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“I’m not going to take more charity from you. Besides, I have my Twizzlers I can eat.” I didn’t mention the candy bars for fear of additional chastisement.
He shifted his gaze to my purse then lifted a single eyebrow. “You’re not having candy for dinner. This isn’t an invitation. This is a command. Do you understand me?”
By the stern look on his face, I could tell this wasn’t a yes or no situation. “Fine. But you’re going to give me a card or something so I can pay you back.”
His laugh was laced with remorse or possibly anger. Reading the man was like doing so with a book that contained no words. “Men like me don’t carry cards around with them, sweetheart. Besides, by tomorrow at this time I’ll be a distant bad memory. Come on.”
The man was mysterious as hell, but I sensed there was so much behind his electric blue eyes. Even in the godawful light in the shitty motel room, I would make a bet they could penetrate steel.
Nodding, I wasn’t certain there was a single thing I could say to the man that wouldn’t piss him off. I smoothed down my skirt, another surprise hitting me when he placed his hand against the small of my back. This wasn’t a date, no matter what he thought. And I certainly wasn’t going to repay him with sex. I might be on the verge of losing everything, but I still had my integrity.
Savage didn’t say a single word as we headed toward the crowded restaurant. While I wasn’t uncomfortable in his presence, I remained full of tension. Dinner together usually meant conversation. At least the hulking mass of a man wasn’t much of a talker. The closer we came, the louder the honky-tonk music. It reminded me of one of the few radio stations I’d managed to get being in the middle of nowhere.
As soon as we walked in, there wasn’t a single soul in the joint who didn’t look in our direction. If he’d been alone, my guess was anyone with a loaded weapon would have pulled it into their lap. He had that kind of persona.
There was no hostess, just a seat yourself sign on an easel. He pushed me forward, fisting my shirt when I started to walk away from him.
“You’re not my keeper,” I hissed.
“For tonight I am. We’ll take the booth over there.” He had to choose one where we’d be forced to walk through the ten or so tables full of people.
Why did everyone find it necessary to gawk at anyone who was a bit unusual? I slid onto the seat, curious how he’d manage to ease his massive body behind the table. He did with no issue, but it was obvious he didn’t enjoy being in public places. He scanned the restaurant as if he was public enemy number one.
“You’re not very trusting. Are you?” I couldn’t tell if he liked my comment or not. His face was stone cold, the only fire burning in his eyes.
“Trust is earned, not expected.”
“Actually, you’re right.”
“I’m always right.”
“And arrogant as hell.”
He flicked those intense eyes toward me, his nostrils flaring. I’d think he was undressing me with his eyes except his jaw was clenched. Maybe he was daring anyone to confront him.
A waitress finally headed in our direction, her nose wrinkled as she approached. “What do you want?”
“Menus and a pitcher of beer. What do you want to drink?” he growled his question.
A whole pitcher. I envisioned him chugging it in one setting, just like the barbarian he’d proven himself to be. “You don’t have any wine, do you? Or is that too much to ask, sweetheart?”
“Does it look like we serve wine here?” she snarked.
“Whiskey on the rocks. My guess is you have that. Don’t-cha?” I sneered back at her, noticing that Savage tensed all over again. When she walked away, I threw out my arm. “Down, Rover. I don’t let chicks like that irritate me.”
Every time he shifted his heated gaze even a single inch, a chill rushed into me.
He sat back, drumming his fingers on the table. “You’re a real ballbuster. Aren’t you?”
“I’d prefer the term assertive.”
“I like the term bitchy.”
“You aren’t a nice man.”
“Never said I was.” He looked away, but for a split second, I was able to notice the look of lust in his eyes.
I did the same, pretending I was scoping out the stage area. I had a bad feeling we would be subjected to even worse country covers if we stayed here that long.
