Kat took a moment to fill her in.
Connie waved her hand dismissively.“Sal’s just weird like that. I wouldn’t read much into it.”
“Yeah well I’m not into being treatedlike a pariah after I sleep with a guy,” Kat muttered.
“I hear you,” Connie agreed. “Wes wasa bit like that at first,” she confided. I found that hard to believe with howmuch he clearly doted on her now. “I think some of these tough guys are justlike that at first when they meet a woman they actually like. They don’t knowwhat to do with it after all the skanks they’re used to,” she said dryly. “ButSal is a mystery to all of us to begin with. He’s so guarded it’s hard to getto know him even a little bit. Just play a little hard to get, see whathappens,” she advised.
“Done and done. I don’t even have toplay,” Kat muttered.
I squeezed her thigh for a moment inreassurance, hoping like hell that Sal pulled his head out of his ass. Kat wasgorgeous and funny and just amazing all around. She deserved the best. She alsohad a temper that you didnotwant tofuck around with.
I went to find the bathroom and thenplanned to look for Cole. The house was small, but I meandered a bit trying tofind it. I was slightly tipsy and the house was packed.
“Looking for something sweet cheeks?”a deep voice inquired. I turned to find a very handsome dark haired man lookinghungrily at my ass.
“Did you seriously just call me ‘sweetcheeks?’”I asked, dumbfounded that he had the nerve.
“Well, it’s a seriously sweet ass,” hesaid, moving toward me.
“You don’t back up immediately, wehave a serious fucking problem Parker,” Cole’s voice boomed from behind me.
“Oh sorry man, this yours?” my assholeadmirer said as he nodded toward me, immediately backing up.
“Is this yours?” I repeated back hiswords with supreme irritation. “Seriously? Are you fucking kidding me?” Idemanded incredulously.
“Baby, cool it,” Cole commanded,putting a hand on my waist.
Oh no, I didnotthink so. I would not be told to “cool it” but I knew enough tohave those words later, not in front of an audience.
I turned back to jerk face. “A word ofadvice, you ever want to raise your standards a bit and try getting a decentpiece of tail, I wouldn’t start off by calling a woman ‘sweet cheeks,’” Iadvised.
I felt Cole stiffen behind me. Clearlyhe hadn’t heard that part.
“I also wouldn’t refer to a woman akinto an inanimate object,” I added helpfully.
The guy chuckled and turned amusedeyes to Cole. “Got your hands full, huh Jackson?” he taunted. His quip clearlyhad a double meaning as he took a good long look at my breasts and backside.
I narrowed my eyes.
“You want to make this an issue youkeeptalkin’,” Cole goaded, his voice full of menace.
Oh dear, perhaps it was time to try todiffuse the situation.
“Forget it babe, let’s go get a beer,”I prompted, even though my bladder was now seriously protesting.
But Cole didn’t even spare me a glance.He was too busy glaring at Parker.
“Babe,” I prompted, quietly putting ahand on his chest.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”Sal demanded of Parker, coming to join our tense little huddle. “You weren’tinvited, get the fuck out.”
“Just came to see how the other halflives,” Parker replied as he chuckled. “Clearly, the other half is pussywhipped,” he said with a grin. “Though, I admit, I can’t say I blame you man.”He winked at Cole.
“One more word and you won’t be ableto fucking walk tomorrow,” Cole threatened.
Parker held up his hands in surrender,though he was still visibly amused as he walked away.
“Who was that?” I demanded.
