Mustang Sassy (9 page)

“Good.”

Jordan backed off and gave Libby a frown. “Why?”

Libby studied his face for a moment and then grinned. “Oh! It’s not what you think. I don’t like you. I mean, I like you, but I’m not after you. I’m making Sass jealous because she likes you.”

Jordan had never been more perplexed. He slowly shook his head and said, “What?”

“Sass likes you.”

“Is that what she told you?”

“No,” Libby said with a chuckle. “We’re best friends. I know how she operates.”

Curiosity got the better of him. “How does she operate?”

“When she likes someone, she shows it by pretending she can’t stand them.”

Jordan laughed. “I appreciate the heads-up, but I don’t even know her. There’s nothing I can do—”

“By the way you two were grinding on the dance floor? I think you know
exactly
what you can do.”

“Are you trying to set us up?”

“Maybe.” She glanced back at Sass. “She’s a great girl. A little rough around the edges maybe, but great. You’re perfect, just passing through and all that. Just be honest about your intentions. She’ll respect you for that. Sass hates liars.”

The song couldn’t end soon enough. Jordan strode to the men’s room so Libby couldn’t see his face because obviously the redhead was perceptive. Don’t lie? A little late for that, wasn’t it? And his intentions? Oh, his intentions were anything but honorable. Both where the shop
and
Sass were concerned.

As much as Libby’s suggestion appealed to his baser instinct—really appealed—he would at least stay honorable in the Sass department, no matter how much he might want to kiss her again.

As he was washing his hands he heard the door slam behind him and a voice with a slight accent said, “Hey, bro, word of advice. Stay away from Hogan’s daughter.”

It was the same phrase that had been flashing through his head just moments before. Only this time it was aloud.

Carlos.

Without turning around, Jordan said the first thing that came to mind, “What business is it of yours?”

“She’s a friend.”

“She’s a grown woman. She can make her own decisions.”

“I look out for her.”

“Do you now?”

“I don’t like your tone.”

“I didn’t like your story about Sass.”

Carlos launched himself at him. The guy was smaller and lighter but he was strong. The added element of surprise threw Jordan off balance and he crashed into the door. A fist connected with the side of his head and, for a split second, stars clouded his vision. The weight of both of them against the door pushed it open, and he stumbled into the hallway with Carlos after him, swinging.

“Come on, man, you fight like a pussy.”

Jordan held his arms up to ward off the blows. How he wanted to pummel the guy, but he couldn’t. It would ruin everything. Instead of swinging, he caught the other man’s wrist and pulled him around into a headlock. “Give it up. I don’t want to fight you.”

Carlos had other ideas. He elbowed Jordan in the solar plexus, forcing his release. Doubled over, Jordan gasped for breath, but wasn’t given time to catch it. Yanking up on Jordan’s shirt Carlos threw a punch at his face before he had a chance to get an arm up to block it. He turned his head at the last second, catching a fist on the corner of his brow.

He stumbled down the hall, disorientated.

“C’mon,” Carlos taunted. “Let’s see what you got, tough guy.”

Fuck. His fists ached for action but somehow he controlled himself. It wasn’t easy fighting raw instinct but he managed, because he needed Carlos. “Dude. I’m not going to fight you.”

“Yeah? ’Cuz you know your face is going to look like your car.”

“I got too much respect for you, man,” he ground out, backing away.

Carlos stood there with his fists ready and his muscles twitching. “Yeah?”

“Oh yeah. I mean, who wouldn’t? Your Mustang was my inspiration.”

Carlos chewed on that information for a moment.

“All I did was dance with her. It’s nothing. If I had any idea you’d get jealous—”

“I’m not jealous.”

“No? You jump guys from behind because you’re what? Protective?”

Carlos’s expression changed. “Stay the fuck away from Sass.” He came after him again, fists swinging, and Jordan had no choice but to engage. The man was going to hammer him if he didn’t fight back.

“Stop!” Someone pushed their way between them, shoving at them until they’d separated.

Suddenly, Jordan became aware of his surroundings, of the crowd that had gathered to watch the fight. Dammit! This was not how he’d planned for things to go.

“What the hell is going on here?” Sass demanded her hands on her narrow hips, looking back and forth between him and Carlos, frowning.

