Some Like It in Handcuffs (8 page)

It all made her fear for Benny. Maybe he knew more of what happened to Karina than he let on. He could be afraid of Slater, question his involvement, but with no proof he sent Sunny the messages so she’d dig deeper. All the thoughts jumbled inside her head and she pressed her fingers to her temples. If she had time alone with Judson she’d tell him what she’d overheard, show him the note and get his thoughts.

Sunny turned on her heel coming face to face with her boss.

“Whoa, you surprised me.” Her palm covered her heart. “What’s up?”

Benny steadied her, his hands firm on her upper arms. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just wanted to talk to you before you hit the floor.”

“Sure, what’s going on?” She shrugged from his touch, unable to get a grip on her instincts. She trusted Benny, but now she wasn’t so sure she should.

“The guy from the other night is back.”

Great, he’s already arrived.

“Where is he?” With an unsteady hand she placed a length of hair behind her ear. Her nerves were on edge and a breathless feeling invaded her lungs. She doubted her ability to get through the night with Judson there to monitor her every move.

“He’s sitting at the bar, in the corner.”

“Okay, thanks for the heads up.”

“Sunny,” he paused, genuine concern etched across his face. “He asked for you by name.”

“He did?” Sunny hooked her thumb into the belt loop of her shorts to hide the shakiness of her hands.

Well, it’s improv night at Benny’s Backyard Playhouse. Hopefully I can keep up my act all night.

“If you have any problems give me the signal.”

The signal consisted of a fingerless whistle, which thanks to her brother Craig she had quite a talent for. “Will do. Thanks.”

“Not a problem, girlie.” He saluted her.

Sunny readied herself mentally for the long night ahead.

****

Judson sat perched on the wooden stool in the corner at the bar. He took a swig of the bottled beer he planned to nurse and watched the doors from the back room swing open. Sunny emerged and the thin line of her eyebrows rose a notch. She inspected the people filling the stools around the horse shoe shaped counter.

Her gaze slid over everyone until it rested on him, she bit her lip. He winked at her, and color rose up her neck to cover her cheeks.

Judson placed his beer in front of him, and ran his ring finger and thumb from the center of his pasted on mustache to the tips. Her high heels accentuated her slender legs and he was drawn to the slight sway of her hips as she moved toward him. When she brushed a trembling hand down the front of her shorts, it showed her agitation. He made the decision to have a little fun with her.

“Hey, baby.”

“Don’t
hey baby
me.” She stopped in front of him. He grinned at the idea she had decided to play this off as the angry woman.

He removed his baseball cap and wiped his hand over his freshly shaved head. “Surprised to see me?” he said loud enough for the guy following Sunny out of the back room to hear. He leaned against the row of cupboards just inside the bar, his eyes intent on them.

Something about the older man’s almond shaped eyes and tall angular frame made Judson stop and stare. Benny suffered a stab wound years ago. The damaged nerves left him with a limp that would be a constant reminder of his troubled youth. Although it’d been quite awhile since he’d seen his mug shots, there was no denying the resemblance. No doubt this was Benny.

“What the h—” Her mouth hung open for a brief moment before she snapped it shut. The fact he’d surprised her with his disguise increased his playful mood.

“How about giving your guy a smooch?” He wiggled his eyebrows.

“Drop dead.” Her pretend anger didn’t carry over as she leaned into the bar so only Judson could hear. “Don’t you think you’re taking your disguise a bit far?”

Judson couldn’t resist, he leaned over the counter, placed his palm behind her neck and dragged her toward him. His mouth caught hers before she had a chance to react. Her body stiffened, but before she could pull away he brushed his tongue playfully across her lips. She moaned, the sound stopped his heart. Her lips softened, letting his tongue slip inside to mingle with her own.

God, her mouth tasted sweet, like honey. His fingers slid up the nape of her neck to fan across the back of her head and pull her closer.

When they broke apart, Sunny gazed at him doe-eyed. She teetered back before steadying herself by gripping the cabinets beside her. The rosy hue on her cheeks turned a brilliant red.

Judson took several breaths. His heart started to beat again, but its rhythm was off. The kiss was supposed to be a joke, a ruse, done partly to convince anyone watching them of the role he was playing, and partly to piss Sunny off. He hadn’t expected her to taste so damn good, or to feed the need gnawing at his insides.

