Free Let Your Heart Drive by Karli Rush Page B

lightly. She leans over exposing her cleavage to me. “I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but I’m about to crawl under your table,” she says pausing a beat and points to the floor. “I dropped my lipstick,” she finishes and starts to move forward.
    “Oh, well, I can get it,” I reassure her setting my drink down.
    “You sure?”
    I wave her off like it’s no big deal, I’d rather get it anyway, it’s just a few inches from my foot. I bend down and reach. It takes a little more effort to grasp it, so I physically get off my chair and crawl underneath, with cherries in the snow lipstick finally in hand, I move back. And crack my head on the edge of table when I spot the hot biker guy from the hallway taking a seat beside her. Figures he’d have a girlfriend.
    “Oh! Are you okay?” she asks, her sculpted black eyebrows arch up with concern.
    I rub the edge of my forehead and quickly respond, “Yeah, its fine. I mean… I’m fine.” Lord, if I don’t sound like some babbling twit. I brush my hair back and take my seat, the throbbing fades, but my awkwardness doesn’t, I glance slightly over at the two of them. His sharp blue eyes study me. Hers, which I can’t see, are covered with sunglasses.
    “Thank you,” she mouths and turns back to him.
    I decide that our little interlude has come to an end and I go back to minding my own business. I’m self-conscience of every single bite that I take, because I can still feel him staring. I wipe my mouth more wondering if I have some huge gob of gravy running down my chin. I take a drink, and then another, trying to suffice the dryness dominating my throat.
    “You sure you’re okay?” His throaty tone doesn’t affect me, but his looks sure can do a number on any girl. His black leather jacket hangs lazily over the back of his chair, leaving his muscular, beautifully tattooed arms visible, he takes one arm and leans it farther on the table so that he can have a clear shot of me. Waiting for my reply.
    I steal another drink. “I’m fine, really.” I don’t want any unwarranted evil-eyed glares thrown at me from his girlfriend. I note she whispers something to him, his eyes bounce between her and I. A second later he gets up and strides his way toward me. My god what did I do? The crazed monkey inside my head is shaking the bars now. He picks up my unfinished plate and nods over to their table.
    “Oh, he won’t bite,” she laughs while I stare big-eyed at him for taking my food, I barely have time to mouth the words, “ What the…? ”
    When she interrupts sweetly, “Why don’t you come over here and sit with us, it wouldn’t be a bother at all.”
    I grab the back of a chair and take a seat with them, still feeling uncertain. The guy reaches over and extends a hand out as he says, “I’m Zane and this is Jennie, we’re from Oklahoma.”
    I shake his hand feeling childish for gawking at him, they seem nice and they definitely picked up that I’m alone. “I’m Sinead from California,” I announce and scarf down the last of my biscuit.
    “That’s where we’re heading!” Jennie divulges, clapping her hands together. She removes her shaded sunglasses and I’m floored with the biggest brightest eyes I have ever seen. They’re bluer than his, much more vivid and clear. She rests her elbow on the table, props her chin in her hand and asks, “So, do you like all these little gifts shops?”
    “Yeah, I mean they’re not bad. I’ve bought a few things— ” 
    “Oh, how about turquoise jewelry? I know there’s tons of it in Oklahoma, but I’m looking for the rare kind. Did you know that real turquoise is more valued than diamonds?”
    I place the napkin on my plate and reply, “No, I didn’t, but I’ve seen many Navajo shops all through Gallup New Mexico.”
    She turns to Zane, the blue eyed God, and smiles. “I have to track down the Yazzie family.”
    Zane looks over to me almost as excited as his girlfriend and explains,