Primal Heat (6 page)

He nodded and tapped his thumb against the steering wheel. “Well,
you’re pretty amazing, Miss Winslow. The more time I spend with you, the
clearer that becomes.”

I opened the door and climbed out. It took every ounce of self-control
I had not to kiss him goodbye. He unsettled me. Deeply. And I couldn’t help but
notice the storm of emotions swirling behind his eyes. He could keep the rest
of himself in check, betraying nothing. But those eyes flashed and churned, a
window to the wolf inside. But, he kept it hidden for now. I turned and waved
as I walked to the crooked porch and slid my key into the lock. Bas waited
until I was safely inside. Then, he revved the engine of his truck and slowly
backed out of the driveway.

I swear I felt his steady heartbeat in my ears as I watched from the
window blinds. It only grew silent when his truck made the turn at the end of
the street and drove out of sight.

Chapter Eight

“’It’ll be fun,’ you said. ‘We’ll only stay for an hour,’ you said.”

I threw a peanut shell at Kendra’s head as she reached over me and
grabbed two shot glasses, handing one to Darby over her shoulder and lifting
the other toward me with a wink. They linked arms and did their tequila shots
in unison, right down to the crinkled look of disgust on their faces a split
second afterward.

“Hey, you’re supposed to be our designated driver!” I threw another
peanut shell at Darby. He shrugged and laughed, but twirled away from me with
Kendra in his arms.

“Traitors,” I muttered, lifting two fingers to the bartender. I was on
my second jungle bird. One more and I was going to start making some really bad
decisions. I couldn’t help it. I was happy for Darby and Kendra, but seeing them
together only reminded me about those few stolen moments with Bas and what I’d
almost let happen. He’d been on my mind all week. I’d kept myself buried in
paperwork and research at the congressman’s office. He and Dale had traveled to
D.C., so mercifully, I wasn’t sent on any more errands to Wild Lake Outfitters.
I sipped my drink, and sliding my finger around the rim, I contemplated
ordering another one. It might do me good to get well and truly sloshed for
once.

Before I could order another drink, Cal Winters slid into the empty
seat next to me that Kendra had just vacated. He was on his fifth or sixth beer
and far past me. He put a heavy arm around my shoulder. I tried to peel it off,
but he only pulled me closer and kissed the top of my head. He nodded toward
the bartender and signaled something. A second later, he slid another shot of
tequila under my nose. Cal grabbed his and downed it neatly. The rum from my jungle
bird made my head swim a little and I knew this was probably a mistake, but I
lifted the shot glass and tipped it back. The second I set it down, I felt it
hit me right between the eyes, warming my belly and making my vision blur.

Shit. Big mistake.

“You gave me a run for my money, Winslow. But my throne is secure.”

Gross. A night out at the Stacks had become a first year tradition
after exams and major paper deadlines. We’d all just turned in our Appellate
Brief projects for Research & Writing II and Cal got the A. No one really cared
but Cal, but he cared a lot and wasn’t above rubbing it in everyone’s faces. His
round head weaved back and forth as I gripped the bar to steady myself. Time to
make myself scarce if I could still put one foot in front of the other. The
last sip of my cocktail started to hit me along with the tequila, and I could
barely feel my feet touching the ground.

I succeeded in ducking under Cal’s arm and grabbed my drink from the
bar. Ned, the bartender, shot me a look to see if I was okay dealing with
Octopus Cal as he tried to reach for me again. I neatly dodged him, then swayed
on my feet while I gave Ned a wink. I thought I’d made a clean getaway when a
pretty second year took my seat and Cal looked her up and down. But, as I
stepped toward the dancefloor, Cal followed.

“Let’s dance,” he said, sliding his arm around my waist. I got catcalls
from Darby and Kendra on the dancefloor. I rolled my eyes. Cal was a dork, but
basically harmless, and I didn’t want to be rude. I downed the last of my drink
and put it on a nearby table as Cal took my hand and tried to spin me. My
stomach lurched, and I put a hand on his shoulder to steady myself.

“Congratulations,” I yelled above the noise. “Seriously. You’re having
a great semester. Your dad must be really proud.”

Cal’s nose wrinkled at the compliment. Admittedly, it was a little
passive aggressive. Cal had gotten a lot of ribbing for taking a job with his
father rather than finding something on his own like the rest of us.

