You Look Like You Love Me
OLLIE
SEPTEMBER
I’d been painfully aware of Cash’s gaze since the moment I started dancing with his cousin, who I think secretly got as much gratification at ruffling his feathers as I did.
Maverick made me promise never to admit that though.
But he’d said it would be good for him. When the song ended, he’d mentioned something about going to check on his girlfriend Cheyenne for a minute.
I’d been heading back to the table when I got stopped by the cowboy holding me now.
He was attractive, dark blonde hair and eyes as blue as an ocean, but there was a hardness to him that I found myself suddenly not so fond of. Weird, I’d always gone for the rough, rugged, emotionally unavailable type.
The cowboy carried himself confidently and he could dance well enough, but he was no Cash that was for sure. There could only be one Big Daddy.
I nearly snorted at the thought. God, even I was referring to him as that now—and not as some big joke. But oddly enough, somehow the obnoxious title fit him.
“What’s your name, sweetheart?” the cowboy crooned as he spun me back into his arms.
This had been fun at first. Seeing the possessive look in Cash’s eyes the moment he saw me on the dancefloor lit a fire in me I sure as hell hadn’t been expecting, but each moment I spent with this guy was a reminder of who I really wanted to be dancing with.
I opened my mouth to respond when I noticed the little tramp Cash was talking to. Well I’ll be damned, that little skank just couldn’t stay away from him, could she?
Something white-hot and bitter bristled in my ribcage, reminding me of a slumbering dragon finally waking up. That emotion only grew hotter, sharper as I watched the girl climb up onto the high-top table and start to dance along to one of the few Hip Hop songs this place played.
I didn’t consider myself to be a jealous person.
I don’t think I ever cared about anything enough to be jealous or possessive.
But this was a matter of pride. I’d scared that tramp off earlier only for her to come scurrying back when I wasn’t looking.
And though I didn’t—would never consider Cash mine, I sure as hell wasn’t going to let this dumb bitch undermine me.
With the cowboy at my side completely forgotten, I stomped across the dancefloor, uncaring of screwing up anyone’s dance in the process.
I reached the table that Cash, Ryder, Violet, Walker, and Bad sat around to find Bad growling something about not spilling all the drinks on the table, but the little buckle bunny didn’t mind him as she danced and gyrated and shimmied all over the countertop.
Walker and Ryder watched from their spots in stunned silence, while Cash’s usually handsome face was contorted into that of abject horror. Maverick still hadn’t returned.
Dear God, did this woman seriously have no fucking class?
Either she was obnoxiously bold—bolder than me, which said a lot—or she was dumb as hell.
If I had to guess, I’d go with the latter.
And while I’m sure this was probably amusing as hell to watch as an outsider, I was in no mood to let this little ordeal go on any longer.
I wasn’t afraid of a fight. And with how much alcohol I’d consumed, the thought of giving this girl even more of a reason to get a nose job sounded like a courtesy at this point.
But to my complete and utter surprise, Violet Mooney cut in before I had a chance to.
“Now!” Violet’s voice boomed over the music as she shot out of her chair and reached up, grabbing a fistful of Kelsea’s hair.
I bit back a grin. The dragon raging in my chest hoped she ripped out her extensions.
“I know you, Kelsea,” Violet continued, holding her hair in a death grip. “And I know your mama… And I know she’d be as embarrassed as sin seein’ you disrespect yourself like this. You come down off that table right this instant before you break somethin’ or someone gets hurt.”
I shivered. The iciness in her glare and voice when I’d met her earlier was nothing compared to the way she spoke to Kelsea.
Violet yanked her off the table and the girl tumbled to the floor.
To her credit, she shot up quickly, holding her hair as she glared at Cash’s mom, angry unshed tears lining her eyes.
Maybe now the dumb bitch would get the hint.
“How dare you?” she screeched. “How dare you touch me, you old witch.”
Well, apparently that was too much to ask.
A security guard pushed past us, but Bad stopped him with a gesture from where he stood beside Violet.
“If it gets outta hand, you can step in,” Bad said. “But I’d get in a stock trailer with a fightin’ bull before I stepped between those two.”
