Page 12 of Maddox: Wild Alaska
He huffs a laugh his eyes dancing. “Don't worry. The Hawke men have you covered."
I glance at the young man and laugh when he winks.
"Now, what can I get you to drink?" He asks.
"I'd love a whiskey. Wine isn't going to cut it tonight."
He snorts. "I wish I could join you." He releases me. "Ice?"
"Please."
He groans, his eyes focusing on something over my shoulder. I turn to see what has his attention and let out a small groan.
"I'll get you a double," Colton mutters as he moves away.
"Where have you been?" Catherine snaps the second Colton is out of earshot.
She reaches out and grabs my arm, her nails digging into my skin like talons. I narrow my eyes and hiss, "Take your hands off me right now, or we are going to have a big problem."
"Don't be ridiculous." She huffs.
I try to wrench my arm free, but she clings tightly. What the hell is she doing?
“Ma’am, I suggest you release Miss. Ryan." Spencer peels her fingers from my arm and gently takes my elbow to move me out of her reach. "The sheriff takes issue with physical abuse."
"Well, really!” She gasps. “I was just being friendly to my future daughter-in-law." Her eyes narrow as Samantha joins us.
She lets her gaze pass over the three of us and then settles it on me. "Sofie, are you causing problems again?"
"Fuck this!" I snap, turning to Spencer. "Thank you. I need a drink."
"I have it right here." Colton hands me a glass of whiskey. I take a long sip, enjoying the burn as it goes down.
"Thank you."
“Will you be okay if I leave?” Spencer asks in a quiet voice.
"I'll be fine." I smile. "I plan on getting drunk. Then all my problems will disappear." I turn and head for the bar. On my way, I spot a table with hors d'oeuvres. I walk over, load up a small plate, and then go sit at the bar. A man steps out from behind the bar, surprising me. He grins. "Hello, Sofie. In case you're wondering, I'm the better-looking brother, Ryland Hawke."
"The Hawke men are all incorrigible." I wave a finger his way. "Could you please get me another one of these? Colton got me this one."
"Sure can."
I start munching on a chicken curry kebab and a pastry, but I can't really taste them. The round things on a stick are delicious. This food isn't going to sustain me until morning. When Ryland returns with my drink, I ask, "Did they order food for tonight?"
He shakes his head. "I heard them talking. They only booked snacks."
"Well, that sucks. I'm starving." I finish one drink and pick up the next. I wave it in the air. "Bottoms up!"
I sense a presence on my right, glance that way, and see a woman whose name escapes me. She's one of Samantha's friends. Well, they all are.
"I'm Judean." She smiles. "I'm kind of an 'invite when you need a space filler' friend of Samantha's."
I wince. "That sucks." I wave my glass toward Ryland. "Could my friend have one of these, please, and could I have another one?"
“So, Judean—I love your name by the way—how do you know Samantha?” I ask, starting to feel a buzz from the alcohol.
"School." She takes a sip of the drink Ryland places in front of her. "Samantha wanted ten people on the trip, her mom number eleven. She was adamant that we all share rooms,except for Catherine." She shrugs. "It's a free trip, so I thought, 'Why not?' The company could have been nicer. I do wonder why you would marry into the Walker family, though.”
