Home to Stay (The Long Road Home #2) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,21
breath warmed her neck as he leaned forward again. “Are you sure your friend is in this crowd?”
She swung her gaze around before spying Paula sitting at a table to the side with a few of the rough-looking bikers. Considering Paula had talked about the band, Lucy was surprised to see the company her friend was keeping. Standing on her tiptoes, she inclined her head toward the table. “That’s her over there in the black shirt.”
After a moment, Paula looked around and caught Lucy’s eye, waving. Leaning over to say something to one of the men at the table, she hopped up and weaved through the crowd, stopping in front of Lucy. “I wondered what happened to you when you didn’t come back from getting your beer. I was ready to set you up with one of my friends over there. He was looking forward to meeting you.” Paula’s gaze shifted upward to John, appreciation sparking in her eyes. “Oh, now I can see why you didn’t come back!” She smiled up at him. “I’m Paula.”
“John.”
Paula’s eyes widened and she dropped her gaze back to Lucy. “Your soldier?”
Feeling the blush heat all the way to her hair follicles, Lucy made big eyes at Paula, who appeared to have drunk enough to have loosened her tongue, her inhibitions, and her good sense. “Not my soldier, but yes, John is the soldier my class was writing to.”
“Well, well, I can see why you—umph!” Her words halted as Lucy kicked Paula’s ankle.
“I thought you were here for one of the musicians.”
Paula glanced to the table behind her and grinned. “They’re okay, but I hooked up with one of them when I was in Canada. Honestly, it’s the bikers that I’m interested in right now.”
John stiffened behind her, tension radiating off his body. Uncertain of the reason, she kept her focus on her friend. “Just be careful. Text me when you leave, and let me know who you’re with.”
Paula rolled her eyes and patted Lucy’s arm. “Yes, Mom.” Laughing, she added, “I’ll see you on Monday. Nice to meet you, John.”
“Same.”
The single word rumbled from his chest, and Lucy felt the vibration through her back. Paula made her way back to the table, and Lucy observed as her friend leaned over and spoke to one of the bikers. He swung his head around and glared toward Lucy. Wondering if that’s who Paula was hooking up with or was the one who thought he might hook up with her or was just generally grumpy, she leaned further back into John, not wanting more of the biker’s attention.
“Do you want to stay and keep an eye on her?” he asked.
She twisted her head around and looked up at him. “I’ve never had to do that before. She’s not really wild, she just likes to have fun. But she’s always been safe, and if she’s planning on hooking up with someone, she makes sure to snap their license plate and sometimes even the driver’s license and text it to me.”
“Smart. I wouldn’t have pegged her for being that smart based on meeting her tonight.”
Brow furrowed, she blinked. “What do you mean by that?”
He shook his head as one of his hands rested on her waist. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that considering I’ve only known her for about one minute. And she’s your friend. It’s just that I wouldn’t be comfortable with a woman I know sitting down with those men at the table.”
Already feeling guilty about her prejudice based on the look of the men and having never felt prejudice against bikers before, she opened her mouth to question John, but he wasn’t finished.
“I’ve got a lot of friends who ride, and I’ve got no problem with bikers. But I don’t like the look of some of those men.” Shrugging, he added, “I’ve got no facts to base that on. Just a gut feeling. But in Special Forces, my gut saved my life more than once, so I trust it.”
Sliding her phone out of her pocket, she sent a quick text to Paula reminding her to take a picture if she was going to hook up. She watched as Paula read her text then looked up and grinned, shooting Lucy a thumbs up. “Okay, I feel better now.”
“If you’re ready, I’ll walk you to your car.” She nodded, smiling up at him. This time, instead of placing his hand on the small of her back, his fingers skimmed down her arm and linked with hers.