The security guard looked like he wanted to argue, but he stayed put, watching on intently. Hell, most of the bar was at this point.
Cash didn’t hold a shred of the normal Big Daddy energy or confidence he usually wore like a badge of honor. I honestly don’t know what was going through his head. I almost felt bad for actively trying to make him jealous… Almost.
“You ain’t actin’ right, Kelsea,” Violet snapped, dragging my attention back to their argument. “Actin’ a fool and makin’ a scene. I bet your daddy would be so proud if he could see you right now.”
Kelsea lashed out and slapped her across the face.
A collective gasp of surprise rang out. Even Kelsea looked surprised.
I sure as hell was surprised. But Violet didn’t.
She slowly, menacingly, closed the distance between them until she was less than a breath away from Kelsea.
And when she spoke, her words were quiet, low, and full of anger.
“Do you remember what I said to you when you crashed Bad’s truck?” she asked her.
Kelsea glared at Violet, but even from my spot at the opposite end of the table, nearest to Cash, I noticed her hands trembling at her sides. “I don’t care what—”
“You raised your skinny little chicken hand to slap me and I told you one time. You can hit me one time and I wouldn’t do anythin’ about it.
But if you hit me again, I’d slap you so hard I’d make you finally see some shame.
I’d slap you so hard your Mama would quit drinkin’ and come back to God...
Well, Miss Karkoula. That was your one time.
Now. Are you gonna roll the dice and slap me again, or are you gonna come to your senses, put some clothes on, and go rethink that sad life you’ve been livin’? ”
I think Violet Mooney just became my favorite person in the world. If I could be half as menacing as her some day… A soft huff of approval escaped me. This was one badass woman. I sure as hell wouldn’t want to be in this poor girl’s shoes right now.
Poor, unfortunate soul couldn’t have been more fitting earlier.
“I ain’t scared of you.” But the quiver in Kelsea’s voice betrayed her. A few of her friends had appeared behind her but none seemed to have the guts to get any closer as they hovered outside Violet’s line of fire.
Violet’s pretty face twisted into a cold, cruel smile, making her all the more beautiful and all the more terrifying as she almost crooned, “Say ‘when’ then. How much protection you think all that makeup’s gonna offer when I introduce you to hands that’ve actually seen a little hard work?”
Kelsea backed away, her hands coming up in a placating gesture. “You’re crazy…Bitch.”
“And you are loved, child… By God.”
Kelsea muttered something else I couldn’t hear over the music before scampering away with her little friends. The tension in the room dissolved as everyone around Cash’s table all let out audible sighs of relief. A warm, heavy hand on my shoulder gripped my arm.
“You sure got outta there quick, sweetheart. What’s the rush?”
I whirled back around to face him, that rageful dragon that had awoken inside of me still hungry for a poor soul to ruin. “I ain’t your sweetheart, sweetheart.”
He rocked back, his gaze narrowing before settling on something past me. Whatever little bit of warmth that flickered in those blue eyes died out like a fire doused in water.
I followed his glare and landed on Cash just a few steps away from me. Whatever bewildered emotion lurking on his face a few moments ago had vanished, boiling hot fury shining in the green and gold depths as he moved closer to me.
So they knew each other. Great. And I’d managed to land myself right in the middle of a dick swinging contest. I couldn’t help but think Cash’s was bigger. Not that I would know, but while the man at my back feigned confidence, Cash Mooney was confidence.
Bad Mooney stood up and joined the fray. Oh, this was just getting more and more interesting by the minute.
“What the fuck are you doin’ here?” His voice held the power of one of those old time cannons.
“Well shit.” Bodi—apparently—laughed, before pegging Cash with a vicious sneer.
“What if someone else pops up and tries to take you on, Cash? Your cum-stain of a brother gonna pop up out of a trash can and challenge me to a fight too? Better yet, where’s your cousin?
Can’t even fight your own battles now. Gotta get Mommy and Daddy to do it for you. ”
Cash didn’t even bat an eye. Everything about him was calm, cool, collected, which was more than a bit surprising.
