Page 9

I decided to amuse myself and look in the direction he'd been staring.

I was interested in finding out just what kind of snobby woman would interest my cousin.

My eyes zigzagged through the crowd and landed on a face that made the breath catch in my chest. Bridget stood in a group of five people, including her shitty boyfriend.

She looked sad and bored and incredibly beautiful in a pink dress.

Her long hair was swept up in a ponytail, and she wore dangling diamond earrings and a matching necklace.

The jewelry was like a slap in the face.

It reminded me that she was from another world, this world, the one filled with arrogance and greed and all the things our parents had taught us to despise.

I dragged my gaze away but found her once again in the sea of Botox-filled faces.

God, she was a fucking angel, no matter what world she belonged to.

The three women ordered expensive drinks.

Griffin was filled with regret as he pulled out his credit card to pay for the order.

A drink that would cost ten bucks in Trayton was twenty-five in Oceanview.

Same fucking booze, same ice, same level of service, except for the stupid bowties, but more than twice the price.

"Let's get the fuck away from this table," Griffin muttered. He caught me staring across the room and a low laugh followed. "Ah, I see you found her too. Our fucking radar is still in sync. But look at that asshole standing next to her with his possessive arm around her waist."

I hadn't noticed the arm, but my jaw clenched instantly at the idea of him touching Bridget. "That's her," I said through clamped teeth.

"Who?" Griffin asked.

"Oh, Griffin, honey, are we gonna dance?" Buzzy asked.

"Nope, didn't wear my dancin' shoes," Griffin told her curtly.

"The girl who dropped the watch and jumped off the yacht. The one I told you about on the way over here," I explained.

"Walsh's daughter? That's her? Shit, bro, that's gotta hurt knowing she's the enemy."

I looked over at him. "Now you sound like Cru. It's her dad who bought Croft Beach."

The server placed down drinks. Griffin picked up his beer. "Yeah but …"

I held up a hand. "Let's just drink these overpriced beers and get the hell out of here."

"You're leaving already?" Riana asked. She smiled sweetly at me. "Thought you and I might find something fun to do after a few drinks."

"Not tonight, hon. Gotta get up early for work."

All of them scrunched up their faces in disgust at the notion of getting up early for work. "Are you in stock trading?" Buzzy asked.

I was going to be sending motorcycle parts to various places in the world and those parts were part of our stock so I nodded.

"Sure, stock trading." I couldn't keep my gaze from straying across the room, even though just looking at her caused an ache in my chest. Bridget had slipped away from Alex's greedy clutches and was heading to the hallway that led to restrooms.

It took me all of a second to peel away from the table and make my way through the crowd to the same hallway. She'd just reached the door.

"Gidge," I said loudly to pierce through the music and the voices behind us. She froze for a second and then turned around. We both stared at each other as if we'd just discovered each other as the only other living being on the planet.

"Jax." My name fell off her lips in disbelief. "I didn't think this would be your kind of place."

"No? Nothing I love better than the smell of snobbery in the air." I took a deep breath.

She shook her head angrily. "Never mind, I'm already surrounded with enough assholes tonight.

" She spun around to reach for the door, but I snatched her free hand.

I glanced around and found another hallway that led toward an emergency exit.

I stopped just short of the exit and spun her toward me.

Fuck, I'd already memorized everything about her, including the little lines on the sides of her lips, real lips, none of those pumped-up slugs on half the women in the club.

I wanted nothing more than to taste those lips again, but the pout they were wearing assured me the kiss wouldn't be welcome.

"I'm sorry. My cousin talked me into coming here, but you're right, it's the last place you should expect to see me. Honestly, this place sucks."

"I agree," she said. "I'm here because after my few hours of freedom, I found myself back in my maximum-security prison." Her bottom lip quivered. "I haven't stopped thinking about you, Jax."

"Then why the hell did you walk away from me?

" I pulled her into my arms and pressed my mouth down over hers.

