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“Why don’t we head over to the main bar and say hello to the rest of the guests.” Madeline waggled her eyebrows.
“You’re enjoying this way too much.” Lisbeth shook her head at her tenacity.
“Everyone needs a little nudge once in a while. Boa and I had a shitload of roadblocks in our way, but we managed to get together and make it work.”
“Being engaged to another man is way more than a roadblock.”
“Really? Try having three rowdy boys, no money, and a crazy fucker trying to ruin your life, yet we made it. And if we could jump over all those hurdles, there’s hope for you and that hotter-than-hell man 'cause if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.” Madeline grabbed Lisbeth’s hand. “C’mon.”
“All right. I’ll go say hello, but first, let me use the restroom.”
“Fine, but you better not chicken out.” Madeline sauntered down the hall, and Lisbeth felt sorry for Boa. There was no stopping Madeline; she doubted even a big beast like Boa would back down when she had something on her mind.
Lisbeth eked out a small space in front of the mirror of the crowded restroom. She fluffed her hair, checked her makeup, and sucked in a deep breath, determined to prove to herself and Madeline that Samson was nothing more than a fling from her past.
When she returned to the main bar, the crowd had thickened, so she skirted along the room’s perimeter. With everyone’s focus on the L-shaped stage, it was easy to navigate through the back end of the room.
15
“Hey, sweet thing.” An enormous man with a scraggly beard and a jagged scar running from his cheek to his jaw appeared out of nowhere, blocking her way.
“Who’re you supposed to be, that ice queen bitch with the red hair? What’s her name?” He searched the ceiling for the answer, then snapped his fingers. “Nicole Kidman, right?”
“No, I’m not part of the entertainment.” Lisbeth moved left, and he moved with her. She quickly read the patches on his leather vest. Hawk. VP. Warlords, Lake Tahoe.
“You sure look like you could entertain me, mama.” He rubbed the ends of her hair between his thick fingers, then his meaty hand circled her bicep.
She tried to pull out of his grasp, but he tightened his fist. “Don’t be afraid. I ain’t gonna hurt you. I just wanna taste your sweetness.”
He waggled his tongue at her, then jerked her closer. Lisbeth’s heart kicked up to match the pounding music. He lowered his head to her neck, and the sour smell of beer, cigarettes, and weed surrounded her.
She raised her foot, planning to drive the heel of her pumps into his boot, when a familiar male voice growled behind her. “What the fuck are you doin’?” A second later, the beast was pushed off her with Samson glaring at him.
“Ain’t none of your business.” He tried to free himself, but Samson easily slammed his back against the wall.
“Doesn’t look like the lady’s interested, so yeah, it is my business.” Samson kept his broad palm on Hawk’s chest as he turned toward Lisbeth. “You all right?”
“I’m fine.”
“Hawk?” Mamba barreled toward them. “What the hell are you doin’?”
“I got this fucker in my face telling me which bitches I can put hands on.” Hawk pushed Samson off, swayed, then slammed his hand against the wall for support, inches from Lisbeth’s head. “So I told him to back the fuck off and find his own piece of ass.”
Mamba slapped his hand on Hawk’s shoulder. “Only one problem, brother. She ain’t the entertainment; she’s working the party.”
A smarmy grin covered Hawk’s face. “I don’t mind paying.” He eyeballed Lisbeth as he grabbed his junk. “Just show us to the VIP rooms so we can get this party started.”
Hawk reached for Lisbeth, and Samson stepped in front of her. “She’s not goin’ anywhere with you.”
Hawk curled his lip and glared at Mamba. “What the fuck is this guy’s problem?”
Samson pushed at Hawk’s shoulders. “I said, step off.”
Mamba moved between them and leaned into Hawk. “She’s not a pro. She’s the event planner. And believe me, you don’t wanna piss this guy off.”
Hawk gave Samson the once over, then turned to Mamba. “What the fuck is an event planner?” Hawk grumbled as Mamba led him back into the main room.
“Thanks for the save, but I could’ve handled him.”
