try your charm on the sweet piece? You’re not afraid she’ll shoot you down, are you?”
He grasped Tank’s shoulder while pushing away from the counter. “Watch a pro in action. And tell Toque to keep my burger warm.”
In a cocksure way, Smokey swaggered over to the far end of the bar. He wasn’t planning on making a play for the woman; he was just curious as to what all the fuss was about. And, of course, his male pride was in overdrive after Tank’s dare.
“What’s going on here?” Smokey asked Tiny.
“Eagle and Cruiser are trying to get between this chick’s legs. My bet is on Cruiser.”
Smokey smirked. “Maybe I’ll give them both some competition.”
Tiny guffawed. “Go for it, dude. It’ll piss them both off.”
Tiny tapped Blade, Puck, and Army on their shoulders to get their attention. When the men turned around, Tiny pointed to Smokey. “He’s going in.”
Puck nodded, a wide grin spreading across his face. “Show them how to do it, bro.”
The men parted, allowing Smokey to make his way through, then he froze dead in his tracks. Ashley lifted her head, her ebony hair falling around her shoulders as their gazes locked.
“What the fuck?” he growled.
A smile spread across her lips. Eagle and Cruiser glanced over at Smokey, confusion etched on their faces.
“This shit stops now,” Smokey gritted.
“Fuck off, dude. We were talking to the lady,” Cruiser snapped back.
“The conversation’s over.” Smokey nudged him away, placing himself squarely between the men and Ashley.
“Fuck you!” Cruiser yelled.
“I know her—she’s mine,” Smokey growled.
Anger reddened his face. “You’re bullshitting!”
“Actually, he’s not. We work together,” Ashley said.
The expressions on their faces were priceless. Smokey would’ve busted out laughing had he not been so fucking pissed. When he saw the way Cruiser and Eagle were looking at Ashley, his rage took over, and now he was struggling to control it. He wanted nothing more than to pummel his two friends for coming on to her.
Turning away from the brothers, he grasped Ashley’s arm and tugged her off the stool. “We need to talk.”
She frowned up at him. “I can get down by myself. And it’d be nice if you’d let me finish my drink.”
“I’ll get you another one.” Pulling her away from the crowd, he dragged her down a hallway, past the kitchen. Opening a door on the left, he nudged her inside the room. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Glaring, she put her hands on her hips. “I’m fine, thank you. How are you?”
Exasperated, he ran a hand over his face. “You’re in a fuckin’ biker bar.”
“Thanks for the warning. I never would’ve guessed that, even though there’s a crapload of motorcycles in the parking lot and tons of testosterone flying around. And let’s not forget all the jacked-up men in leather and their half-naked admirers.” She tossed her hair over one shoulder and huffed.
A muscle ticked in his jaw as he stared at her. Damn, he loved the way her sassiness could burn and warm him at the same time. She was his whiskey on ice, and he couldn’t get enough of her.
She looked around the room. “Are we supposed to be in here?”
“Toque’s cool with it.”
“Is this the sex room? I read up on outlaw motorcycle clubs, and the articles weren’t very flattering.”
“No shit.”
“I don’t need to report to you, but I came here to talk to the owner about hiring a couple of teens at a shelter I volunteer at. Brady gave me the name of the bar, but he couldn’t remember the owner’s name. The owner said he needed some help with breaking boxes down and cleaning up before the bar opened in the mornings.”
At the mention of Brady, that odd sensation he’d felt earlier while sitting in his office hit him like a punch to the gut. Jealousy. Jealous that Brady Shelling was plotting ways to get Ashley into his bed.
Her voice broke through his thoughts. “Do you know who the owner is?”
“Toque.”
“Can you introduce me to him?”
“Yeah.” He cocked his head. “Come over here.”
Her body stiffened. “Why?”
“Because I’m asking you to.”
Licking her lips, she stayed rooted to the spot. Seconds ticked by as they stood there, staring at each other. When he couldn’t take it any longer, being in the same room and not touching her, he stepped in front of her and yanked her into his arms. Ashley’s palms flattened against his chest, and he waited for the inevitable, for her to shove him away. Instead, she leaned into him.