Angels and Ashes (Heaven's Rejects MC Book 2) by Avelyn Paige Page B

think I would have obliged him without question. Judging by the tiny flecks of gray in his beard, he looked to be older than me, but I would have bet not by much. He can’t be more than in his early thirties, I’m guessing.
    “You mute, babe, or do you see something you like?” he asked with a sideways smirk.
    “No, I’m fine,” I replied. “Thank you for stopping him. I think the tequila has killed my reaction time. I didn’t have a chance of ducking his punch.”
    His brow furrowed deeper as a look of confusion washed over his face. “You get hit often, belle? If that is the case, then I think you and I need to take a trip to see your old man. He needs a little life lesson on how to treat a lady.”
    Shaking my head at him, I watched as his bright eyes shone back at me.
    “No, trouble just seems to follow me when I go out with my girls. I don’t know whether it’s me or them, but trouble is never far behind,” I said, nodding toward the boisterous group of girls dancing and singing in the corner of the bar. “Why did you call me belle?”
    His eyes followed the direction of the noise before trailing back to me as a laugh rumbled through his hard chest. “I called you belle because of that sweet little accent of yours and the fact that you look like one of those southern belles you see in the movies. So prim and proper until you piss her off,” he teased. “And, it’s definitely the lot of you that seem to find trouble. Every single man in this place has their eyes trained on your group over there.”
    “So you’ve been watching us, huh?”
    A smile cracked on his face as I did my best to try to seem sexy. Unlike my friends, I didn’t exactly have a ton of guys lined up to want to date me. Apparently, feisty bitches who can take care of themselves aren’t their thing. They want damsels in distress, and until then, I’d never had to play the role before.
    “Nope, just you. I’ve been sitting at the bar trying to decide if tonight was going to be my lucky night. Just my luck that some stupid son-of-a-bitch would give me the opportunity I needed to talk to you.”
    My mouth drops in shock. “You wanted to talk to me?”
    He laughs at me, shaking his head. “Why wouldn’t a guy want to talk to the most beautiful thing in the room?”
    “You think I’m beautiful?”
    “Angel, you are the most beautiful creature that I have ever seen. Now, you may think I’m saying this shit to get them panties off ya, but an old man like me doesn’t usually have a shot in hell with a girl of your caliber.”
    “Old man,” I questioned. “You can’t be that old.”
    “I’m old enough,” he said with a quizzical laugh. “Now, how about we go back to the bar and we get those drinks you’re currently wearing.”
    “Sure. I hope you like the smell of tequila, because I seem to be wearing most of the bottle.” He laughed while his hands fell to my lower back and led me back toward the bar. Sliding on the stool, he sat down next to me and ordered a round of tequila for my friends and me and beer for him. The bartender served us quickly, leaving a shot glass for me, and sent a bar maid over with the tray for my friends. I tipped the cool glass back against my lips and let the alcohol burn down my throat. Slamming the glass down onto the bar, I laughed.
    “So, what’s your name?” he questioned after taking a swig of his beer. “I’m betting it’s something pretty like Dahlia or Rose.”
    Throwing two fingers into the air toward the bartender to hail him over for more shots, I turned to the man and laughed. “My name is Darcy. I know, not very hip and cool like most names nowadays, but my parents are old-fashioned. Is Jagger your real name?”
    “Nah, that’s my road name. My real name is Brent. How do you like me so far?”
    The memory fades as the traffic for the border finally eases up. The last time Brent and I came to Tijuana we didn’t need a passport to cross, but as soon as the laws changed,