Chapter 12 #2
“Homemade, a little rough around the edges.” He rubbed the condensation off his glass, his gaze scanning the room. “But it has a certain charm.”
Just like the man drinking it.
“Come on, Ms. Assassin. Let’s find someone who knows where Lastite Lala likes to hang out.”
They circled the room, wary gazes following their progress. Ria studied the occupants. “Drunk, happy crowd in the corner might be willing to help.”
He studied them. “Maybe.” He took another step when someone stepped in front of him cutting off his path.
“Looking for something, sugar?” the woman purred.
A waft of perfume hit Ria and made her eyes water. The woman had an impossibly small waist and huge breasts barely contained by her red gown.
Ria rolled her eyes. “We’re fine.”
The woman’s dark eyes flicked to her. “Honey, I’m sure the man can talk for himself.” The woman reached out and ran a finger down the buttons of Zayn’s shirt.
Ria arched a brow. “Yes, he can. And I can talk fine too, along with a whole lot of other things I can do.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Like killing people in a thousand different ways.”
The woman’s eyes widened.
“I like seeing you jealous,” Zayn whispered.
“I am not jealous.”
“Betty, sweetheart, Jason Garrett just walked in, why don’t you go make him feel welcome?” Another woman, this one in an emerald-green dress, nudged the red-dressed one away. “We don’t need any bloodshed here. My girls mean well, and I don’t like seeing them hurt.”
The newcomer had a whisky-deep voice and stunning, dark looks.
Ria wasn’t happy to see that this woman was probably around Ria’s age and exceptionally beautiful.
Her slim but curvy figure was accented to perfection by her corset and her dark hair was loose in curls.
Her makeup was discreet, kohl accenting unique silver eyes.
Her intelligent gaze drifted over Ria and settled on Zayn. “You aren’t a cowboy.”
He smiled. “Not usually.”
The woman tilted her head. “My name’s Ursalla. I run the business…upstairs.” She flicked some hair back over one creamy shoulder.
Ria watched Zayn watch the move. Was he really attracted to a woman who sold herself to the highest bidder? She felt a rush of something hot and ugly.
“Let me guess…” Ursalla took her time, letting her gaze linger over every inch of Zayn. “You strike me as a man who likes to go fast. Pilot.” Her red-lipped smile widened. “I like it fast, too.”
“You’re good,” he said.
“Honey, you ain’t seen nothing yet. But I’d be happy to show you.”
Ria almost choked. When Zayn’s smile grew, she wanted to reach out and hit him.
“You come in here looking for something, Mr. Not-a-Cowboy?” Ursalla asked.
He tipped his hat up. “Most definitely.”
“Well, I’d offer to give it and much, much more, but—” her silver eyes flicked to Ria “—I think your lady might take a swing at me.”
Zayn eyed Ria, that stupid smile still in place. “Nah. She’s more likely to sneak into your room at night and slit your throat.”
Ursalla looked taken aback for a second but quickly regained her composure. “Well then. You want to tell me what you need, if it isn’t a fast, sweaty ride to heaven?”
He slapped a hand to his chest and this time Ria smacked him in the shoulder. She looked at the other woman. “We’re trying to find where Lastite Lala lives.”
Usralla’s thin brows rose. She reached under the ruffles of her skirt and pulled out a slim metal container and withdrew a cigarette.
A man walking past stumbled over himself to light it for her.
She offered him a brilliant smile, then blew a cloud of smoke into the air. “I suggest you leave Lala alone.”
“We can pay—”
“I don’t want your money. Lala’s dangerous, no doubt about that, but what most people forget is that she’s a child.”
“We don’t plan to hurt her,” Zayn said. “This is a life or death situation and only she can help us.”
Another puff of smoke. “I heard you helped her out with the Baker brothers yesterday.”
“We might even be able to help her,” Ria added. “Get her off this rock.”
“This rock is a home to many. It’s the only refuge Lala’s ever had.” Ursalla gazed around the room.
Ria knew the woman had noted the location of all her girls and what they were doing.
“But that girl deserves more.” Ursalla pinned them with a hard look. “You promise me you won’t hurt her?”
Ria and Zayn nodded.
“Fine. She lives in an abandoned mine on top of Nitro Hill. Just outside town to the east.”
Zayn nodded. “Thank you.”
Ursalla held out a smooth, milk-white palm. “I’ll take the payment now.”
Ria frowned. “I thought you didn’t want the money?”
“A girl can never have enough gold.”
Zayn handed over some gold coins with a grin. “Thanks.”
“Anytime, sweetheart. And if you ever ditch Ms. Snarly and Dangerous, come track me down.” She blew him a kiss. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
Ria gripped Zayn’s arm and dragged him back into the street.
“I can’t believe you. You still have my scent all over you and here you are all smiles for that…
woman.” She wasn’t going to lower herself to name-calling.
But the hard kernel of emotion inside her, one she didn’t quite recognize, was egging her on.
“Why don’t you just drag her upstairs? Then I won’t have to watch you drooling and grinning like an idiot—”
The shove slammed her up against the wall of the saloon. His big, male body crowded her in, pressing her breasts hard to his chest.
“I’m not interested in Ursalla.”
Ria turned her head to the side. “Could have fooled me.”
His hands slid up her sides, then continued up to cup her cheeks. He turned her head, forced her to look at him. “I was being nice so we’d get our information. That’s all.” He leaned down and nipped at her lips. “There is only one woman I can’t stop thinking about.”
Suddenly Ria was hot. Her skin flushed and her insides melted. God, she was easy.
“Only one woman I want to kiss and stroke and touch.” He kissed her, a long drugging kiss that left her head reeling. “Only one woman whose cries I want to hear in my ear when I slide myself inside her.”
“Zayn.” A husky whisper. Now she felt like an idiot.
He nipped her lips again before he stepped back. “Come on, let’s go climb Nitro Hill, get our girl, and get off this dusty rock.”