Page 65 of A Little More

“Good choice, kid.”

He hadn’t fought in over ten years, but some reputations in a small town never die.

A place calledRhonda’s Roadhouse should look a certain way. Smell a certain way. Have more parking for motorcycles than cars. It met all her expectations.

Lexi followed Nash into the restaurant. Or the bar. She wasn’t sure at this point what it was, but it smelled of fried food and stale beer.

Nash gripped her hand tight, maneuvering through the tables. The music played Southern Rock. Not her taste, but, again, it suited the atmosphere.

About thirty bikers sat around the bar, a dozen more off in the corner, playing pool and throwing darts. A few watched her as she passed. A large, burly man with a beer mug the size of a football toasted her with a wink. His beard was more impressive than Julien’s.

A loud laugh grabbed her attention as Nash led her into a small room in the back. Four people sat around a table. Becky and Juliana, the two women who’d gone to the movies with them earlier, stood together, Becky’s mouth moving fast as she spoke to Juliana. Lexi really liked both the women.

Nash walked away to shake hands with Dewey and Cameron. The gorgeous blond with long legs stood and gave Nash a tentative hug. That must be Addie, Cameron’s girlfriend.

“This is Lexi.” Nash smiled at her, a grin that showed his pride. It caused her complete embarrassment and excitement at the same moment.

Cameron’s green eyes shocked her, especially when Juliana stepped beside him and had an identical color.

“Are you two related?” Lexi asked.

“Cousins.” Juliana bumped shoulders with Cameron. “You should see my sister and her daughter beside us. All four of us have identical eyes.”

Lexi glanced around. “Is your sister here?”

Juliana and Cameron shared an unreadable look. “No. She’s in Alabama.” Cameron’s tensed shoulders and hard look kept Lexi from asking any more questions. “But we hope she’ll move to Atlanta soon. It would put her closer to us and away from her piece of shit—"

“Enough, Cameron.” Juliana gave him a light shove back toward Addie. “Lexi didn’t come here to listen to you trash talk Eliza’s ex-husband.”

Becky climbed into a chair, resting her hand on Dewey’s shoulder for balance. “Before the guys try to set the world record for drinking and we have to tote them home, I think we need to plan our summer trip.” She pointed at Addie. “We expect you to come. You’re the only one that Cameron seems to listen to.”

“What about Tommy? Is he coming?” Dewey asked Becky.

Becky rolled her eyes. “No. Not Tommy. He’s managed to put himself out the picture.”

Nash ran his hand down Lexi’s back until it rested at the curve of her waist. “Would you like something to drink?” he asked, his voice low and sounding like he offered her more than a simple cocktail. “Wine?” His lips pressed against her temple and took a deep breath.

“I can get my own—”

His body stiffened.

Their personalities sat at opposite ends of the rainbow. He had some strange basic need to take care of her. She’d designed her life to rely on no one.

Slowly, he pulled back, determination filling his look. His fingers pinched her chin, tilting her head back like he would kiss her. Intensity burned in his blue eyes, and she was lost.

“Would you like some wine?”

“Red. Dry.” Her breath left her in a whoosh when he stepped away. The look he shot over his shoulder said it all.

He knew the effect he held over her. It wasn’t as if they could hide their relationship any longer after that exchange. He’d already explained that none of his friends would spread gossip about them. This was a space for them to be together without that fear. That still didn’t help the nerves about her job from creeping around the edge of her mind.

“Soooo,” Juliana began, leaning toward her while the others threw out ideas for whatever summer trip they typically took. She nudged her with her elbow. “You and Nash look pretty serious. A step up from all the sexy flirting the last time I saw you two together.”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Juliana’s eyebrows shot up. “Nothing? Honey, he looked at you like you were his dessert. Every time I see you two together, the chemistry between you is up another notch.”

“We’re together, but nothing serious.” She tried for a joke. “He flirted until I finally caved in.”

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