Holding On (Road House Series) by Madison Stevens Page B

stare. “Okay, something.” He sighed. “I don’t know what it is about her, but she sets me on edge.”
    “Oh, how so?”
    He leaned back and downed the rest of his beer.
    “Can’t explain it really. Like she’s stripping me down.” He snorted at her smirk. “Not like that. Hell, I don’t know. Doesn’t matter. Just don’t like her. Too prissy.”
    “Well that’s too bad. I think she did a heck of a job raising Pan.” Sarah started to wipe the bar, and he quickly picked up on her nonchalant attitude. “Left college and everything just to raise her. Between raising a teen and the bookstore, I don’t think she gets out much. Sort of shy and quiet.”
    Luc sat up a little. She might have seemed mousy, but the woman he had been dealing with was anything but shy and quiet. The conflicting perspectives confused him. He started to doubt his whole approach.
    “Give me two beers.” He sighed. “I’ll go make friends.”
    When Sarah came back with the beers, Luc slowly made his way to the table. He stood directly in front of Iris and placed the beer down.
    “Look, I think we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot. Let’s start over.” Luc flashed the dimples and extended his hand. “Hi, nice to meet you. My name is Luc.”
    Iris narrowed her eyes on his hand and leaned back. Slowly, she stood.
    “Why don’t you keep that beer?” she said. “If you’re planning to con some girl into sleep with you, you’re going to need it.” She turned without hesitation and spoke with Pan. “One beer. I’m out.”
    With that, she gathered her things and walked out.
    Luc stood in shocked silence. When he had recovered and anger pulsed though him, she was long gone. He rubbed the scar. She was right. He would need two beers if he was going to convince a woman to sleep with someone with a face like him.
    He gulped down her beer and flopped into his seat. His instincts were right. She was exactly like Victoria.
     
    ***
    Iris cursed when she reached her car. How could he say such vulgar things? Iris blushed. It was just beyond her. It wasn’t as if she was a virgin or didn’t like romance, but sleazy biker pick-up lines were not romance. What he did was dirty and steamy and absolutely turning her on. She shook her head. Last thing she needed was anything to do with that man.
    She climbed into the car and turned the air conditioner to full blast. Not only was summer in full swing, but her arousal had reached a whole new level. As she unbuttoned a few of the top buttons on her blouse, she turned to catch Luc staring through the window of the bar.
    Electricity zinged between her legs. She reached up to undo one more and noticed his hand clench the table. In anger or arousal, she thought. Likely both. A smile lit at the corner of her mouth. Good to know it wasn’t just one way. Still smiling, she started the car and drove off.
     
    ***
    Damn her! Playing with him like this. Here, he was with all his friends, sporting one hell of a hard on.
    Pan caught his eye and smirked. Shit, she knew, he thought.
    “Man, why’d you have to run her off?” Emilio said. “You might not want her, but some of us wouldn’t mind getting closer.” Emilio smiled at him across the table. His tanned skin and black shiny hair made him a pick for many women. Luc stiffened at the thought of them together.
    “Just forget it,” he ground out.
    “No, I’m with Emilio,” said Tyler. “She was hot and you ran her off. Just because you gave up women, doesn’t mean we have.” Tyler was about as typical biker as a man could be. Piercings, tats and lots of facial hair. Luc had seen many a woman fall for his bad-boy image.
    Luc slammed his fist on the table. “I said fucking leave it.”
    Once again, he glanced over at Pan. She quirked an eyebrow in challenge.
    “I’m out,” he said. Luc stood, threw a few bills on the table and tossed his keys down. “I’m going for a walk. Someone drop it off at the shop.”
    Without another word, he was out