Rules of Protection (Tangled in Texas #1)(3)

Weaving through the crowd, I waved frantically and yelled again. “Gina! Dale! Hey, over here!”

By the time I noticed the step up in the floor, it was already too late. I tripped and reached for the closest thing to me, which happened to be a man. Trying to catch myself, I had an intimate moment with the bulge in his pants on the way down.

The floor punched me in the face, but the pain was slight compared to the mortifying beating my pride had just taken. Two seconds after I hit the floor, I decided to stay there. I wasn’t sure if it was because I physically couldn’t get up, or mentally didn’t want to.

The man I’d felt up lifted me with ease, stood me upright, and held me until I steadied myself. Mortified, I refused to look up until I heard him ask, “Are you okay?”

No! It can’t be.

My eyes shot up, looked directly into his, and I stopped breathing. It was the hunky weasel with the steely gray eyes. If I had to embarrass myself in front of someone, why did it have to be him? Where in the hell is Sergio when you need him?

The hunk smiled as if he read my mind. “I always wanted a girl to fall head over heels for me.”

I stood motionless and tried to think of something to say that didn’t sound stupid. “Well, next time I’m near your crotch, I’ll be sure to bring my knee pads.” Nope. That wasn’t it. At least six guys turned their heads toward us and sucked in a breath.

A young Hispanic guy leaned over, flexing his eyebrows. “Damn, girl, where have you been all my life?”

“Out of it,” I sneered. “Now, leave me alone. I’m talking to the weasel.” Disappointed with our exchange, the guy turned away and shrugged to his buddies.

I turned my attention back to the man who lifted me from the floor and noticed he glared with one offended eyebrow raised. “The weasel?”

My cheeks flushed. “It’s what I dubbed you, since I didn’t know your name.”

“Why a weasel?” He paused. “Wait… You thought I was hitting on you back there?”

“Well, yeah.”

The confusion on his face changed to humor as he shook his head. “Nope.”

I guess I should’ve been relieved, but I wasn’t. Actually, I was insulted and…well, pissed off. “Why not?”

“Is that a trick question, where no matter what I say I’m going to be wrong?”

“Just answer the question.”

“Damn,” he said, grabbing my arm and jerking me away from the crowd. “Why are you yelling?”

“Because I’m mad at you.”

“You don’t even know me. Do you have a split personality disorder or something?”

I gritted my teeth and narrowed my eyes. “You’re a weasel and a jerk!”

My outburst made him laugh. A lot. When he finally got himself under control, he grinned. “Look, I get that you have this head-turning ability and like to stand out in a crowd, but I don’t.”

“You think I turn heads?”

“Sweetheart, a man would have to be blind or stupid not to look.” He smiled again. Damn, I wished he’d stop doing that. “Definitely a looker, but that makes you trouble. I don’t need the unwanted attention you crave.”

“I’d swear there’s an insult somewhere in there.”

“Darlin’, if I insult you, you’ll be the first to know. Now point out your friends. I’ll see to it you get to them safely.”

I scanned the room and found Gina and Dale sitting at a small, round table near the bar. No one could miss either of them in a crowd.

Gina had flaming red hair, bright blue eyes, and a spectacular chest barely covered by a low-cut top. Her boobs were a statement piece; I’m talking breasts for days. She was highly skilled in the sex department and didn’t care who knew it.

Dale was Gina’s roommate. He had blond hair with spiky tips, honey-colored eyes, and dressed ridiculously well for a man—designer jeans, expensive silk shirts, and Italian leather shoes. One look and you knew his sexual preference without a doubt. But he didn’t care, either.

It’s what I loved about them. Neither pretended to be something they weren’t. They were sexually profound individuals who enjoyed sharing stories of their lively bedroom adventures with me. Even if I didn’t have much to offer on the matter.

I wasn’t a prude, but compared to the two of them, I may as well have been a nun.

I pointed out Gina and Dale and, without hesitating, the weasel grasped my elbow and led me across the room, not stopping until we stood before them. They stopped talking the moment we walked up.

The weasel plopped me into the empty chair. He leaned down, brushing his lips across my ear, and whispered, “The name’s Jake.” Then he smiled and walked away.

Gina barely waited for him to get away from the table before fanning herself. “Who the hell was that?”

“That’s Jake,” I said nonchalantly.

Gina and Dale traded questioning glances and then Dale added, “Hellooo, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Yummy!”

“Was he the guy who gave you the eyes earlier?” Gina asked.

I shook my head. “No, that was Sergio. Jake helped me get rid of him.”

“What’s wrong with Sergio? Ugly?”

“No, but it’s too bad about his personality. Not really the kind of guy a girl could fall in love with. He’s already in a relationship…with himself.”