Draw (Gentry Boys #1)(26)

I stared down at my basket of fried chicken strips. Suddenly I wasn’t hungry anymore. “What’s up?”

Creed tossed his phone in the middle of the table. “Text from Gabe. He’s short a fighter tomorrow night. Wants to know if we’re interested.”

“What’s the payout?”

“Decent. He’ll flat out give us two grand on a win.” His eyes turned steely. “Here’s the rub though. It’s not our usual crowd. These guys are from South Phoenix.”

I grimaced. “That means gangs. Trouble. Bad idea.”

Creed considered. “Maybe.”

“Definitely. They’ll have a ton of iron cocked at our heads while we stand there with nothin’ but our dicks in our hands.”

Chase laughed. “Yeah, but our collective dicks are pretty potent.” He shrugged. “I’ll take it. Where’s the venue?”

“Some shithole off Van Buren. Ten o’clock.”

I saw Saylor bringing food to another table. A piece of hair fell in her face and she tried to nudge it back with her shoulder. She had soft hair. When I’d briefly brushed it back from her face I’d wanted to keep going and touch every inch of the rest of her.

“I’ll be back long before then,” I said, still staring at her.

Chase tilted his head and played dumb. “Back from where?”

“You know damn well where. We just talked it about it on the drive over.”

Creed was skeptical. “You really think it’s wise to get in the middle of some chick and her psycho ex?”

“Yes,” I answered flatly. “I do.”

Chase wiped his greasy fingers on a napkin. “Maybe we should all go. A Gentry boys road trip. You know, we’ve all scarcely been out of this oven of a state. I like the beach.”

I thought about being captive in a vehicle for hundreds of miles while Chase and Creed issued competing vulgar comments which were sure to disgust Miss Saylor McCann.

“Hell no,” I said.

Chase pouted. “I’m disappointed. Had my heart set on going to the shore and building sand castles.”

Creed joined in. “Me too. I was planning on going surfing. Plus that girl don’t look half bad in a bikini.”

The memory of Saylor’s tender, scarcely-clad body got me instantly hard again. My brothers thought it was funny when I shifted in my chair. We knew one another too well.

“’He conquers who conquers himself,’” Chase toasted, laughing. “Maybe you should go use the restroom, Cordero.”

When I tapped Saylor on the shoulder on the way out, her responding smile appeared genuine.

I jerked my head to where Chase and Creed were bullshitting by the door. “Sorry about them.”

“Don’t be. They mean well.”

“Sometimes.”

“I’m glad you showed up,” she said. “Broke up the evening a little.”

“I like looking at you,” I said without thinking and then nearly bit my own tongue off when her eyebrows shot up.

“Well, you’ll have your fill tomorrow. I mean, we’ll be in the car together for a total of about ten hours. You sure you’re still able?”

“I’ll manage.”

She smiled quickly. “Thanks Cord. Seriously. Now that push is coming to shove I’m glad I’m not headed into the lion’s den alone.” She looked at the ground. “I’m nervous.”

I reached for her, touching her arm in comfort. “Don’t be. I know that dickhead’s type. He’s not going to mess with anyone who looks like he might hit back harder.” My voice softened. “You think I’m gonna let anything happen to you?”

She stared at my hand as it lingered on her arm. I removed it, feeling like a jackass. She was probably figuring she’d just gotten away from one shitty guy and didn’t need another one clinging to her.

But when Saylor leaned over on tiptoe and gave me the briefest of soulful kisses, I realized I was lost where this girl was concerned.

She didn’t say ‘Good night’ or ‘Goodbye’ or anything at all. She just spun on her heel and walked back to the kitchen. I liked that she didn’t say anything. I joined my brothers outside and the three of us parried roughly in the parking lot under the light of the moon.





CHAPTER NINE


SAYLOR



I awoke the next morning with a zoo full of butterflies in my stomach. The light filtered in through the window blinds and I tried to calm my mind as I watched the palo verde tree outside bending lightly in the morning breeze.

I didn’t want to see Devin. Ever since the night I left I’d only felt a vague disgust for him, but that was just part of the issue. I thought about the other night in the pool with Cord, talking about the past and about regret. I’d never figured myself to be the kind of girl who would stay in an abusive relationship. It was a tough truth to acknowledge about yourself, that you weren’t strong and decisive like you’d assumed.

And what of Cord? I rolled over on Millie and Bray’s couch, pulling a blanket around myself. I believed he was more surprised than I was by that quick kiss last night. I’d been thinking about him all day by that point, trying to reconcile a hot-blooded troublemaker with the serious man who seemed intent on protecting me.