checked me over while Firefly stood outside the bathroom.
She took my pulse, pressed several points, and asked me to rate the pain. If I hadn't known any better, I'd have sworn she was a nurse or a doctor at one time.
But why would someone like that be working for this club?
Money goes a long way. I reminded myself. Money is probably what got daddy killed.
Thankfully, she didn't say much. I needed the peace and quiet.
When it was all over, she turned me out with a clean bill of health. Firefly grabbed my hand again as soon as I stepped out.
“Ow! Just because she says nothing's broken doesn't mean I don't have some scrapes and bruises.”
He loosened his grip. “Whatever. They can't be half as bad as the damage growing on your soul. I'm fixing to undo a little of that tonight.”
“What are you talking about?'
Firefly flashed me a sharp look, lifted his free hand, and pressed a finger against those big, rough lips surrounded by his stubble. “Quiet, babe. You'll find out soon enough.”
Ass. Naturally, I thought about those lips doing dirty, unspeakable things the entire time we were on his bike, riding through Knoxville.
My hands didn't want to press too tightly to his rock hard abs while we rode. This, right here, was starting to feel very dangerous.
If I let myself hold onto him the way I really wanted, if I threw common sense to the wolves, then I'd come closer to the awful fantasies about his rough hands, his lips, his muscles, and his piney masculine scent.
I wasn't stupid. Any girl who came too close to this man for her own good was bound to get burned.
That wouldn't happen to me. I wouldn't let myself become the latest tinder to be stamped out the morning after I let him have his way.
* * * *
“D amn, I should've brought a fucking blindfold. Would've made this shit a lot more fun.” His cryptic words kept coming as we parked in front of a cozy looking building.
I bit my tongue to keep myself from imagining all the things a bastard like him could do alone with just a girl and a blindfold. He grabbed me, helped me off his bike, and led me toward the door, fishing a key from his pocket for the main entrance.
“Third floor's where we're at. Shame I couldn't get anything lower, but fuck, the view makes up for it.”
My heart began pounding as he led me up some stylish steps, my hand in his.
We stopped in front of a dark wooden door and I watched him change keys on the ring. One push, and we were inside it, standing in an apartment with spartan décor and nice wood finishes. It smelled piney, almost like a lodge.
“Here, darlin'. Catch.” Firefly barely gave me a second to turn around before he threw the keys he'd been holding.
My hand darted out. I grabbed them