Page 8 of Wicked Pickle

Her red dress is in her mouth, holding it out of the way of whatever it is she’s doing. Her ass is aimed in my direction, glorious and round in the white whatever-it-is.

Does she need help? What happened here?

I reach for her waist to see if I can figure out what I’m dealing with when she shrieks, the dress falling from her teeth.

Before I can do another damn thing, an elbow lands in my gut.

I hold out my hand to block whatever she’s going to do next, and it turns out, it’s a kick. Like a karate move.

Her leg flashes my way, a red heel bright in the light from the hanging bulb.

But my rock skull hip chain is flying from dodging her, and it snags on this white coil she’s got going on. The minute her leg lands somewhere near my waist, she’s hooked.

Jesus H Christ. What the fuck is going on?

Her eyes go wide. It’s been two seconds tops, and she must have just now realized who I am.

“Diesel?”

“Yeah, your friends got worried.”

She tries to back away, but between her high heel and the chain attached to her undergarment, she’s stuck.

“Help?” she asks.

“Hold on.” I try to reach between us, but her leg has got her flush against my hips.

The music suddenly roars, and we both look back.

Bailey steps inside. “I closed the door to avoid people taking pictures—” She stops abruptly when she sees us, her mouth pursed in a tight smile. “Did I interrupt something?” She backs away toward the door.

“No!” Symphony cries. “I’m stuck.”

Bailey clears her throat. “Like a duck with a corkscrew dick?”

“Bailey! His chain. My Spanx.”

Oh, so, that’s what this white thing is. One of those spandex numbers.

Bailey bends over to look. “I see it. There’s a spiked skull hooked into the fabric.” She glances up at me. “Interesting fashion choice.”

“Branding,” I say.

“Oh, right. The Leaky Skull. I don’t usually associate branding with dive bars.”

I let out a long, hissy breath. “Can you get us apart without ripping her clothes?”

“Probably.”

But Bailey is taking her time.

Then she steps away.

What the hell?

“Bailey!” Symphony cries. “Get us out of here!”

“I will. I will.” But Bailey is all smiles. “What was your name again?”

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