“Really? Is that weird? I don’t know if I’d like that.”
PJ caught sight of that dark hair and he turned like she’d called his name. He started her way.
“It is weird. I don’t like it. But we’ve just started seeing each other. I have to deal with it because women seem to be drawn to him like bugs to a porch light. You’ll see. Here he comes.”
He stalked over to her and she watched every step. He had on a form-fitting T-shirt and his hair was pulled back from his face. He wore sunglasses and dark boots.
“I said, goddamn,” Julie whispered.
PJ grinned so hard her cheeks hurt. “I know. He’s even more like that when he’s in bed. All prowly and grrr and stuff. It’s so hot.”
“How do you even let him out of bed to start with?”
PJ laughed, leaning in very close to give her sister a one-armed hug and whisper, “His cock is pierced.”
“You get the fuck out of town!” Julie turned to her, eyes wide.
“I should have told you before. I thought you might be weirded out, but I misjudged you.”
“You certainly did if you thought I wouldn’t want to hear all about this later when it’s just the two of us. I’m not sure if I should worry about you or give you a high five.”
They were still laughing as Asa finally got over to them.
He kept coming until they were body to body, nose to nose, and he kissed her. Not a full-on carnal mouthfuck like he could also deliver, but a very nice hello all the same.
“I’ve been looking all over for you.” He turned to Julie and smiled. “You’re clearly related to PJ.” He held out a hand. “Asa Barrons.”
“We just got here about ten minutes ago. We were looking at my car and then trying to find you. Asa, this is my sister, Julie. Julie, Asa.”
“It’s good to meet you.”
Julie smiled up at Asa, already a little besotted, like every other woman seemed to be. “Nice to put a face to the person PJ talks about.”
Asa relaxed when Julie responded so warmly. Tenderness curled in PJ’s belly at the sweetness of that vulnerability. And because her sister was being so lovely and thought Asa was hot and charming.
And that was before he gave her the smile. A smile just for PJ. Sexy and sweet and super dirty. He schooled his features back to charming rogue and turned his attention to Julie. “Can I get you two a drink?”
“I can’t stay, actually.” Julie shrugged. “I have a meeting back at Colman with Fee.”
“That’s our uncle,” PJ explained to Asa.
“The one who treated you so badly.” He got all surly when he said it, and PJ wanted to sigh wistfully and twirl her hair around her finger.
“Yes, that’s the one.” Julie answered him first.
“Julie is the heart of the financial end of Colman. Our uncle is a figurehead, but it’s really Julie and to some extent our brother Shawn who are the guiding force there. Julie should be in charge, but she has no penis, which is apparently a prerequisite for that job as far as Fee and our father are concerned.”
Asa choked back a laugh and then said his good-byes to Julie, who gave PJ a discreet thumbs-up before she got into her car to leave.
Asa took her hand and led her over to the Twisted Steel tent area. “Have a drink. Are you hungry? We’ve got burgers and chips.”
But before she could answer, he dipped his head and kissed her, and this time there was definitely some mouthfucking going on.
Heat licked at his belly as he finally gave in and sank into her taste like he’d wanted to since he’d caught sight of her across the field.
She slid her arms around his neck and held on, giving over, opening up to him. He hummed his pleasure at that and the curves against him.
When he finally broke away she smiled up at him. “It’s a good thing I wore that kiss-proof lipstick.”
He laughed. “Still looks juicy.” He stole another kiss before turning her toward the bar area.
“Listen, Asa.” She put her hand on his forearm to stay him. “Thank you.”
“For what? Kissing like a rock star?”
She rolled her eyes before getting serious again. “For the car.” She jerked her chin at the Oldsmobile she’d done the triple metallic job on.
“It was my pick. Regardless of who I’m with, the work you did is top-notch. It’s good for Twisted Steel too.” Each month the different members of their group brought work to show off, and Asa had chosen the Olds not only because her work was fantastic, but because the kind of high-end custom client they wanted to attract would love it too.
“Thank you for that.”
He realized then that she’d been concerned. Her work was so good, it had never occurred to him she’d ever doubt herself. But of course she would, just like he did his own work at times.
“You’re welcome. Let’s keep making money together.”
“You got it.”
Her attention shifted and the intimate bedroom smile she’d had on tightened to something entirely different and totally platonic. He liked that.
Which was why when he turned to see Craig standing there with a hot redhead he didn’t punch the guy.
“Hey, Craig. Carmella, how are you?” PJ hugged the redhead and Asa let his mind wander just a bit until his pants got a little tight.
PJ turned. “Asa, this is Carmella Rossi. She’s Craig’s cousin.”
He nodded at Craig and then looked at the redhead. “Oh hey! I know you.” Asa turned back to PJ. “She’s Duke’s neighbor.” And back to Carmella. “You have that awesome little dog right? Like a miniature Doberman?”
Carmella nodded, smiling. “Yes. Also, my uncle is Craig’s dad. I do the books at his shop so I talk to Lottie in your office at least once a month.”
They made a little small talk for a while longer. Asa’d been hoping Carmella was Craig’s date but clearly not. Asa put his arm around PJ’s shoulders and she turned her head to look at him.
“First heat starts in ten. I need to head back over to the track. Want to come with me so we can get you a good place to watch?”
“Yes, please!”
He kept her to himself for a few minutes more as he took her behind the tents lining the track. It was marginally quieter and far less crowded.
“We’re right up here.” He pointed. Duke stood with Mick and another one of the guys from their team.
Asa didn’t miss the once-over Mick gave PJ. Or the downturn of his mouth when he finished.
“Hey, PJ.” Duke, grinning, danced her away from Asa, hugging her.
PJ laughed and turned back to Asa where he was standing with Mick. She gave him one of her prettiest smiles. Warm, totally genuine.
Mick eyed her carefully.
“PJ Colman, this is Mick Roberts. Mick, this is PJ.”
She held a hand out and Mick gave it a halfhearted shake. By that point Asa was pissed.
He stepped between Mick and PJ, trying to be nonchalant, as he spoke to Duke about the first heat.
They’d decided the day before that Asa would drive the muscle car heats and Duke would do the stock. Asa was up first in the Fastback, adrenaline already coursing through his system.
Asa grabbed a pair of noise-dampening headsets for PJ, but she held up her own pair with a smile before she put them on. Sometimes it was easy to forget how steeped she truly was in car culture. He needed to remember that.
Still, when she wasn’t paying attention, he looked closely to be sure her protective gear was appropriate, given that wreck of a helmet she’d had before.
He guided her off to a space they’d cleared for a few people to stand and watch away from the action, and she gave him a thumbs-up. He kissed her hard and she gave him two thumbs up.
Asa tossed a glare Mick’s way as the men headed toward the car.
“We’ll talk about how you acted later. But for now, you stay the fuck away from her if you have a problem. You got me? Any problem here is between you and me. PJ isn’t part of it. I won’t allow it.”