Page 14 of Hate the Game
I scoffed. “And have you drop me on my ass? No, thanks.”
She dug her thumbs into the muscle on either side of my spine and growled, actually growled, at me. “I’m not going to drop you. I’m stronger than you think. I’ve got you. Just lean back.”
I swore and figured I was about to be dropped into the dusty parking lot. When I leaned back, her hands pressed into just the right spot and a moan ripped from deep in my core. “Jesus. Fuck, that feels good.”
“I know.” With another real laugh, she gently pushed me away and headed towards the front door. “Come on. I was promised real meat.”
***Jax***
Iwas half hard as I followed her ass inside. The ache in my back was gone and I couldn’t get the feeling of her hands out of my head. I was still lost in thought when we were pointed to a booth in the back. I slid in across from Savannah and watched her taking in the grungy atmosphere with her eyebrows climbing higher and higher. Just when I was worried I’d made a mistake in bringing her, she looked back at me and grinned.
“This is amazing!” She leaned over the table, giving me a beautiful view of her tits. “The band is good!”
I didn’t need to look over to know the band playing was the same one that always played. “They’re a hundred-years-old.”
She laughed and nodded. “I love it. I love this old country music. I feel like I’m back home!”
Chopper came over to our table with a scowl on his leathered face. Husband of Billy, he’d owned and operated the place for nearly four of my lifetimes. From what I’d seen during my frequent visits, he and Billy were still going strong. The old man looked from me to Savannah and then back to me. “The usual?”
I nodded and before I could ask him for a menu for Savannah she was already charming the man who’d only ever smiled at me once. And that smile was because I’d make Billy smile.
“Hi! I don’t know what his usual is but I’d like the biggest, greasiest burger you’ve got back there. If you can throw bacon on it, I’ll take a heaping pile. And cheese. Lots of cheese. And fries! Or onion rings. Whatever you’ve got, honestly. I just need something real. I don’t know how folks survive in the city. I mean, sure, people are healthier but at what cost, you know? Oh, do you have cherry coke? And milkshakes? Just bring me whatever you think is best. I’m trusting you.” She leaned forward to read the name on his old work shirt. “Chopper. Nice. I’ve got a cousin named Chopper.”
Chopper’s lips stretched wide. “Liar.”
Savannah threw her head back and laughed, drawing the attention of every man in the place. “Yep. I do have a cousin they call Bullfrog, though.”
“Texas, right?” Chopper held his hand out and shook hers. “My Billy is from Texas. She nearly murdered me when I told her I had business in California and she’d have to come with me. That was sixty years ago and she’s still complaining.”
Savannah looked around, seemingly unaware of the looks she was getting. “Is she here? I’d love to meet a fellow Texan suffering through this place.”
“Nah, she’s at home with a few of the great-grandkids. Come back, though, and you’ll meet her eventually. She can’t stay away from me for too long.” Chopper was downright giddy as he spoke with her. “I’ll fix you right up, girly. If this guy bothers you, just let me know. I’ve got a chef’s table in the back reserved for pretty girls from Texas.”
I shot the old man a look. He’d known me for four years and had never once shown an ounce of interest in being nice to me.I’d never seen him treat anyone but his wife any differently. Not Savannah, though. One talk and she’d won him over.
She grinned over at me and then winked at me . “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“There’s line dancing tonight. No one ever participates but Billy. You line dance?”
Savannah’s eyes widened. “Does a pig love rolling in mud? Yes! I love it. I’ll be participating.”
I sat back in my seat, watching her in a new light. New Savannah was nothing like the one who’d shown up in the locker room. New Savannah was dangerous because she wasn’t just physically attractive. She was fun and charming as hell.
After Chopper finally dragged himself away from our booth Savannah turned her attention back to me with happiness practically oozing out of her every pore. She leaned over the table again and grabbed my hand. I tried to ignore just how soft and silky that hand was. “Thank you for bringing me here, Jax. This place is so great! I’ve been so homesick for Texas and this is a nice balm for my poor Texas heart.”
“Do you really line dance?” I don’t know why that was the main thing on my mind but it was.
She nodded. “I love it. I used to force my brothers to go with me when I was younger. They acted like they hated it and were only coming as my bodyguards but I think they loved it.”
I could imagine they did have to act as her bodyguards. It wasn’t hard to picture the curvy woman sitting across from me causing a fucking riot once she started moving that body. “You’re close with your brothers?”
Her smile turned warm. “Yeah. Really close. I miss them more than anything. I talk to them almost every day, though. What about you? Any siblings you’re close with?”
I thought about Blaire. She’d always been my weird little sister with the biggest heart of anyone I knew. She still was but shewas pregnant and I didn’t know how to talk to her anymore. It seemed like all we did anymore was argue, just like she and Dad did. “One sister. We’re not all that close these days.”
Before I had to figure out what else to say about Blaire to the woman who seemed to cherish her brothers over everything the music cut out and the haggard old singer announced it was time for line dancing. Savannah’s face brightened as she jumped up.
“Come with me!”
