myself because no one asked me.”
“I’m sure my cousin Blake would’ve been happy to escort you.
Or aren’t there any headboards here that he needs to fix?”
“You’re hilarious, McKay.”
Colt flashed his teeth. “I try.”
“I expected better from you.”
People around them were starting to stare.
“Meaning what?”
Through clenched teeth she said, “Meaning, I don’t need your fucking pity.”
Lorelei James
“Why would I feel sorry for you?”
“Because no one else bid on my prize, and you’re throwing cash around like—”
“It’s my money and I can do what I want with it.”
“Were you buying the tattoo package as a gift for your date?”
He scowled.
“She’s not exactly the tattoo type, is she? And God forbid anyone else in this town would admit in public they’d pay to cavort with a low-class ink slinger like me.”
Fury darkened his eyes. “Watch it.”
She gave him an innocent look. “Did I insult her?”
“It ain’t my date you’re insulting, it’s yourself, and that pisses me off worse, so knock it the hell off. I expected better from you, sugar.”
“Don’t you sugar me, Colt McKay.” India tugged her wallet out of her back jeans pocket and unclipped the chain. “How about if I write you a check for a thousand bucks and we’ll call it even.”
“Put your money away.”
“I won’t be beholden to you for anything.”
“Too fuckin’ late and you’re treading on thin ice, India.”
She got right in his face. “So? I feel like stomping all over that ice, Colt, with sharp, pointy crampons to see who falls through the cracks first.”
“It looks like you’re the one who’s cracking up.”
“It’s your fault.”
“My fault? How do you figure?”
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India smacked him in the chest with her wallet. “Because I’ve been trying to get in touch with you all week.”
“Why?”
Because I missed you, you clueless jerk . “Because you missed Tuesday night’s meeting.”
Colt stared at her with belligerence. “So? I’ve been busy.”
“You were too busy to come to a meeting?”
“Cut me some slack. I’ve missed one meeting in two and a half years.”
“I left you a bajillion messages.”
“I particularly liked the one where you called me a dickhead.”
That brought a small smile. “If the shitkicker fits…”
“Don’t fuck with me, India. I’m not in the mood.”
“Well, gee, I wouldn’t want anything to ruin your ‘mood’, especially since you have a hot date.” India bit her cheek to keep from lashing out further. “You know what? Forget it. All of it. Have a lovely evening with your horse-faced honey.”
Colt laughed and said, “Oh, no you don’t,” as he snatched her elbow. “We ain’t close to done with this conversation.”
“We are. Just leave me alone.”
“Like hell.”
Stupid tears flooded her eyes. She couldn’t blink them away fast enough and the stupid jerk saw she was about to bawl like a stupid baby.
“Sweet Jesus, are you cryin’?”
“No.” She jammed her wallet in her back pocket and attempted to flee.
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Lorelei James
“Dammit. Don’t you walk away like this.”
“Haven’t you humiliated me enough tonight?” India dodged people congregating in the hallways, fully aware they were gawking at her. And him. And them.
“Come back here.”
Burning gazes of strangers raked her inked skin as deeply as if they were wielding tattoo needles. Disgusted glances at her piercings pricked her as sharply as if they were holding a piercing gun. Normally she could give a rip about the stares, but tonight she had a hard time holding her head up, which pissed her off.
She didn’t get far before Colt clamped his fingers around her biceps. “Let me go.”
“Not a chance.”
“Where’s your date?”
“Shut up, Indy.”
“I hate you.”
“No, sugar, you don’t.”
More tears surfaced.
He dragged her downstairs.
“I’m sure my cousin Blake would’ve been happy to escort you.
Or aren’t there any headboards here that he needs to fix?”
“You’re hilarious, McKay.”
Colt flashed his teeth. “I try.”
“I expected better from you.”
People around them were starting to stare.
“Meaning what?”
Through clenched teeth she said, “Meaning, I don’t need your fucking pity.”
Lorelei James
“Why would I feel sorry for you?”
“Because no one else bid on my prize, and you’re throwing cash around like—”
“It’s my money and I can do what I want with it.”
“Were you buying the tattoo package as a gift for your date?”
He scowled.
“She’s not exactly the tattoo type, is she? And God forbid anyone else in this town would admit in public they’d pay to cavort with a low-class ink slinger like me.”
Fury darkened his eyes. “Watch it.”
She gave him an innocent look. “Did I insult her?”
“It ain’t my date you’re insulting, it’s yourself, and that pisses me off worse, so knock it the hell off. I expected better from you, sugar.”
“Don’t you sugar me, Colt McKay.” India tugged her wallet out of her back jeans pocket and unclipped the chain. “How about if I write you a check for a thousand bucks and we’ll call it even.”
“Put your money away.”
“I won’t be beholden to you for anything.”
“Too fuckin’ late and you’re treading on thin ice, India.”
She got right in his face. “So? I feel like stomping all over that ice, Colt, with sharp, pointy crampons to see who falls through the cracks first.”
“It looks like you’re the one who’s cracking up.”
“It’s your fault.”
“My fault? How do you figure?”
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Branded As Trouble
India smacked him in the chest with her wallet. “Because I’ve been trying to get in touch with you all week.”
“Why?”
Because I missed you, you clueless jerk . “Because you missed Tuesday night’s meeting.”
Colt stared at her with belligerence. “So? I’ve been busy.”
“You were too busy to come to a meeting?”
“Cut me some slack. I’ve missed one meeting in two and a half years.”
“I left you a bajillion messages.”
“I particularly liked the one where you called me a dickhead.”
That brought a small smile. “If the shitkicker fits…”
“Don’t fuck with me, India. I’m not in the mood.”
“Well, gee, I wouldn’t want anything to ruin your ‘mood’, especially since you have a hot date.” India bit her cheek to keep from lashing out further. “You know what? Forget it. All of it. Have a lovely evening with your horse-faced honey.”
Colt laughed and said, “Oh, no you don’t,” as he snatched her elbow. “We ain’t close to done with this conversation.”
“We are. Just leave me alone.”
“Like hell.”
Stupid tears flooded her eyes. She couldn’t blink them away fast enough and the stupid jerk saw she was about to bawl like a stupid baby.
“Sweet Jesus, are you cryin’?”
“No.” She jammed her wallet in her back pocket and attempted to flee.
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Lorelei James
“Dammit. Don’t you walk away like this.”
“Haven’t you humiliated me enough tonight?” India dodged people congregating in the hallways, fully aware they were gawking at her. And him. And them.
“Come back here.”
Burning gazes of strangers raked her inked skin as deeply as if they were wielding tattoo needles. Disgusted glances at her piercings pricked her as sharply as if they were holding a piercing gun. Normally she could give a rip about the stares, but tonight she had a hard time holding her head up, which pissed her off.
She didn’t get far before Colt clamped his fingers around her biceps. “Let me go.”
“Not a chance.”
“Where’s your date?”
“Shut up, Indy.”
“I hate you.”
“No, sugar, you don’t.”
More tears surfaced.
He dragged her downstairs.
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