Page 43 of Wheelie's Challenge
“Excuse me, those are our seats,” a woman dressed in Daisy Dukes shorts and a star-spangled bikini top said, pointing to the empty seats next to Sofia. Behind the woman, a man in a white cowboy hat nodded; his face was as red as a tomato.
Sofia jerked away from Wheelie and leapt up, pressing the backs of her knees against the seat of her chair. Wheelie bent down and picked up his beer then stepped out into the aisle. The couple scooted by and Sofia smiled weakly at them, her body still buzzing from Wheelie’s touch.
She gazed over the white muscle shirt stretched tight across Wheelie’s chest, and her stare collided with his. The tip of her tongue darted out to wet her dry lips, and her pulse quickened as he tracked the gesture. When his eyes returned to hers, the burning heat in them turned Sofia’s legs to liquid and she slinked down into the chair.
Another couple shuffled into the row and Sofia rose and stood on wobbly legs. Over the top of a cowboy hat, she met Wheelie’s gaze. He winked at her and she smiled back, her whole body still humming. Wheelie pointed to the empty plastic cup and mouthed “You want another one?” Sofia shook her head then watched him walk up the aisle, admiring the way his tight jeans fit him just right. She saw many women ogle his butt and warmth spread through her.I’ve got the hottest and sweetest guy here, and he’s all mine tonight.
By the time Wheelie returned, the opening band had started and Sofia was standing up, swaying her hips to the music as she got lost in the rhythm and lyrics of the song. It was a perfect night: good music, a great guy, and a million stars twinkling overhead.
An hour and a half later, Sofia’s throat was hoarse and parched from all the screaming and whistling she had done with the first two bands. Stagehands scrambled to prepare for Jason Aldean to come out, and the anticipation from the audience was off the charts.
“I have to go to the bathroom,” Sofia said to Wheelie. “I want to make sure I get back in time before Jason Aldean comes out.”
“I’ll go with you.” Wheelie stood up and clasped her hand.
Sofia bit her inner cheek to keep from grinning. Wheelie always looked out for her, but in a healthy, protective way that was so far removed from Tigger’s jealous and angry demeanor. Whenever they were out, Tigger would overreact if a guy just glanced at her, and after he set the guy straight with his fists or his threats, Sofia would pay the price at home when Tigger called her out on flirting with the man. It was crazy and it made her walk on eggshells all the time. The past several days spent with Wheelie were liberating, and Sofia had made up her mind to call Cara the first thing the following morning for a referral of a divorce attorney.
After she came out of the ladies’ room, Wheelie snaked his arm around her, and they walked back toward their seats when Sofia heard a deep, gruff voice behind them.
“Wheelie?”
Wheelie stopped abruptly, and Sofia fell backward into him—his body turned rigid like a board.
“Hey,” Wheelie said in a flat voice as his arm slipped away from her.
Sofia turned around and met Hawk’s dark, glowering stare.Shit! Hawk likes country music?With her heartbeat racing, she shuffled back a few steps.
Hawk narrowed his eyes at hers then darted to Wheelie’s then back to hers. “Sofia,” he gritted, jerking his head toward her.
“Hi,” she answered in a small voice. “Wheelie was nice enough to take me to see my favorite singer. I never would’ve been able to get here, it being an hour and a half away from Pinewood Springs. And the tickets were too expensive. I’ve wanted to see Jason Aldean in like forever, but…” Hawk’s piercing blue eyes impaled her, and she wrung her hands over and over, breaking contact with him and looking downward. An overwhelming need to defend Wheelie, to act casual, to diffuse the anger rippling across the vice president’s face pressed down on her.
Wheelie clutched her hand and squeezed it, and Sofia looked up at him and noticed a knot of muscles at the side of his jaw pulsing. “It’s okay,” he mouthed, and her heart sank because she knew it was far from okay. The way Hawk bared his teeth, his nostrils flaring, Sofia was pretty sure this was it for Wheelie.And it’s all my fault.
“Sofia. Wheelie. It’s so nice to see you here. I didn’t know you were Jason Aldean fans. Hawk’s crazy about him.” Cara smiled brightly and grasped her old man’s arm.
Hawk looked at his old lady. “Why don’t you walk Sofia back to her seat? I wannatalkto Wheelie.”
Cara shook her head. “That’s silly. We can all meet up after the concert. The show’s going to start soon. Don’t you feel the excitement building?”
Scowling, Hawk pulled away from Cara’s grip. “Do as I ask.” His voice was calm, cold, and deadly.
Cara stared for a couple of seconds at him then turned to Sofia. “Let’s get going. I don’t want to miss a minute of the performance. Where are you sitting?”
Sofia just stood there, glued to the spot; she didn’t want to leave him alone with Hawk.
Gently nudging her, the corners of Wheelie’s mouth quirked upward. “Go on. I’ll be there soon.”
Shuffling her feet, Sofia followed Cara, but she kept looking over her shoulder making sure Wheelie was all right.
“He’ll be okay,” Cara said as they walked down the center aisle.
“I shouldn’t have come.”
“Why not? I know you and Wheelie like each other. It’s okay to have a friendship with one of the brothers.”
Sofia pressed her lips together. “From the way Hawk looked, I don’t think he agrees. Anyway, heknowsit’s more than a friendship. I’ll feel awful if Wheelie gets kicked out of the club.”
Cara patted Sofia’s shoulder. “He knew the risk and he took it. That’s romantic. Wheelie’s a real good man.”
