Rules of Protection(65)

“That’s not a compromise. That’s you getting your way,” Jake argued. “Besides, I don’t have to compromise. I can force you to go now.”

“Not without a scene, you can’t.” I smirked, knowing the last thing he wanted was to draw more attention. Then I stole a note from Junior’s book. “One hour. That’s the deal. Take it or leave it.”

“Emily…” Jake glimpsed around at the packed bar and swore under his breath. “One hour,” he agreed. I cracked a smile, but he pulled me roughly against his chest. “But the next time you pull this crap, I’m going to call you on your bullshit and see just how far you’re willing to go to put yourself in danger.”

Once he let go, I rubbed at my side where Jake’s fingers had dug into my flesh.

Cowboy grinned. “So, date night, then?”

“Yeah, whatever,” Jake said, stopping a waitress and asking her to bring him a bottle of water.

“Water?” Judd asked. “What’s up with that?”

“Someone needs to be the responsible one. Besides, the best part of being the designated driver is figuring out who’s drunk and who’s stupid.” He said, tossing a look my way.

“So now I’m fat and stupid?”

Cowboy, Ox, and Judd bit their lips.

“I’m not taking back the stupid comment,” Jake said, “But I did not say you were fat.”

Barely paying attention to him, I rambled on. “It’s because my cheeks are chubby, right? Squirrels aren’t fat, but they have chubby cheeks.”

He shrugged. “You could pack a few nuts in there…”

I gave him a warning look. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.”

Jake sighed. “You’re not fat.”

Cowboy patted Jake on the shoulder and threw his arm around my shoulders. “Jake, pull your foot out of your mouth and tell Emily how beautiful she looks tonight.”

Jake’s eyes touched upon my curve-hugging, off-the-shoulder dress. “Where’d you get the gown?”

“It was in one of the bags Junior brought over for me. It fits, but it’s a little tight,” I said, adjusting my breasts as Cowboy’s eyes slid down my chest.

“A little?” Jake said with disbelief. “It’s practically painted on your ass.”

“Aw, Jake. It can’t be that damn tight,” Ox said, trying to be the voice of reason. “It doesn’t even show her panty lines.”

I smoothed my hands down my dress and laughed. “Who said I was wearing any?”

Their heads whipped toward me. They all looked stunned, including my so-called hero sitting at the table next to us. With as large of a breath as they each sucked in, I was surprised there was any oxygen left in the room.

“Damn, woman,” Cowboy said, looking me up and down with his tongue practically hanging out of his mouth. “You have to stop saying shit like that. Men aren’t corkboards you can keep pinning messages to.” His eyes smiled at me as he tightened his grip, pulling me closer.

Jake watched closely as I rubbed a finger down Cowboy’s lips. “Now, now,” I teased. “You know what they say about coveting your neighbor’s—”

Cowboy didn’t allow me to finish. “They also say ‘do unto others as they do unto you’…and damn, girl…you don’t know what the hell you’re doing to me.”

That comment prompted Jake to speak up. “Look all you want, but keep your hands to yourself.”

Cowboy frowned. “You’re no fun at all.”

“I wasn’t talking to you,” Jake said, nodding toward me.

His friends laughed and I couldn’t stop myself from joining in.

“Well, if I can’t touch them, then I guess that means you’re dancing with me.”

“I’m not in the mood right now,” Jake replied. “Get one of them to twirl you around the dance floor a couple of times.”

“Performance anxiety?” I asked, making his friends smirk. I grabbed Judd’s hand. “Come on, Judd. Dance with me.” Reluctantly, he let me lead him to the dance floor.

Judd put his hand nervously on my waist and moved me around the floor. “I’m not a good dancer,” he said. “The other guys say I can’t walk over a painted line without tripping.”

“Why do they say that? I think you’re doing fine,” I lied, stumbling around the dance floor with him.

“I’ve got fifteens,” Judd explained.

My face bent with confusion. “Are we talking about tires?”

“No, we’re talking about the size of my boots,” he said with a grin. Then he stepped on my foot.

“Ouch.” I stopped to rub my foot and caught Jake watching us from a distance with a grin.

“Sorry. See, I told you I wasn’t good at dancing.”

I smiled up at Judd, trying to make him feel better. “Hey, I don’t know how to two-step either. We’ll pretend we know what we’re doing. Besides, I’m sure you have plenty of other things you’re good at. Every girl knows what they say about the size of a man’s feet…”

Judd’s face lit up with the compliment and he hugged me closer. He spun me around the floor until I was dizzy. I’d swear my feet never touched the ground.