Gypsy King (Tin Gypsy, #1)(64)

Then Bryce ruined it all with her sexy smile and shiny hair. She’d ruined me.

I slugged down my entire beer with three huge gulps and let out a burp. “Paul.” I smacked my hand on the bar. “Whiskey this time.”

“You’re in a shit mood,” Leo muttered. “Come on over and play a game. I’ll let you beat me.”

“Pass.”

“Brother.” Leo angled his shoulder into me to speak low. “Cheer up. Take home the blond in the corner. She’ll make you feel better. Or at least let her suck you off in the bathroom.”

“Not interested.” The only woman whose lips belonged wrapped around my cock was a beautiful reporter.

“I give up on you.” Leo frowned, then waved Paul over. “Don’t cut him off. I’ll make sure he gets home.”

The beer was going right to my head, thank fuck, and I nodded to Leo. “Thanks.”

“Hey, Dash.” A delicate hand slid up my thigh and I spun away from Leo to see the blond who’d been in the corner. “How’s it going? Haven’t seen you around for a couple weeks.”

“It’s good.” I dropped a hand over hers before it could reach my zipper. “You?”

The blond didn’t get a chance to answer.

A hand fisted the back of my T-shirt, pulling it tight across my neck. Before I could turn and see who it was, that hand gave a hard yank and I flew backward off the stool. If not for Leo’s quick reflexes, I’d be sprawled on my ass on the dirty bar floor.

I found my balance, righting myself, and stood to face the person who was about to get his ass kicked. But the face I met was not one I’d be punching. “Bryce, what—”

“Goddamn you.” Her hands slammed into my chest, shoving me back against the stool.

Leo kept his grip on my arm so I wouldn’t fall. Or maybe he’d thought I’d go after her.

I wasn’t a fan of being pushed around, but damn, I was glad to see her. Bryce’s face was full of rage, her cheeks red and eyes blazing. She was a furious knockout.

Surging forward, I ignored the anger rolling off her in waves and wrapped my arms around her, crushing her to my chest.

“Get your damn hands off me.” She pushed and squirmed, trying to break free.

But I held her tighter, burying my nose in her hair. It smelled like sugar, overpowering the stale beer on the floor and secondhand smoke wafting in from the front door.

“Dash,” she snapped, the sound muffled in my chest. “Let me go, you asshole.”

“Miss me?” I chuckled. The smile on my face hurt from not using it lately. “I gotta say, babe, I really like that you’re jealous.”

“Jealous?” She froze in my arms. “You think I care about the blond? Fuck her brains out for all I care.”

“Huh?” I let her go. “Fuck her brains out?”

I’d given her just enough space for her to wind up and slap me across the face. Smack.

What the fuck was happening right now?

“You’re a lying bastard,” she seethed. “You might have fooled me twice but it will never happen again. I’m not playing your game anymore. No matter what it takes, I’m going to do everything in my power to bring you all to your knees.” With that, she spun and stormed out of the bar.

I blinked twice, dazed as the eyes around the room all landed on me. Bringing a hand up, I rubbed at the cheek she’d likely turned red. Then I looked over my shoulder at Leo. “Did that just happen?”

“Damn.” He was staring at the door, a huge grin spread over his face. “She’s a firecracker, that one. If you don’t marry her, I will.”

“Go to hell.” I flipped him off, then bolted for the door. “Bryce!”

The parking lot was packed. There were cars and bikes everywhere. And no sign of Bryce, until the flash of headlights caught my eye in the distance.

I took off, sprinting for the one and only exit from the lot. It wasn’t easy after the beer, but I pushed my legs hard, my boots pounding on the cracked asphalt. I made it just in time to stand in the middle of the road as Bryce’s Audi came skidding to a halt inches from my knees.

She rolled down her window. “Move.”

“No.” I planted both hands on the hood. “What was that about?”

“Seriously? Don’t play dumb.”

“Help me out here, babe. I’m drunk. You came in there and I was just so happy to see you. Then you tossed out a bunch of shit that made my head spin. I just did a dead sprint and I’m pretty sure my heart might explode. If I collapse, don’t run me over.”

“This isn’t a joke!” she screamed. Her frustration filled the night air. When she swiped at a tear, my heart clenched. “You lied to me. Again. And I fucking fell for it.”

My stomach knotted. Something bad had happened. Something serious. And I hadn’t a clue what it could be other than the yearbook picture. But that wasn’t a big enough deal for this reaction, was it?

“Come out and talk to me.” I held up my hands, retreating from the car. “Please.”

She kept her hands on the wheel, her eyes drifting to her rearview mirror. Ten seconds passed and I was certain she was debating running me over. But finally, she dropped her chin and put the car in park.