Page 22 of Don't Call Me Sweetheart (Something Borrowed 1)

A sharp jab to his stomach made him spill his beer all over the floor. She’d slammed her elbow into him.

“Was that really necessary?” he asked.

Marley finally turned, eyeing him over the rim of her beer mug. “Yes, because you were invading my personal space, which I value.”

Luke was pretty sure she didn’t want him getting close because she liked him there, but he let it go.

“Fine!” Sonora shouted behind them, and they all swung around to watch the drama unfold. “I’m going back to the hotel. You can find someplace else to sleep tonight.”

She stomped her black heeled feet right out the door, and Luke watched Brent, waiting for him to get up and go after his fiancée .

Instead, he sat there, tipping back more beer. Luke almost went to check on him when Paul and Wes beat him to it.

Marley stood up. “I better go make sure she’s okay, since I drove. Do you need a ride?”

Kendall shook her head, and Luke noticed she was watching Brent too, her face a mask of concern. “No, I’m fine.”

Luke got up with her, leaving his beer on the counter.

“What are you doing?” Marley hissed.

“Calling it a night. Figured I’d walk you out.”

He could tell by the tight set of her jaw she wanted to tell him no, but didn’t. She did do her best to ignore him as he walked along beside her out the door.

“Damn, where did she go?”

Luke scanned the parking lot, but there was no sign of Sonora. “She couldn’t have made it far on those heels. Maybe she grabbed a cab or something?”

“There are no cabs in Sweetheart.”

Luke watched her nibble her lip nervously. She seemed genuinely worried about Sonora. “Hey, she probably just needed to blow off some steam and started walking.”

Marley pulled out her phone. “I’m just going to call to be sure.”

Luke waited, thinking she was a better person than he was.

“Hey Sonora, it’s Marley. I came after you, but you must have headed back to the hotel. Call me. Let me know you’re okay.”

Luke waited until she’d slipped her phone back into her pocket to speak.

“Hey, speaking of rides, do you mind giving me one back to the hotel? I rode with Brent, and he looks like he really wants to tie one on tonight.”

She hesitated, and he was sure she was going to tell him no.

“Fine, but no flirting.”

Luke grinned. “Now, darlin’, I can’t promise that. You bring it out of me.”

Marley rolled her eyes with a grumble, but headed into the row of cars. He followed behind, his gaze traveling down to her ass.

He hadn’t been lying when he’d told her how good she looked in those jeans.

She unlocked the doors but before he climbed in, she tapped the top of the car.

“Check out my ass again, and you’re going to find your balls in your throat.”

The colorful imagery only made him grin wider. “I love it when you talk dirty to me.”