“He’s going to retire in about five years. It’s a multi-million dollar
business, Abby. I’ll be the richest guy in our class by the time I’m thirty.”

“Great! I’m really happy for you!” I couldn’t help feeling a little
like shit for bringing his father up. Cal really could have been a sweet guy if
he could just drop his insecurities and the constant need to one-up everyone.
In that, he was his own worst enemy.

“You know I turned down the job with Foster. That’s how you got it. Did
you know I recommended you?”

I stiffened in Cal’s arms. God, he really couldn’t help himself from
being a dick. “You know, we had a moment there Cal. But, I think the song’s
about to end. Thanks for the dance.”

I pulled away, but Cal grabbed my hand. “Aw, come on. Lighten up. I was
just trying to tell you I did a nice thing for you.”

“Hmm. Well, maybe don’t try so hard, next time.” For the second time, I
successfully ducked out of Cal’s grasp and started heading for the tables to
look for Darby and Kendra. The floor seemed to tilt, and I put my hand against
the wall until the wave of dizziness passed. I really, really should have
passed on that shot of tequila. If Kendra and Darb weren’t ready to go, I’d had
about enough this evening. I’d take a cab home.

Cal bobbed in front of me again. “Thorp asked a ton of questions about
you when I interviewed with him. Did you know I did that? I knew I was going to
be with my father’s firm, but I thought the interview experience would be a
good one. It really was. Eye-opening, you might say.”

He wagged his bushy black eyebrows up and down and gave me chip-toothed
grin. He had a hawkish nose and lanky frame. He bobbed on his heels like a
prize fighter about to step into the ring. I really wasn’t in the mood to join
the main event. I needed food. I took a fistful of popcorn from one of the
baskets set out on the bar. Hopefully, it would help to absorb some of the
alcohol. Or I could use it to throw at Cal if he said anything else stupid. But,
he had me curious, even though my better judgment told me to turn and walk
away. I crossed my arms in front of me and blew out a breath to move the hair
away from my face.

“All right, fine. What the hell are you talking about, Cal? You’ve
obviously been dying to tell me this.”

He smiled wide and put an arm around me again, leading me to the
nearest table and sliding in a chair across from me. “Thorp’s got a reputation,
that’s all. I’m giving you a heads up. Just watch out.”

“For?”

“Let’s just say Lud Morris had his meltdown
after
Thorp passed
him over for the internship.”

I shook my head, wanting to pretend I already knew what Cal was talking
about. But, he’d seen my eyes widen and knew this tidbit caught me off guard. “Why
did he do that?”

“You really are naïve, aren’t you? For a smart girl, I mean.”

“Hmm. Though I’m clearly not as smart as you, right?”

“Well, I’m your friend, Abby. Seriously. When I told him I’d have to
pass, he asked me if I knew anyone who might fit at the congressman’s office.
His eyes lit right up when I told him about you. He went berserk when I showed
him a picture from my phone. I just thought you should know that. It seemed
kind of lecherous. He hasn’t tried to get anything off you, has he?”

My blood simmered. I knew who and what Dale Thorp was, and that wasn’t
it. But, the way Cal leered at me now told me he’d probably started a new set
of rumors about me.

“Good night, Cal. It’s been grand.”

“Oh, come on, Abby. I’m just trying to have a little fun.”

“Go home, Cal. You’re not doing yourself any favors.”

Darby and Kendra staggered breathlessly off the dancefloor as I turned
my back to Cal. Tipsy as she was, Kendra saw the look on my face and
straightened her back.

“This dickwad causing trouble?”

I shook my head. “He’s nothing. I’m just ready to head home.”

A look passed between Kendra and Darby. I put up my hand and smiled.
“Don’t worry. I’ll Uber it. Just promise me you’ll do the same thing when
you’re ready to leave. I mean it.”

“Oh, stay for another hour. Please?” Kendra put her hands on my
shoulders and shook me gently. “Don’t leave me here with all these gross boys.”

I reached up and tousled her hair. “Nice try. I drank too much and I
don’t feel like third wheeling it anymore. You guys have fun, but be careful. I’ll
catch up with you tomorrow.”