His control over the situation had dwindled. Their brief kiss had affected him more than he wanted to admit, and more than he wanted her to know. He sat back, grabbed his cold brew and lifted it to his mouth. The spontaneous kiss to tease her when she couldn’t do anything about it had backfired.

Fury creased her brow as she shot ice blue daggers at him, her surprise overtaken by anger. This time it was real. Benny limped to her side. Even with a bad leg he moved with surprising speed. His jaw ticked, his intense gaze rested on Judson.

“Hey, don’t touch my girls.” Benny stepped in front of Sunny as she picked mustache hairs from her lip.

Damn, he’d have to act fast. “Let me give you the four-one-one old man, this is
my
girl
.
”

Judson stood then glanced at Sunny. Even though she glared at him with cold eyes, hands on hips, and foot tapping the floor, she looked downright sexy. The twitch between his legs begged him to jump across the counter and drag her into his arms for a more thorough kiss. He stiffened his stance to resist.

“Whoa, cue ball, you wait—” Throwing in the nickname referring to his bald head was a great touch. She played her angry part well, but then again, she wasn’t acting.

“Sunny baby, you need to fill this old coot in about us. You didn’t go and find yourself another sugar daddy did you?”

Sunny winced.

Judson smirked.

And Benny looked from one to the other.

Judson loved this. Her stunned expression as she looked from him to Benny more than made up for the lengths he’d gone to for his disguise.

“Don’t
baby
me.” Her eyes were mere slits. “And, for your information this is my boss. Not my sugar daddy.”

“Or anyone else’s for that matter.” Benny’s voice was devoid of emotion.

Sunny directed her words to Benny. “This is my arrogant ex, Judson. Although he’s annoying, pig headed and bad mannered, he’s harmless.” Sunny narrowed her gaze when she turned toward Judson.

For the most part Benny relaxed and extended his hand to Judson. An edge of tenseness remained around his mouth, but Sunny guessed he’d get over it soon enough. “If Sunny says your okay, then you’re welcome anytime. I’m Benny, Benny Griggs.”

“My friends call me Jud.” Judson grinned and the men shook hands. “The ladies call me cue ball.” He winked at Sunny, sliding his palm across his scalp. Both men laughed when she rolled her eyes.

“Get over yourself.” Sunny shook her head. “I’ve got work to do.” She stomped toward the other end of the bar just as an over exuberant customer yelled for another round.

****

Sunny rested her hip against the bar while she talked to Kelly Hartford, a new girl Benny had hired to dance a few nights a week, and bring the club into the twenty-first century with a website.

As Sunny looked over her shoulder to shoot Judson the stink eye, he only smiled, wiggled his brows, and continued his conversation with Benny.

“Isn’t that cute?” Kelly cooed. “Looks like Benny’s got himself a new friend.”

“Yeah, super cute,” Sunny grunted.

“Not only a new friend, but a hot-a-licious one at that.” Kelly’s tongue slid over her bright red lips lit up like a neon sign. “He’s gorgeous, Sunny. How do you know him?”

Sunny shrugged and looked away. “He’s my ex.”

She didn’t like lying to Kelly. They were close in age and something about Kelly was different than the others she’d met at the bar, they’d bonded in an instant. She seemed out of place and Sunny’s intuition nagged her that the other girl was there for more than just a paycheck. But then again, she had reason to doubt her instincts.

“Hmm, ex-what?” Kelly giggled and squeezed Sunny’s hand. “Ex-boyfriend, ex-lover, ex-husband, or extraordinary.”

Sunny laughed and swooshed her hand away. “Kelly, you’re naughty. But, I like it.”

“Hey….hey, Sunny-girl.” One of the regulars slurred from across the floor. “How bout you wiggle your purty little fanny over here with another round.”

“Yeah, yeah. Hold your horses, Joe.” She turned from Kelly to fill a tray with several beers for the group seated around the table. They were short staffed tonight, so Sunny had to tend bar and wait tables.

“Come on, Sunny-girl, we’re drying up over here.” Another man at their table called.

Sunny laughed in good humor. They liked to give her a hard time, but they were harmless. “Maybe if you tipped better I’d move faster.”

“You’re breaking our hearts.” Joe placed his hand over his chest in an exaggerated swoon. His friends laughed.

She balanced the circular tray over her shoulder and rounded the bar toward their table. Sunny placed their drinks on napkins in front of them. “There you go boys, drink up.”

