Page 125 of Stand: Part One

“I’m honestly jealous,” I replied, shamelessly admiring her hard work.

“Thank you. Though it probably pales compared to your hair. It’s beautiful.”

I could feel myself blushing. What the fuck was wrong with me?

“Thank you,” I said, taking another sip of my drink as she did the same.

“Is that your natural color?”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“It’s gorgeous. Never change it.”

“I doubt he’d let me, even if I wanted to,” I said, gesturing with my head to Darren. Which was stupid because I knew he could hear me, evidenced by the fact that he was squeezing my thigh.

What the hell is in this drink?

My chest suddenly grew hot with suspicion, the weight of the now near empty glass convincing me to return the drink back to the table.

“How long have you two been married?” I asked.

“Fifteen years.”

“Wow. So you’ve been in this game for a while, huh?”

Michelle shrugged, taking another swig from her glass. “I’ve been in this game my whole life. Born and raised in it.”

I furrowed my brows. “Yet you’re not like any of the other women I’ve met.” So far, I’d only ever encountered the meek, the dumb, and the slaves.

“I was raised by a single dad. Turned me into the son he never had.”

I paused at her answer, finding it completely unexpected, but also hopeful.

“Did that make life easier for you?”

“In a way,” she answered with a nod. “I certainly received more respect than the other women, but that was mostly because they knew they’d end up with a mouth full of bullets if they didn’t.”

I smiled, a stupid giggle suddenly leaving my lips. Slapping my hand over my mouth, I widened my eyes at the fact I just giggled like a child. But if Michelle noticed, she didn’t act on it. She just smiled back at me as she sipped her drink.

“I like you,” she said, eyeing me up and down with approval. “How long are you in town for?”

Darren abruptly turned around then, his hand clamping down on my leg while his eyes blazed with caution at Michelle. When all she did was smile sweetly back at him, I think I instantly fell in love with her.

“Michelle,” Darren said, a tone of warning mixing in that single word.

“Darren,” she returned with a cool nod. “Enjoying your stay so far?”

“Cut the shit, Michelle. She’s not interested.”

My brows furrowed as I turned to him. “Interested in what?”

“Oh, I bet she’d be real interested by the end of the night,” Michelle drawled, a sly grin curling the corner of her mouth.

“She’s off-limits. Even to you.”

A sarcastic pout replaced the smirk on Michelle’s lips. “Why not let her decide for herself?”

“Decide what?” I tried again.