Yet, here I am. Settling. Again. Because I can’t have the woman I really want.
Oh, fuck. I'm thinking about Penny again all while some other chick is twisting my nipple like a corkscrew.
I’m going to hell. The woman in my lap exaggerates a moan. On second thought, I'm already there.
“Mmm,” Karen hums, drawing my attention back to her. “You like that, huh?" She grins, pleased.
I swallow, my throat suddenly dry as the turtleneck seems to tighten around my windpipe. "Uh, sure..."
Karen cups my jaw. “This shirt looks sexy on you,” she purrs. “But I think you’d look better without it.” My date's hands slide under my sweater. Her long, pointy fingernails drag down my pecs.
When she leans in, her glossed-up lips graze the length of my jaw. "I've always liked the strong, silent type." She's going in for the kiss. Whether I like it or not.
My phone vibrates in my pocket like it's taking pity on me. I angle my face away just in time. I hold out my still-full glass of wine and the topless woman dutifully grabs it. I awkwardly slide the device out of my too-tight jeans—another gift from Penny—while my date rotates her hips in my lap.
It’s a text from my friend.
Penny: Are you busy, Big Man?
I can’t fight the uptick in my heart rate. I may have told her that I hate her little nickname for me, but deep down, I fucking love it. I wish I could show her just how big of a man I am. My cock clenches at the thought.
It’s shitty of me, thinking about this right now and it's shitty of me to answer my phone in the middle of fooling around, but I hate leaving Penny's texts un-answered.
I tap Karen’s leg with my palm. “Sorry. One minute. I need to get this.”
My date frowns, but wordlessly climbs off my lap.
I can finally breathe, though I’ll feel a whole lot better once I find out what’s going on with my friend. It’s late. If she’s texting me in the middle of the night, that usually means trouble. I know it’s her night off from the bar, but I’m worried that something's happened.
I step into the kitchen for a sliver of privacy and dial her phone number. I hate texting. Penny says I’m all thumbs, and she can never understand what I type. I'd rather call her anyway because that way, I get to hear her voice.
When she picks up, all I can hear is static. I hold the phone away from my ear. “Penny? Penn?”
“Walker? S'that you?” Her voice crackles over the line.
It’s hard to hear her over the static and the background music, especially since her words are all slurred together. Instantly, my protective instincts are on high alert.
“Yes, Penn. It’s me. You okay?”
“Are you busy?" She's hesitating. "'Cause I don't want to bother you if you're busy. Or if you're sleeping. I know how you get when you're sleeping. And I won't—”
I cut off her jabbering. "I'm not busy." The urgency in my blood simmers. If Penny is in danger, I need to get to her. Now.
“Are you sure, Walker?”
Good God. This woman drives me crazy. “Yes, I’m sure. I’m here talking to you, aren’t I?” The static amps up. “Come on, Penn. What is it? What do you need?”
“Do you think you could maybe give me a ride home?" Her words tumble out in a rush. There's a note of panic in her voice. "Don't worry—I understand if you're busy. And if you're not busy, I could pay you for gas. I promise, I’m good for it.” I hear a faint whimper.
Is she crying? And drunk? What the hell?
My shoulders square. I feel all my blood rocket into my head. “I don’t want your money, Penelope. Where are you?”
It takes three tries for her to remember the name of the bar, but she finally gives me the information I need. I tell her to stay put, and I’ll be there in a few minutes. I end the call.
When I stomp back into the living room, I find that my date has lost her pants.
Oh, boy.
I fight the urge to roll my eyes, my gaze honed in on the front door. “Sorry. I’ve got to go save a friend. You understand, right?”
She bounces to her feet, not bothering to grab her clothes as she steps into my path. Boobs, butt and disappointment on full display. I feel zero urge to let my gaze drop beneath her green eyes. Eyes that are the wrong shade of green.
She shakes her head. “Wow. You're leaving? Are you actually about to walk away from a guaranteed fuck to go rescue one of your drunk buddies?” she asks, incredulous. "None of my friends would do that."
Deftly, I sidestep her. “Then, I guess you need better friends,” I reply with a shrug as she follows me to her front door. I hop into my boots.
I jog down the metal staircase and step out into the night, shockingly relieved by the turn of events. That’s when I know my head is fucked up. Who the hell is grateful to avoid a hookup with a hot chick?
The shirtless woman is hanging out of her second floor window, shouting after me as I head off down the sidewalk. “Lose my number, jackass!” she yells as I tear open my truck door.
"Your wish is my command," I mumble as I pull up her name to delete her contact information from my phone.
She roars and flings her stupid magazine after me.
I pause to pick it up and toss it onto my passenger's seat. Because littering sucks.
And then, I jump behind the wheel and pull off from the curb.
3
Walker
She stumbles out the backdoor of the bar, headed toward my truck in her skin-tight mini dress. My cock throbs.
I curse myself inwardly and try to push away the primal urge to bend her over the hood and fuck her until we short-circuit the engine.
Penny clambers into the passenger's seat and plops down with a loaded sigh. "My knight in shining armor..." she mutters wryly. "Boy, am I happy to see you..."
Her hair is an absolute mess and her makeup is smudged, a glaring departure from her usual,