She didn't resist. Far from it. Her body melted into mine, and for a few minutes, it was just the two of us.

The club, the music, the annoying patrons all disappeared and it was just me and this woman who had in one short afternoon wrapped herself around my heart.

I lifted my mouth from hers, and she gazed up at me with glassy eyes. "Oh, Jax, what a fucking mess this is."

"Gidge?" A female voice floated down the narrow passage. The woman's eyes rounded as she looked at me, then she dashed away.

"Shit, that's Angie. We're here celebrating her boyfriend's birthday." Bridget stiffened in my arms. "She's going to tell Alex. Angie thrives on fucking drama. You should go. I've already caused you enough trouble."

I had no intention of letting her go. "Not afraid of that dick. Come home with me. Now that I've got you back in my arms, I don't want to lose you."

"What the fuck!" Alex's yell silenced every voice in the vicinity and all eyes turned our direction. "You. It's fucking you again."

Bridget ducked beneath my arms and hurried toward him. "We were just talking," she said briskly. "Let's go." She reached for Alex. Instead, he snatched her wrist—roughly.

"You tell Angie to walk you to the car," he said. Two men appeared behind Alex. They'd been the ones standing in their friend circle. Apparently, Alex decided to bring some friends along to complete his humiliation.

Alex had released his hold on Bridget, but she didn't follow his order.

She reached for his arm. He swung it out of reach, and his fist came up and caught her on the chin.

Bridget stumbled back. It seemed accidental, but that did nothing to slow the rush of adrenaline.

My own fists had rounded into tight balls.

I knew I could destroy the asshole, so I'd have to hold back, but it wasn't going to be easy.

I stomped down the passage. "Did you just hit her?"

"It was an accident," Bridget said. "I'm fine."

Alex stepped back. Some of the color washed from his face.

His two buddies stepped forward as he moved back.

One of them looked as if he spent some time at the gym, but as far as I was concerned, they were all Biffs, the kind of guys who'd rather not leave the club with bloody noses and black eyes.

What I hadn't noticed was the massive guy who'd just joined them.

The way he was dressed, in all black and not in fluffy designer duds like his pals, assured me he was someone's personal bodyguard.

He and his beady-eyed glare were easy enough to ignore.

I stood just inches from Alex. "Hey, fuckface, no wonder she jumped ship just to get away from you."

Alex sneered at me. "You piece of shit. Guess I'll press charges after all. Kidnapping should keep you locked up for years."

"Do whatever the fuck you think is right, but I'm leaving here with Bridget," I said.

His laugh was as obnoxious as his pale blue dress shirt. "That's what you fucking think." He stepped back and motioned to the security guard. "Hank, get this guy out of here."

"Did you bring your babysitter?" I asked.

Hank pushed between the Biffs and reached for my arm. I yanked it out of reach. "Seriously, Hank, how does it feel to sell your soul to the fucking devil? You work for these weasels? You should just let me teach them a lesson."

Hank wasn't taking my suggestion. He reached for my arm again, and I threw a fist into his giant blockhead. It hurt my knuckles plenty, but his head merely bobbed back and forth a few times. I stared at my hand. "Shit, Hank, is your head filled with rocks?"

I'd pushed it one quip too far, something I'd been known to do.

The tables and booths nearby had started to take notice of the altercation happening near the restroom entrance.

I just needed one thing, then I was happy to get the fuck out of there.

I ignored Hank's glare and found Bridget.

I reached out my hand. "Come with me. We belong together. "

Alex laughed. "You are seriously punching above your weight, trash. Hank, I'm done here."

I looked at Alex and shook my head. "Hold on, Biff, while I call over my security detail and then they can hash it out."

I saw movement from the side of my eye. Bridget yelled out, "Jax, watch out!"

Hank managed to land a solid blow as he brought his fist down hard on my shoulder.

I creased over in pain, and it took me a second to catch my breath.

Voices and laughing slowed to a whisper, and someone had stopped the music.

