Page 4 of Wild Card
“Are you fucking kidding me?” My mouth drops open.
“Come on, you know how men get when you mention those things. Daddy and Brett will be out all night, which means I will be able to sneak out to the lake party and have some real fun.”
“Esmé, you're twenty-three years old, you don’t have to sneak out anymore.” I laugh at her.
“And how do you think my daddy would take it if he knew his perfect princess was going to the lake? He was overprotective of things like thatbeforethe Carl Harper incident.”
“It wasn’t an incident, Esmé. The guy died, and Cassie Miller was in a coma for a week. These drugs are a big problem. Did you know the Royal Bastards have called in more men from their other charters?”
“Are any of them hot?” Esmé playfully nudges me with her elbow, and I get momentarily distracted when I think about Ash. I guess you could say he was hot, with his dark brown hair and even darker eyes, but that's beside the point.
“That's not what's important, and I’ll be honest, I don’t think you should go to that lake party,” I tell her.
“Do you really think I’d be stupid enough to take drugs?” She tilts her head at me.
“You were stupid enough to smoke that blunt with Marcus Keaton last year,” I remind her.
“That was years ago, and I only wanted to give it a try. I’m going to the lake to have some fun, and you are going to make everyone fall in love with you at that party my brother is taking you to,” she assures me. “Now, let’s figure out what we’re gonna do with your hair.”
I get to the bar just after six thirty to start my evening shift, and I immediately start picking the bobby pins out of my hair to unleash the fancy updo Esmé practised on me.
“Why ya taking it out? It looks pretty.” A voice calls out from the corner, and when I look up and see the new guy in town sitting by himself, I feel a little smile tug on my lips. Knowing those words just come from him is suddenly making my stomach flutter.
“It ain’t really my style.” I laugh nervously as my cheeks go flaming hot.
“Looks pretty down, too.” He stands up and starts walking toward me, not seeming to care that there are people here to witness him raise his hand to my hair and pull out another pin. “You missed one.” He holds it out in front of me, and for once in my life, I find myself speechless.
“Thanks.” I quickly take it from him and tuck it into the front pocket of my apron.
“What are you staring at?” I ask, looking up through my lashes, when he stands directly in front of me and makes no indication that he’s gonna move.
“Ain’t illegal to look, is it?” He frowns.
“I guess not…But it is kinda weird. Your eyes are intense.” I noticed it before when I was sitting opposite him. My mom always told me you could read a person from looking into their eyes, but not with this guy; his are far too dark and mysterious.
“And yours are beautiful,” he tells me, tracing his fingers across my cheek to brush away some of the hair that's fallen in front of them.
“I really need to get to work.” I shake my head before I get too enchanted by him.
“Something tells me you don’t get compliments all too often; it’s strange considering how hot ya are.” He follows after me as I pick up a tray from the bar and start collecting empty glasses.
“What makes you come to that conclusion?” I ask, smiling over at old man Marley as I clear the table opposite him.
“Well, you sure don’t know how to take one.” Ash laughs as he picks up two glasses and places them on the tray I’m holding.
“What are you doing?” I stop to look up at him. I don’t think for one minute Brett would be happy with the way he’s talking to me.
“I’m gonna be helping out Earl while I’m in town,” he tells me.
“Helping out here?” I almost choke.
“Least I can do considerin’ he’s letting me crash here.” He shrugs.
This is bad, really fucking bad!
“You were sitting in the corner drinking, not even five minutes ago,” I remind him.
“And now I’m helping out.” He shrugs, taking the tray from my hands and heading toward the bar with it.
