Free Single and Searching by Rita Herron Page B

fingers around her soft drink and shook her head. "I... I don't think so, Mike."
    "Ah, come on, baby. I'd like to watch you." Mike planted a wet kiss on Casey's neck and tickled her jaw with his tongue. Casey fought the urge to slap him. He smelled like motor oil and through the front of his thin faded t-shirt, she'd noticed an earring piercing his nipple.
    And his kiss felt like Henry S.' or worse—Dog's. He drooled like a Saint Bernard.
    So unlike the kiss Gabe Thornton had given her.
    "It'd be a real turn on," Mike whispered. "And I'll help you clean up later."
    Maybe to you, but not to me. The words were on the tip of Casey's tongue when she spotted a familiar face staring at her. Gabe Thornton. What was he doing here?
    Casey's eyes widened when he threw up his hand and waved. His jaw looked etched in granite. His gray eyes were black, and he hugged the edge of his chair as if he might leap up and attack someone any minute. The direction of his dagger-look seemed focused on her date.
    "Excuse me for a minute," Casey said, sliding out of Mike's embrace. "I'm going to the ladies' room."
    "You want me to sign you up while you're gone?" Mike ran one finger down Casey's arm. "I'll help you clean up afterwards."
    Casey glanced at Mike's hopeful expression, stood and dodged a swat on the behind. He was the first man she'd ever considered telling to shave his hands.
    "No. I'm not a fighter," Casey said, wincing at her own lie. But his groping hands tempted her to knee him in the groin.
    She definitely was a fighter. She'd learned to stand her ground at a young age. Without her tenacity, she never would have survived the streets as a teenager.
    Gabe's mocking grin taunted her across the room. Tonight, though, she had in mind another kind of fight, one with a certain reporter who seemed to be following her.
    Broken peanut shells covered the floor, creating a sticky mess that made Casey feel like she was walking on peanut butter as she strode toward him.
    Lewd invitations followed her, but she ignored them. When she'd lived on the streets years ago, those kind of invitations had become routine. Now they reminded her of a life she'd tried desperately to forget.
    By the time she stopped at Gabe's table, fury at all the men in the place had seized her, and she glared at him, her hands planted firmly on her hips. At least Gabe remained sitting down, making him more approachable than when he stood towering over her. Then he had the nerve to grin, and Casey's heart pounded so loud she could hardly hear the vulgar screams of the audience. Damn his dimple.
    "What are you doing here?" Casey asked.
    Gabe shrugged, relaxing in his seat. "Just enjoying the show." His gaze slid toward the women in the ring as he sipped his drink.
    "I guess you would. After all, you are into mud slinging." Anger bubbled inside Casey. She was tempted to pick up a blob of the mud and smear it on Gabe's shirt.
    He swung his gaze back to her, his smile fading. "I guess I deserved that. But I tried to apologize."
    Casey frowned. "Are you following me for another article? Hunting for more dirt to write? What happened, Gabe? Everyone love the story so much you're going to do a whole series now?"
    "No." Gabe looked directly into Casey's eyes, capturing her gaze. "As a matter of fact, my editor did ask me to do a series, but I turned him down. I'm not here for a story."
    Casey hated losing control, but Gabe's serious expression frightened her more than the thought of another article. "Then what? You're here because you get all turned on watching these women mud wrestle, too?"
    Gabe studied her with heated eyes. Several tense seconds later, he sat his drink down. "Is that what motorcycle man said? He wanted you to participate."
    His husky voice made Casey back away. She wrapped her arms around herself in a protective gesture. Did the man have telepathic qualities? "I... have to get back."
    Standing, Gabe blocked her path. "I'll take you home if you want." He inched closer,