When the cool touch of an unexpected hand glided up the back of her leg to cup her behind she jumped and spun around. “Don’t touch the help, buddy.”

The stranger leaned back in his chair, cocking his head to one side. His pale blue gaze slid over her from head to foot, as if appraising her. A smirk pulled at the corners of his thin lips. “Relax kitten, I’m just having some fun.”

Her first reaction was to hit him with her tray, but she held her breath and counted to five in silence.

“Not my kind of fun.”

Play it cool. You’ve been through this before.
Craig had taught her several wrestling moves that had come in handy over the years. Her hands fisted as she prepared to put one or two into action.

The hollow laugh of the stranger caused the hairs on the back of her neck to rise. Her toes clenched inside her sparkly red stilettos. He tossed his long, dirty-blond hair from his face. “No need to play hard to get.”

Everyone underestimated her ability to bring a grown man to his knees. Just last week she’d surprised a guy when he’d cornered her outside the restroom. She’d warned him nicely, but when he made a grab for her, she flipped him over her back so that he hit the floor with a thud before he’d had a chance to blink. He’d left the bar not only with a bruised back but a dented ego as well.

“Does it look like I’m playing?” Her jaw tightened and she threw his hand away when he tried to grab her wrist. He raised his palms in a sign of surrender and Sunny turned to leave.

He lunged forward and grabbed her around the waist. She struggled against him, but he tightened his hold. The serving tray in her hand crashed to the floor. The man’s large sweaty palms slid around her bared mid section and she dug at his fingers, but he chuckled and tightened his grip.

Don’t lose it, don’t panic.

Sunny threw her hands behind her to wrap them around his neck, pulling his head down with a whack to her shoulder. The stranger’s nose connected with a loud thud and he shook his head. Pain streaked down her shoulder, but she ignored it.

Joe from the next table stood to come to her aid, but the greasy blue eyed ape shoved him backward with one hand, he stumbled into his table of friends and fell to the floor.

“Back off—” Sunny’s gaze darted around as she tried to find the part time bouncer. He usually seemed to pick and choose his hours and even when he was supposed to be on duty, he’d be scarce.

“You like it rough, kitten, is that it?” He yanked her down onto his lap and held her there. His scent, a mixture of booze, cigars and sweat made her want to gag. The feel of his breath on her neck and his body against hers sent a shock of revulsion through her. Anger and panic collided inside of her. Her heel dug into his shin at the same time as she angled her elbow and rammed it into his ribs. “I told you to—”

His body stiffened and his fingers dug into her stomach. “Hey, get—”

“Let the lady up.”

The hard edged voice came from above. The man loosened his grip and Sunny stopped struggling. They both looked up into the solid stare of Judson’s dark smoldering eyes. His solid frame towered over them, blocking out the smoky lights overhead.

Sunny swallowed. He looked intimidating. Part of her resented his interference, but another part welcomed it. He stepped closer, his eyes silver slits. “Let her up.”

The low growl of Judson’s voice sent a wave of unease through Sunny. Her body went stiff, the stranger still held her, but slid his damp palms around to her back.

“Hey man, calm down.” He shoved her away from him with such force her ankle twisted and her heel fell off. Judson steadied her with one hand before she fell to her knees. “I’m just messing around.” The younger man’s voice shook.

Judson circled her waist with his arm and drew her behind him. “Get out.”

“Oh, come on man. It was a joke.” He looked around Judson’s bulk and smiled at Sunny. “You’re okay, right? You know I wasn’t serious, right?”

“Leave. Now.” Judson’s voice crashed like thunder.

Sunny gimped back, not sure if she should intervene, or let Judson flex his muscles on her behalf. The stranger scrutinized Sunny and kicked her heel toward her. Judson stepped forward, shoulders back, fists tight. Benny came up beside Sunny pulling her back.

“Okay, okay.” The smaller man stood and stared at Judson. “I’m leaving.” He stepped past Judson, but turned his head to keep him in sight as he slinked toward the exit.

The bar had gone deadly quiet. All eyes were on the dirty-blond man and Judson.

Once the stranger reached the door he turned toward the room then yelled, “You better watch your back, dude. You don’t know who you just messed with.” He yanked the door open with such force it hit him in the nose. His head shot back, he shouted a curse then stumbled outside wiping blood from his face.