LLucy’s Revenge(Divine Creek Ranch 15)(84)

Charity made introductions and Lucy smiled as she and her men shook hands with Ransome Cross and Val Teller. Both men were darkly tanned and their hands were calloused so she didn’t think they spent much time on a tanning bed. Ransome was at least six and a half feet and Val was slightly less.

She could feel how tense Beck had grown since they’d walked up and hoped that this didn’t turn into a pissing match.

Patrick said, “Are you from this area?” He was being cordial but she could sense tension in his touch as he stroked her back.

“We grew up in Morehead with Justin but we moved away after high school. Recently returned to the area but not sure if we’re settling here yet.”

“What do you do for a living?” Beck asked.

“A little of this. A little of that,” Ransome responded with a slight smile before he cast a long, brown-eyed gaze at her.

Beck’s grip tightened on her. “See something you like?”

Ransome’s lips curved into a slight smile but he said nothing.

Thankfully, several people walked up to Beck’s table just then and Lucy said, “Would you all excuse us for a second? We have customers, Beck.”

With obvious reluctance, he walked with her back to the booth and they helped the customers who had entered. When they were finally alone for a minute, she slid against Beck and hugged him. He still felt tense. “Beck, look at me.”

Beck looked off in the direction of their group and then looked at her. The heat in his eyes had diminished somewhat but she knew he was still pissed off.

“Beck, listen. I’m going to the ROT Rally to help Seth and Jayne, not to have a wild time. I promise. You and Patrick are the only men I want.”

“He was looking at you like he wanted to eat you. I’ve been to the ROT Rally before. It’ll be even worse there. They’ll all be eye-fucking you, especially if you’re in leathers.”

“I want to help with Seth’s booth. I helped last year, too. I won’t go anywhere without a buddy.”

“It’s not safe.”

“I’ll be safer there than I would be at the Divine County Fair and you know that. They watch out for their own at that rally. Jayne is wearing leathers, too, so she can show off her tattoo. Do you think Seth would let me or Jayne go if he wasn’t sure we’d be safe?”

Reluctantly, he said, “No. I trust your brother. And Justin.” He stroked her cheek and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “And you’ll be dressed all sexy in leathers.”

“Part of the culture and job description, honey. Do you trust me?”

Beck kissed her lips. “Of course I do.”

“There will be tons of women dressed the same way I will. They’ll be looking at them, too. Once the sun goes down, a lot of them will go topless. And by then most of them will have moved over to the parade route.”

“Not helping your case, sweetness,” he said, but at least he chuckled. “Shit can get pretty raw on that parade loop.”

She remembered all too well the Jell-O shots she’d been offered to flash her breasts, and the poles set up on the parade route, which was at least a couple of miles long, for any woman bold enough—or drunk enough—to pole dance to the loud music playing all night.

“I know. I’m not planning to go topless and I probably won’t even go for a ride this time.”

Beck’s eyes glittered. “This time?”

“Yeah. I rode with Seth once last year. I know how crazy it gets. I’m a big girl, honey.”

Beck shook his head. “You’re an incredibly sexy woman.”

A customer approached and they both went back to work as the craft fair filled up with customers. Their group gradually dispersed, some returning to their booths and others meandering around looking at the goods or checking out the food booths. Ransome and Val were definitely nice to look at but Lucy was relieved when they walked away, deep in conversation with Charity and Justin.

“Where’s Patrick and PJ?” Lucy asked as she put cash in the lock box under the table. Beck looked around and then pointed across the park, by one of the street corners near the food vendors.

“Oh, that doesn’t look good,” she whispered as she watched Patrick deep in a heated conversation with his dad. PJ was holding his hand and looking like he wanted to be running with a group of kids who’d gathered to splash in the fountain nearby. He kept yanking at Patrick’s hand but Patrick gave his father his full attention.

“I’ll be right back, Beck.”

“Lucy, I’d let him handle his dad.”

Patting his shoulder, Lucy said, “I will. I’ll just go get PJ. He probably doesn’t need to hear their conversation, even if it’s only passively.”