I slid my phone out of my pocket and gave them a last wave as I headed
out the back entrance. It would be quieter there while I pulled up the app on
my phone. I just hoped I wouldn’t have to wait very long. Leaning against the
brick wall, I plugged my location into the phone and waited. My vision blurred
a little and my stomach lurched. Bad tequila. Bad. I slid down and sat on the
cement ledge that ran around the building. The steel door opened and I felt a
blast of heat from inside the bar. The bass pumped from the dancefloor along
with peals of laughter that rose and fell as the door shut.

“Damn. You hustled out of there quick. We just started talking.” Cal
plopped on the ledge next to me and put a heavy arm around my shoulder. “I was
looking all over for you.”

“Well, here I am.” I dropped my shoulder and slid out from under his
arm.

“Are you partied out? It’s only ten. Why don’t you let me take you for
a cup of coffee or something?”

“I’m tired, Cal. It’s been a long week. I’m heading home. I’ll see you
in class on Monday, though. Thanks for the drink and the dance. You know, I
think I saw Mary Fink from Contracts checking you out. Last I saw her she was
over by the D.J.”

Cal’s eyes widened, but he didn’t take the bait. He slid off the ledge
and stood directly in front of me, planting his hands on the wall on either
side of my head. This close, he was taller than I realized. And I didn’t like
the look in his eyes one bit.

“Come on, Abs. Tell me how you like it working for the congressman. Is
it everything you hoped it would be?”

I tried to duck out from under his arms, but Cal wouldn’t budge. His
breath blew hot in my face and something changed in his eyes. Whether it was
the alcohol or something more sinister, it was as if he dropped the mask of
from his face.

“It’s just you and me now. You can tell me. They picked you because
you’re a woman, and you’re hot, didn’t they?”

“What?”

“Everyone’s talking about it. You know that, right? Ask Ken and Barbie
if you don’t believe me.”

“Kendra and Darby. They don’t appreciate the nicknames, Cal. You want
me to start telling you what people say about
you
behind your back?”

Cal’s dark eyes flashed with menace and he pressed his forehead against
mine, the hard bones of his skull digging into me. “Well the rumor is, Dale
Thorp is uh, a little wilder than most men. What’s that like?”

I shoved against Cal hard. I’d been buzzed before; now I was stone
sober. Blood roared in my ears and it took everything in me not to haul off and
land a right hook against his smugly set jaw. He took a staggering step
backward and nearly fell. The guy was drunker than I realized. And possibly
dangerous. He rounded on me and swung his arm. Wincing, I took a step back
thinking he was about to hit me. Instead, he smacked his hand flat against the wall
behind me and his unfocused eyes widened.

“You like a little monster in your man? Is that it? The rougher the
better? I get it. It’s all right. Nobody’s judging you. Well, maybe they're
judging you a little. Can you blame them?”

“Cal. You’re hammered. I’m turning around and I’m walking down to the
street corner. You stay the hell away from me. Whatever you’re trying to
insinuate, you’re full of shit. I’m working for the congressman because I’m
good at what I do.”

“Trailer trash like you? I just bet you are.”

I put up a hand and shook my head. I was one hundred percent done with
this asshole. Turning toward the street, I gripped my phone in my hand and
started walking. Three steps later, Cal had his hands on me, trying to pull me
back toward him. Adrenaline coursed through me, and this time, when I turned,
my curled fist made contact with his jaw.

“I said stay the hell away from me. You think you’re the first drunk
asshole who’s ever tried to put his hands on me? You’re right, Cal. Trailer
trash like me? You just bet I can take care of myself.”

He came at me, his steps halting, ungainly. But, his eyes held cold
fury and drunken lust. I’d seen that look a thousand times directed at my
mother from whatever loser she brought home. This one’s different, she’d say.
He’s
got a decent job. He’s going places.
She was right, most of the time. They
usually ended up going to jail or splitting the second they realized she had a
kid. I suppose that made me lucky. Better that than them thinking they’d get a
two for one. Except for the one time one of them did. That was Martin. He’d
tried with me once, but I was old enough to put up a fight. As Cal took another
step toward me, I curled my fist, ready to show him how much of a fighter I
really was.

A shadow fell over Cal’s face, and his eyes widened. As I stood there,
my shoulders square and my feet planted hard, ready to deck him again, a blur
of motion blew past me with the speed of a freight train. Later, Cal might
think that’s exactly what hit him.

Strong arms lifted Cal of his feet, fisting his cotton t-shirt. A
furious pulse thundered in my ears, but it didn’t feel like mine. This one was
heavier, filled with menace and fury.