Whisky on My Mind Read Free Page B

each time it happened. She couldn’t run…this was her home now…Sawyer was her life.
    It wouldn’t hurt to take a breather for a night. She could handle one night away from him.
    “Are you sure?”
    “Go. I’ll take a rain check on the rest of that welcome home,” he grinned, kissing her deeply before pulling back and watching her steadily. “You okay?” he asked, searching her gaze for something, and she suspected a shadow of that unease must be showing.
    She summoned a smile and nodded. “I’m fine.”
    “Come on you two, you’re causing a scene,” Bella said in a low tone.
    Sawyer looked away from her reluctantly, and she saw a smile lighting up his eyes. “It’s not us who’s drawing attention. They’re used to us makin’ out in public,” he told Bella.
    “I think it’s you,” Whisky said, grinning at her friend. “Take a look around Bell... there’s not a lot of Paris fashion outlets around this neck of the woods.”
    “Clearly,” she said with a sniff, although Whisky saw her friend’s gaze linger slightly longer on Jackson who stood polishing glasses behind the bar, eyeing Bell without trying to hide his interest.
    “Come on, let’s get you home. Night baby, I love you,” she said once more locking her eyes on Sawyer.
    “I’ll call you later…to say goodnight,” he whispered, kissing her gently on the cheek.
    “You two are sickeningly sweet, you know that?” Bell said, as they walked across the room to retrieve her enormous stack of luggage.
    “Are you serious?” Whisky asked, staring at the pile of beautifully matching suitcases.
    “I had a lot to bring home,” she shrugged , unrepentant. “ Hello, Paris? Shopping?”
    “It must have cost a bundle in excess luggage to bring all this back,” Whisky shook her head.
    “ Here, let me give you a hand with those,” a voice said from behind the two women.
    Whisky smothered a groan as Jackson appeared, sweeping in to pick up three of the cases, his biceps bulging beneath his Black Mustang Bar and Grill t-shirt, lifting them easily.
    She saw Bell a’s eyes widen in surprise and ease away. Whisky frowned at the action; it was definitely un-Bell-like behavior. Usually she’d be batting her eyelids and pushing Whisky aside in order to get up close and personal with her man of prey. “Thanks, Jackson. That would be great,” Whisky said when he stood there and continued to stare at Bella. “Ah, Bella, this is Jackson. Jackson, Bella,” she added making the introductions.
    “I knew we hadn’t met before. I’d have remembered you,” Jackson said without taking his eyes from her.
    “Oh brother,” Whisky muttered beneath her breath as she picked up the remaining suitcase. Bella smiled and gave an imitation of a friendly smile, but seemed a little agitated. Noticing Whisky’s curious look, she quickly widened the smile a few notches before turning to follow Jackson outside to Whisky’s car, ignoring the silent query Whisky had shot her way.
    “Thanks, Jackson, we’ve got it from here.” Whisky told him, once he’d placed the bags beside the rear of the small sedan.
    “No problem, I hope we see you back here again,” Jackson said, holding Bella’s gaze just a fraction too long , then sauntering back into the bar.
    “What was that all about?” Whisky asked, as she heaved the suitcases into the trunk.
    “What?”
    Whisky would have almost bought the confused expression if she didn’t know Bella like a twin sister. “This whole standoffish thing you got going. What happened to the Bella who would have normally propositioned a guy like Jackson on the spot?”
    “That’s how you think of me? As some kind of slut?”
    Whisky gave a surprised chuckle at her friend’s angry retort. “Calm down. I didn’t call you a slut…what’s wrong with you?”
    “Nothing. Maybe I’m a little more discerning about who I throw myself at. Maybe bikers aren’t my thing,” she added harshly.
    “Bell—”
    Bella let out a weary