Page 40 of Wild Card
“You don’t even know Esmé.” I laugh at him.
“I know her well enough to know that she loves you. This whole town fuckin’ loves you, don’t you see that, Ruby?” He flicks a bar towel over his shoulder and looks at me, confused.
“Better be careful you don’t catch it,” I warn, trying to tease him. The tequila is already making me wanna forget how depressing my life is and have a little fun.
“Don’t you worry ‘bout that, darlin’, I’m immune to that kinda thing.” He tenses his jaw and moves to the other end of the bar so he can serve one of the Taylor brothers. While I watch him, I feel helpless, completely out of my depth, and I wish that I was immune too.
NINETEEN
Ash
“What are you clowns doing here?” I ask Hack, Malice, and Zander when they step into the bar.
“What in the Liza Minnelli happened in here?” Malice looks around him at the over-the-top decor.
“Derek Porter paid some fancy party organiser to vamp the place up. He’s got a catering firm takin’ over the kitchen and the jazz band is on their way.” I shake my head and roll my eyes.
Ruby must have known all this was happening last night, but she never mentioned it.
“You didn’t answer my question. What the fuck you all doin’ here? And what thehellis a Liza Minnelli?”
“She’s a person, not a thing. And a musical legend,” Malice explains, raising an eyebrow at me as if I’m some kinda stupid. But he’s the one getting a strange look outta all three of us. “What? My mom's a huge musical fan, I grew up on that shit.”
“Sounds like hell,” Hack laughs, taking a stool like he plans on staying.
“You're here, why?” I remind him of the question they seem to be avoiding. These guys have a whole clubhouse to hang out at, why would they wanna be here for this stupid party?
“Mayor invited the whole town along; he stopped by the club personally to invite us all,” Hack explains.
“We’re here to ensure you stay on your best behaviour,” Zander admits. We’ve passed company enough times for him to know I ain’t a fan of bullshit.
“Byron wants no drama at this party tonight. If Mayor Porter had his way, you’d have been outta this town after you handed his son his ass. You got the Randall situation to thank for the fact you're still here. You impressed the boss.” Hack smirks before taking a fistful of peanuts in his hand and shoving them down his throat.
“Didn’t impress him though, did I?” I notice Grizz has stepped inside and has taken a seat by himself at one of the corner tables.
“Not much does,” Hack whispers.
“So whatishappening with the Randall situation? Taint tells me he didn’t do much talkin’.” There ain’t no one in here but us, but I still lower my voice just in case.
“He said nothin’, showed no remorse either. I went through the burner phone we found at his house, but… nothin’. Looks like he was just the ass in charge of the mules.” I can see how frustrated he is.
“I think this is an even bigger problem than Byron thought it was,” Malice adds.
“Well, look at you, Ruby, girl.” Hack suddenly gets distracted, and when I glance back over my shoulder and see her standing in a white lace dress and a pair of matching heels, my jaw almost hits the fuckin’ floor.
“How about you tell that lawyer to screw himself and marry me instead?” Hack stands up and goes to her, taking her hand and spinning her around.
“It feels far too short.” She looks back over her shoulder, tugging it down self-consciously.
“You look beautiful,” I tell her, not giving a shit who hears me. The girl spends far too much time doubting herself.
“Thanks.” She bites her lip in that adorable way that never fails to make my cock hard, as she smiles back at me. With her eyes firmly fixed on mine, for just a second, it feels like there's no one else in the room, and I start to feel that hopeless sting in my chest again.
“Wow… you look sensational.” Brett rears his ugly head, interrupting us from staring at each other when he pulls her from Hack’s arm and plants a kiss on her cheek.
“I don’t know, it feels a little short.” She still looks unsure, and when Esmé follows in behind her brother, she makes a long exasperated breath before raising her lips into a smile.
“Quit worrying, you look amazing,” she tells her friend, placing her purse on the bar and pulling herself up onto a stool.