Except for a grunt, Carlos didn’t respond. She looked at Jordan, complete confusion on her face.

What was he supposed to say? We were fighting over you? Like that would go over well. He was supposed to be infiltrating Hogan’s not causing division between the staff.

When he didn’t answer because, well, there was no reasonable answer, she gave a shake of her head and walked away. It took every ounce of his reserves not to chase after her.

…

“They were fighting over you,” Libby said for the hundredth time as they drove from the Pit back to Libby’s place.

“No they weren’t.” Sass replied, for the hundredth time, too.

“Seriously, Sass? That’s so awesome!”

“No, it’s not.”

“Yes it is. I’d love to have two guys fighting over me. That’s, like, every girl’s fantasy.”

“Well it’s not mine and anyway, I’m sure it was Tori they were fighting over. She probably came onto Jordan and Carlos threw a fit.”

“Yeah but then why did Carlos say, stay away from
Sass
.”

Pulling up in front of Libby’s condo, she put the car in park. “I don’t know.” She’d heard it too even though it made no sense. What did Carlos care? He chose Tori.

“You know what this means, don’t you?”

Sass shook her head.

“You need to head straight back to the Pit and offer Jordan a ride back to the Inn.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Why do you think?”

“Jeez, Lib. For the last time, I’m not hooking up with Michaels. I don’t even know him.”

“Apparently you know him well enough to take him to your cabin. Somewhere you’ve never taken any other guy before.”

Sass groaned. Why did Libby always have to use everything she told her against her?

“Plus, when’s the last time you had sex?”

“None of your business.”

“That long? Tell me you’ve had sex with someone since Dex.”

“I don’t know.”

“How can you not know?”

“Because I…” When
was
the last time she and Carlos had been together? Let’s see, was it the night after she’d finished sanding the Corvette? When was that…a month ago? No. It couldn’t have been that long.

“I don’t get you. Why are you denying yourself this opportunity? You like Jordan. That’s obvious. He likes you. Also obvious. I mean, the guy could not keep his hands off you while you were dancing.”

“Can you drop it? Please?”

“Fine.” She squeezed Sass’s hand and said, “By the way, you’re coming over for supper tomorrow. The thought of you eating beans and ketchup is sad and disgusting.”

Sass sighed, thankful for the change of subject. “Okay.”

Libby dug inside her purse and pulled out a handful of foil discs, tossing them onto the dashboard.

“What are those?”

“An assortment of condoms. Go find Jordan. It’ll be good for you. Might help you forget about whatever
isn’t
going on between you and Carlos.” With that, Libby finally opened the door and stepped out. “Can’t wait to hear all about it tomorrow.”

With a groan, Sass pulled away from the curb, more distressed than ever. Libby was onto her and Carlos. After his little scene in the bar, she probably wasn’t the only one. Damn. Things had been going so well and she’d been holding it together. Then in a moment of insanity, she’d asked Michaels to dance and all hell broke loose.

Stupid.

What she needed to do was head home and go to bed except she was too hyped. The conversation with Libby had done nothing to calm her down. Condoms sliding around on the top of her dashboard didn’t help either. She couldn’t stop thinking about Jordan. It was irrational and she tried to remind herself of the car sitting in the shop, but it was no use.

She could still feel his hands, the thud of his heart, the whisper of his breath in her hair.

Carlos and Jordan were fighting over you
.

Her stomach tightened and the cotton of her shirt suddenly felt strange against her chest.

She switched on the radio for a distraction but the soft voice of Faith Hill singing “Lost” was not what she was in the mood for. She flipped the tuner to 103.5 The Fox, a classic rock station out of Denver. Ozzy’s “Crazy Train” blasted out of the speakers. There. That was better. Ozzy fit her mood perfectly, not to mention sort of defined her life at the moment.

Instead of parked in the driveway at home, Sass found herself on the road to the Snake Pit, her hands tapping out the beat against the wheel, a mosh pit of nerves careening around her stomach.

A lonely figure walking by the side of the road caught her attention. Jordan. Strangely, the sight of him calmed the dance party taking place in her stomach.

Slowing the car down, she leaned over to unroll the passenger window. “Hey. Want a lift?”

Chapter Seven

Jordan squinted at her with his good eye. “What?”

She turned down the radio. “Want a lift?”