I knew he could be a bit of a hot-head, I expected him to take the bait—even just a little bit.
“It’s called support.” Cash’s lips pulled into a grin, but there was no warmth there, only malice.
“That’s what families do… You wouldn’t know that, now would ya, bud? ”
Well, so much for not taking the bait.
“Shut the hell up,” Bodi snapped, getting in Cash’s face.
This guy was just looking for a fight, wasn’t he?
I got between him and Bodi, placing a hand on Cash’s chest. As much as the little whore in me all but purred at the idea of two men fighting for my attention, I didn’t want Bodi. Not at all. And while I loved drama as much as the next person, I’d had enough of it for tonight.
Cash’s hazel gaze dropped to my hand resting over his heart. I could feel the hard thump of it against my skin—strong, steady. His eyes flicked up to meet mine once more and understanding shone in the depths. He didn’t nod or say a word, but he did take a small step backwards.
I turned to glare at the cowboy before me.
He really was second best, if that, to Cash.
I offered him a fake smile as I patted his chest. “You can go now, sweetheart.” His gaze narrowed and I took a step closer to Cash, grabbing his hand and draping it over my shoulder.
“I’ve got everything I need right here.”
His nostrils flared, those sky blue eyes of his igniting into raging infernos. He opened his mouth but a second later closed it, fear flashing in his gaze for a moment. “Whatever, fuck it,” he huffed before turning on his heel and retreating just like that little buckle bunny had.
I turned to find Maverick had returned. And though he didn’t speak, hadn’t even uttered a word, he was menacing. Drenched in black from head to toe, with a look that promised death, he reminded me of the Grim Reaper come to take this poor asshole’s soul.
The cowboy had the sense to be scared.
“Well, that was interestin’.” Cash pulled me tighter to him, his voice once more cheery and confident as he crooned, “Took you long enough to see the good you had in front of you, didn’t you, sugar?”
I rolled my eyes and elbowed him in the ribcage, smirking when he doubled over. “Fuck off, Mooney.”
I was still annoyed with him. Or maybe I wasn’t. I don’t know. The dragon lurking under my skin wasn’t ready to return to her slumber yet, still too pissed about the Kelsea and Bodi situation.
His eyes sparked with a million questions, but before he had a chance to ask, his dad barked out at him. “Cash, go get me a beer. That Kelsea spilled mine.”
Violet’s penetrating gaze settled on me and her son. And while it didn’t hold as much icy anger as when she looked at that little tramp, there wasn’t warmth either.
“Cash, son. Come here.” It wasn’t a request, but a demand.
“But I—” he began.
“Come here,” she snapped.
Watching Cash Mooney silenced was one of the most baffling things I’d ever seen in my life. I didn’t even try to veil my intrigue as I watched their conversation unfold.
“Yes Mama?” he asked, not a shred of cockiness in his tone. He reminded me of a puppy who’d just gotten in trouble.
“If I ever see that little devil-winged, cheap, sad little girl again, I might just do somethin’ un-Christian.
You stick to women.” Her gaze flicked to me and she raised a pink lacquered finger in my direction.
“Like that one with the tattoos. At least she ain’t a sad story on Lifetime waitin’ to happen. ”
If only she knew though. Which I hoped she never did. I didn’t need my past being aired like dirty laundry.
Cash’s heated stare followed his mother’s and I shivered under the weight of it. “Mama, are you sayin’ you approve of Ollie?”
Oh dear God, this so wasn't what I wanted to happen. I had played out a hundred different possibilities for a potential hookup with Cash, but I never in a million years expected it to get this deep so damn quick.
Run. The thought should have been a shout in my mind, and yet right now it was only a mere whisper. That should have scared me, but I couldn’t make myself listen.
“I’m sayin’ there’s things I can stand, and there’s things I can’t stand. And I can’t stand that Karkoula girl.” She pulled Cash close and kissed his cheek. “Now go get your dad a beer.”
Cash made to protest, but Bad made his way toward me.
“Come on, girl,” he all but demanded. “Let’s have a dance.”
Well, looked like the time for running was gone.