sincerely. “You didn’t need to get me anything. You both being here is more than enough.”
I know he really wanted Anna here, not me, but it’s nice of him to include me in the equation.
“Everyone!” he shouts, making me jump. “This is Anna and Bailey. They’re my guests and not to be fuckin’ touched, do you hear me?”
The men nod, some call out replies, all agreeing. One man yells out, “But they’re hot!” And Talon yells back for him to look but not touch, unless he wants his dick cut off.
Ouch.
“Can I get you both a drink?” he asks, kissing Anna on her temple.
“Actually,” Anna says, eyeing the beer pong game going on. “Can we play?”
“What?” Talon asks, laughing. “That’s the last thing I thought I’d hear you say.”
Anna smiles sweetly. A little too sweet. “I’ve never played before, I’d like to try it. It looks fun.”
Talon looks down at me. “What about you, sweetheart?”
I shrug, purposely looking unsure. “I’ve never played either, but it looks easy enough.”
“Do you guys want to go on separate teams, since you’re both newbies? We usually play two against two,” he says, telling one of the men that the next game was his.
“No, I want to go with Anna,” I say, grinning up at him. “Girl power, and all that.”
Talon lets go of us and grins, shrugging. “Fine, but when you get your asses kicked, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“We’re both capable women,” Anna tells him, crossing her arms over her chest. “And we have beginners’ luck on our side. Who are you taking as your partner?”
“Hmmm,” Talon muses, his grin turning mischievous. “I choose him.”
He points at someone behind us, so we turn to look.
I instantly suck in a breath. Sweet baby Jesus.
I stare at what has to be one of the most attractive men I’ve ever set my eyes upon. Extremely tall and perfectly muscled, he’s wearing worn jeans and a blue flannel long-sleeved shirt. Both look delicious on him. His hair is longish, dark as can be, and tied at his nape. He has a beard. Not too long and not too short, just right.
Everything about him is just right.
He walks over to us and stops next to Talon. His eyes. They’re a bright hazel. And surrounded by thick, dark lashes. Mesmerizing.
“Wh-who are you?” I hear Anna ask, sounding equally as dazed.
Yeah, the man was a god.
“Anna, meet Ranger.”
He’s no Rake, but if I wasn’t with Rake . . . well.
I’d like to have a Ranger.
TWENTY-SIX
THAT’S the guy who kidnapped you?” I whisper when we’re sort of alone. “What the hell were you complaining about? He can kidnap me any time he wants!”
“I didn’t see him!” she growls, grabbing my arm and pulling me farther into the corner of the room. “He knocked me out.” Her eyes narrow on Ranger. “And he’s going down. We can’t lose this game. Do you think Talon bought the whole ‘This is our first time’ bullshit?”
I nod. “Totally.”
She smiles evilly. “Excellent. I’m going to beat Ranger at beer pong, then I’m going to challenge him. Hand-to-hand combat. To the death.”
I roll my eyes and pat her shoulder. “Let’s just stick to the beer pong, honey.”
“Fine,” she replies, drawing the word out in a sulk. “Let’s do this.”
I block out Talon’s instructions—Anna and I are no strangers to this game. We played it all the time in high school, and we’re good. Really good. I haven’t played since college, but hey, I have no doubt we’re going to give them a good game.
“You going to stare at me like that all night?” I hear Ranger say to Anna.
Fuck.
His voice is deep and sexy too.
“Yes,” Anna tells me, flashing him her dirtiest look. “Yes, I am. You kidnapping bastard.”
“On Talon’s orders,” he says, tilting his head to the side. “Why are you mad at me and not him?”
“He didn’t hit me and knock me out!” Anna practically yells, her fists clenching at her sides. I pull at her shirt, silently telling her to calm the fuck down.
“How else was I supposed to kidnap you?” he asks, shaking his head. “I had a job to do, and I got it done. You need to let that shit go.”
I’ve never seen Anna’s jaw so tight.
“Can we play?” I ask, trying to ease the tension, looking from face to face. “I’m thirsty.”
Laughter.
“You better be thirsty,” Talon calls out. “That’s a lot of beer, Bails.”
I stretch my neck from side to side, then pick up one of the balls. “If