He glanced up the road then back at her. “Yeah, thanks.”

The Greenwood Inn wasn’t too far away, but with a head injury and in the dark, it wasn’t the best idea to be walking alone. That’s why Sass picked him up. She was concerned about him, and she owed him. That was all. Really.

Aww hell. Who was she fooling? Libby’s advice swirled around in her confused brain. A brain that had completely forgotten about the condoms spread out all across her dashboard. Once Jordan was settled and she pulled the car back onto the road, a condom fell right into his lap. He picked it up and flipped it from side to side. “You have plans for tonight?”

She snatched the disc out of his hand and said, “They’re Libby’s. She leaves them everywhere she goes.”

He chuckled. “I like her.”

“Yeah. She’s great.” Sass piled the sarcasm high.

Swiping the rest of the condoms off her dashboard, she said, “So, how are you doing?” It was a stupid question, but it was the only one she could think of.

“I’m awesome,” he said, sounding way more chipper than he appeared. “Let’s see. I’ve been in this town less than three days and I’ve already been in a fight, kidnapped…” He glanced sideways at her, “And—oh yeah—had my car busted up. Can’t forget that.”

Oh, God. As if she could forget. Sass swallowed hard and glanced at Jordan. “Sorry about all that,” she said quietly. They drove in silence for a few minutes, but the quiet was making her antsy. “So, um, what happened back there? With Carlos?”

It took him a while, but finally he said, “You.” She could see the flash of his teeth in the dim light of the console. “You happened.”

“Me?” Sass shifted hard. Why did that one simple word curl her innards into a knot? “What did I do?”

He was still watching her and his gaze was like the blast of the MIG welder on the highest setting.

“Carlos seems to think he needs to protect you from guys like me.”

Forcing a laugh, Sass said, “That’s stupid.”

“Is it?”

“Yeah.” She cleared her throat. This was a bad topic. If Jordan figured out there’d been something between her and Carlos, all he had to do was extrapolate a little and he’d figure out who totaled his car. “Sometimes Carlos acts like I’m his little sister. I don’t know why.”

“His little sister, huh?”

She didn’t like his tone. Had Carlos said something? Why? He was the one who’d left her. “I will never understand men,” she muttered.

“We’re not that hard to figure out. Carlos was jealous.”

“Jealous? He’s with Tori.”

“Sass, in a choice between you and Tori, there’s no competition.”

Jordan’s comment started up a celebration in her stomach. Thankfully, she’d just pulled into the Greenwood Inn’s parking lot, so the topic of conversation was now closed.

“I’m room one twenty-nine, around back.”

Apparently dropping him off at the lobby entrance wasn’t what he wanted. What did that mean? He didn’t really think she was going to come in with him, did he? She drove slowly through the parking lot and around the building, watching for the number, her throat too constricted to speak. She pulled into a stall right in front of his door.

“Thanks,” he said.

She nodded. Her voice still inoperable.

He climbed out but then ducked his head inside one more time. “I guess I’ll be seeing you around.”

“Yep.” She finally managed to make some sound. “See you around.”

He dipped his head, shut the door, and disappeared inside his hotel room.

Sass turned the ignition off and rested her head against the steering wheel. What was she doing? What had she hoped would happen here tonight? She wasn’t really interested in a no-strings-attached hookup with City-boy, was she?

The memory of Jordan’s big body pressed against hers, his fingers tickling the skin at the small of her back, his spicy aftershave made her catch her breath.

She banged her head softly against the steering wheel.

No.

She wasn’t sitting outside his room waiting to be invited in for a booty call, she was there waiting to grow herself some balls, to get out of the car, bang on City-boy’s door, and come clean about what she’d done. She hated dishonesty in others and here she was being that person. Now the lies were piling up and people were getting hurt.

Yep. That’s what she needed to do. Sass squeezed her eyes tight, playing the scenario over in her mind. Knocking on Michaels’ door, starting the conversation with, “Hey, you want to hear a funny story…?” In her mind’s eye, Sass went through the whole speech, telling him her side of the story from seeing Carlos on the dance floor with Tori, to realizing her mistake at the shop. She’d apologize for lying and assure him she’d fix his car better than new. In her fantasy, Jordan would accept her apology and even laugh with her about it.