Riding the Thunder - Deborah MacGillivray [29]
Eyes bright with hope, Derek asked, “You’re interested—seriously?”
“Your car lives up to what you say, you have a deal.” Jago leaned back against the bar and folded his arms over his chest. “Though I prefer round numbers. $40,000 okay?”
Derek nearly choked on his beer. “You’re kidding.”
“No, I rarely kid about bikes, cars or women.” Jago knew what it was like to have a working mother, struggling to get by. Though the two looked nothing alike, Derek suddenly made Jago think of his brother, Desmond. He recalled how his older sibling had worked long and hard to make a better life for Trev and him, to see they wanted for nothing.
He and Derek would both be getting a good deal. He figured the young man could use a helping hand—and he wanted that Shelby.
Just as he wanted Asha.
Derek laughed. “In that case I won’t rat to Asha and Netta you guys were comparing them to horses, bikes, and boats.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
A rainy Friday night, and not yet eleven o’clock, saw Asha restless, edgy. She didn’t want to go home and watch the telly, but there was damn little else to do around this neck of the woods. Everyone had eaten, or she’d suggest they could all go to her bungalow, put on some DVDs and she’d fix them a late meal. Ordinarily the staff went up the hill to the drive-in on Friday and Saturday nights after work, kicked back, relaxed and enjoyed a few laughs. With the rain pouring down that was a no-go.
“’Night, Asha, Netta,” Derek called, going out the door after Sam.
“’Night, Derek.” Asha cut the overhead lights on the booths, still running options through her mind.
As Netta pushed the condiments cart toward the kitchen, Liam jumped to his feet to open the door for her. Asha watched as their eyes locked for an instant, desire crackling in the air. For some time, she’d suspected that Netta had a serious crush on her brother. Tonight, Asha had noticed how Liam’s hazel eyes tracked Netta with a banked fire. Searching her memory, she failed to recall ever seeing that expression on his face when he’d looked at other women. Being a Meddling Montgomerie, Asha itched to play matchmaker.
Also, she didn’t want the evening over, longing to be near Jago, drawn like the proverbial moth to a flame. The man hit her senses hard. Still, she remained leery of being alone with him—afraid of the wild woman lurking just under her skin, waiting to break free. Having Netta and Liam with them would provide a convenient buffer.
Liam rose, collected the empty beer bottles and dumped them in the trash. “Asha, you have a bungalow empty?”
“Always for you, brother dear.” Asha saw Netta’s head snap up, the blue eyes fixed on Liam, hope banked in the crystalline depths. It dawned on Asha why her brother wanted to stay at the motel. “You’re concerned about that creep Faulkner.”
Liam shrugged. “He’s a bully. That sort never comes at you straightforward. However, he gets liquored up—one of his favorite pastimes—he might try to jump you in the dark. Too much the coward, he won’t dare bother Jago or me, but he would come after a woman. I want you on your toes, lass.”
“I’m always careful, Liam. He doesn’t scare me.” Asha shifted her glance, seeing her brothers concern reflected in Jago’s stare. Fighting a sigh, she realized she could stare into those penetrating eyes all night. That bloody connection again. Unable to stand her vulnerability, she went to stack ashtrays.
“While I have your attention,”—Jago snatched back the one he was using and flicked his cigarillo into it—“how do I get access to the swimming pool? Laps before bed would make me sleep better. It’s still early and I’m restless.”
Restless is the key word tonight, Asha thought. “I don’t have a lifeguard. I use college kids from the University of Kentucky during the summer; I haven’t been able to hire a replacement.”
“I don’t need a lifeguard, Asha. I promise not to run around the pool or start water fights.” He crossed