Page 12 of Casey's Hero

“Don’t leave yet.” Logan waved his one-hundred-dollar bill. “I got money burning in my hand.”

Casey called over her shoulder. “Keep it.” She ran after Jacob and caught his arm. “Did I offend you?”

He looked down briefly. “No, but the groom is leaving. I’m his designated driver.”

Her eyes rounded. “Of course. Go.” Then she frowned. “Wait. How much have you had to drink?”

“One beer,” he said, still moving and picking up speed.

She shook her head and ran faster, the heels making it more difficult. “I’ll drive.”

“No way,” Jacob said over his shoulder.

“I was paid to make sure the groom got back to his hotel safely,” she said. “Give me a minute to get dressed, and I’ll drive you two in my vehicle.”

“I haven’t had enough to impair my driving.”

She met his gaze, her eyes narrowing. “I’m driving.” Casey hurried ahead to catch up with Hawk as he waved down a taxi pulling up to the curb.

“Hawk,” Casey called out. “Wait. I’ll drive you to the hotel.”

With his hand on the open door of the taxi, Hawk paused and glanced over his shoulder, his brow furrowing when he saw her running toward him.

Casey leaned into the open passenger window of the cab and handed the driver one of the twenties she’d plucked from her G-string. “I’ve got this. Go get a burger.”

The taxi driver grinned, his gaze going straight to her cleavage. “I might just stay for the show.”

She gave him one of her eat-shit-and-die glares and jerked her thumb. “Get going.”

Hawk backed away a step, swaying slightly. “I might have had a few too many, but I’m not too drunk to know that I’m not getting into any vehicle with you. I promised Kalea I wouldn’t touch the stripper. I’m keeping that promise.”

“Glad to hear it. She’ll be impressed.” Casey pulled her key fob out of her bra and clicked the unlock button on her SUV. “I’m driving. You can sit in the back seat. If you’re worried Kalea will find out, you can tell her I’m going to the hotel with this guy.” She tilted her head toward Jacob.

“Is that so?” Hawk’s lips spread into a wide grin, and he clapped a hand onto Jacob’s shoulder. “Good for you, man. Ididn’t think you were going to let me out of your sight long enough to enjoy the evening.”

“And I’m not going to let you out of my sight until you’re tucked into your own bed in your hotel room,” Jacob said.

Thankfully, he didn’t deny Casey’s claim that he was taking her back to his hotel room. “I’m driving,” she said. “My SUV is over there.”

“I have my own vehicle.”

“Play it safe. Even if you haven’t had much to drink, I’d rather you didn’t end up in jail when you have a wedding to attend on Saturday.” She drew in a breath and let it out. “Casey tasked me with making sure the groom and groomsmen got back to the hotel to sleep off whatever mischief they might have gotten into. Please, let me do my job.” Again, she tried batting her lashes, a skill she’d never quite mastered. Something big and wispy fell into her eye, making her blink uncontrollably.

Jacob reached out and plucked the offensive item from her cheek. He lifted her hand and laid one of her fake eyelashes in her palm. “You can drive after you remove the other one.”

She stared down at her lash, her cheeks burning. Then, with a quick movement, she ripped the other lash off, wincing when the glue held on a little longer than she expected. “There,” she said and lifted her chin toward Jacob.

“That’s better.” He nodded toward the SUV. “Lead the way. And oh,” he held out the shorts she’d flung at him, “you might want to put this on. If we are pulled over, we wouldn’t want our driver charged with indecent exposure.”

She grabbed the shorts and covered her naked butt with them, pinching the Velcro into place. “Now, can we go?”

Jacob glanced at Hawk. “You all right with letting Candy drive?”

“As long as she’s better at driving than she is at dancing,” Hawk said, a slow smile spreading across his face. “No offense.”

“None taken,” Casey said. “Follow me.”

“Gladly,” Hawk said.

---