I was still catching my breath as I straightened. Work was going to suck tomorrow.

"Fuck, Hank, didn't think you'd be the type to play dirty."

He drew back his giant fist, but I ducked it and plowed a fist into his belly.

It was less hard than his head. Hank doubled over and stumbled back a few steps like a great wild beast who'd just taken an arrow to the gut.

I spotted Griffin's annoyed scowl in the blur of faces surrounding us. His friend Bear was with him.

Hank recuperated fast and stomped toward me.

He threw his body into mine, and we both flew back.

I hit the corner of a table before crashing through it.

Glasses and booze flew everywhere. Hank landed on top of me and knocked the wind out of my lungs.

Griffin's face appeared again. This time he was really pissed.

He came over and kicked Hank in the side so he'd roll off of me.

"Get off him, you fucking moose." Griffin delivered another blow to Hank's side. Hank yelled out in pain and grabbed for Griffin's foot as he rolled away. Griffin kicked him hard on the chin before he could trap his foot.

Then, out of the blue, Alex grew a pair and sucker punched Griffin in the head. Griffin spun around; his face filled with rage.

"Wait—" I pushed to my feet. "He's mine."

Alex was now seriously regretting his impulsive move.

The guy looked as if he might shit his pants as I stomped toward him.

His bigger friend seemed reluctant to use any of his impressive muscles, but he moved closer, just in case.

I stopped right in front of Alex and made a fast move with my arm.

He flinched. I laughed in his face. "You're not worth it.

And you're the one punching above your weight.

No way you deserve a woman like Bridget. "

Hank had gotten to his feet, but Bear had finally stepped in. "This ends here or I call the police. I want all the involved parties to leave …" He stared hard at Griffin. "Now."

Griffin gave him an apologetic nod. We turned to walk away. I held my hand out for Bridget. She paused and stared down at my palm for long enough to break my heart.

"Keep the fuck away from her," Alex sniped.

Bridget looked over at him and then turned back to me. A slight smile crossed her lips as she dropped her hand in mine. "Cowboy, take me away, yeah?"

"Yeah." Her hand was small and warm in mine. The other patrons parted like the Red Sea as Griffin, Bridget and I walked toward the exit.

Griffin smacked open the door. "You know I was gettin' real cozy with two very hot women when you decided to throw your little tantrum over at the restrooms," Griffin said to me. "And now I'm gonna have to buy Bear lunch for a week."

We headed toward Griffin's truck. He looked back at the club. "Guess only we had to leave."

"They'd never kick Alex out," Bridget said. "I'm Bridget, by the way. You can call me Gidge."

Griffin reached over and shook her hand. "Griffin Stone. You can call me Fin. And might I add that the enemy comes in a very hot package." Griffin flicked a side-eyed glance my way.

"Enemy?" Bridget asked. "Oh right. I guess you heard."

We reached the truck. Bridget slid to the middle seat, and Griffin and I flanked her on each side. "How is your shoulder?" she asked me.

I lifted it a few times. "Sore but I'll live. How about you, Fin? Did you get a few marbles knocked around in there?"

"Nah, that guy had the right hook of a five-year-old."

Bridget laughed. "I can't fucking wait to tell him that."

I looked over at her. "Maybe it's time to dump the asshole. Does he seriously walk around with a fucking bodyguard, like he's some sort of precious gift to the world?"

"Alex is paranoid, and like Fin mentioned, he fights like a five-year-old. That's a combination that makes a bodyguard essential. Hank is all right. Deep down, he knows Alex is an asshole, but Alex pays him good money. Sorry that all went so south in there."

"I guess this time he really will call the police." My statement caused Griffin's face to snap my direction.

"Police?" Griffin shook his head. "Never mind, I'm talking to Jaxon Stone. Well, where's this taxi heading? The Shack?"

I looked at Bridget to make sure. Her sweet smile told me all I needed to know. "Yep, roll this chariot home, bro."

"Least one of us had a happy ending tonight," Griffin grumbled.