Page 17 of Hooking Up

So will every guy here.

She started to walk away, but Carter snaked his arm around her shoulders and tucked her solidly against his side. It would normally bug the shit out of Quint, but right now, he just wanted Bella safe from any predatory males who didn’t have the same morals they did. She was safe in their hands—at least until she had the wits to say yes. Then it was game on, and they’d love her long into the next morning. Hell, the next week.

Wait—what was he thinking? They weren’t a team when it came to the bedroom.

He shot Carter a glare for having his arm around Bella, but he didn’t remove it. She wiggled out from under his arm, andQuint took the opportunity to snag her in his hold. God, she was all tight, wicked curves that he couldn’t touch.

“We need to get her out of here.”

“No, I wanna see if I won!” She leaned heavily against him even as she pushed up the brim of Carter’s hat. He looked at her in surprise. “You’re too pretty to hide under your hat.”

He gave Quint a self-satisfied smile that Quint wanted to knock off his face. But at least she was staying put right now instead of trying to escape. He didn’t want to pick her up, toss her over his shoulder and carry her out of here, but he would. Tempting as it would be, he wouldn’t even cop a feel.

“You guys feel better?” she slurred.

“What?” Quint leaned closer, catching a scent of her underlying honeysuckle smell even if it was buried beneath the notes of too many drinks.

“Your…” she waved a hand in front of her face, “stuffy head. Did it go away?”

“Yeah, we’re fine. Why don’t we find a table and sit down?”

“No, I have to stand here and intimidate the other women. It’s a trick we all do, watching each other compete.”

Damn, she was a force to be reckoned with. A hurricane wind of temper and untamed female. The idea of her standing by watching her competitors made him smile.

Two more women took their seats on the bull—and then their backs in the foam pit. After everyone had taken a turn, the announcer held up the trophy T-shirt. “The winner, with the best score and technique, is Bella!”

She jumped up and down, the side of her heel landing on the toe of Quint’s boot. He steadied her, but she launched herself forward to claim her prize. As soon as she accepted the T-shirt, she wrapped it around her neck like a scarf and took a drink ineach hand. Before he and Carter could stop her, she tossed back both shots.

“Jesus Christ. Let’s get her out of here before she needs her stomach pumped.” Quint looped an arm around her and dragged her out of the spotlight.

“No, I’m not finished here. I have to take my victory ride.”

“Not in this state, you’re not.” Carter’s tone was an electric fence, forbidding her to question it.

She did anyway. “You don’t own me. Nobody owns me.”

“Of course not, Bella. But you’re not safe here.”

She looked around. “What the hell are you talking about? I don’t see any ninjas.”

Quint couldn’t stop the bark of laughter from escaping. “Time to go, darlin’.” He plucked her off her feet. Carter took her by the calves and together, they carried her through the crowd of protestors.

* * * * *

“She’ll be more comfortable in her trailer,” Quint said, a squirming Bella between them.

“Yeah, but we don’t have her key.”

“It’s probably in her pocket.”

“As much as I like the thought of digging through her pockets, I’m not going to. It wouldn’t be gentlemanly. That means we’re taking her to our room.” Carter had been gnashing his teeth for the last twenty steps. The feel of her round, hard calves in his hands invited images of throwing her legs over his shoulders and sliding home.

“Fine.”

“Put me down!” Bella grunted and tried to rip herself from their holds. Quint adjusted his grip. She kicked wildly, and Carter let her legs slip. Before she hit the ground, he caught her.

“Let me have her, Quint. You go ahead and open the motel room door.”

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