“I did. I was doing a catalogue shoot and fell in love with it. It’s totally my style.”
He reached out and ran his hand along her waist and under the sheer material. Her lips parted, her belly tightened under his palm and thumb. He stroked her skin.
“It’s pretty, sexy and classy like you. A lot like the cover up that barely covered that tiny bikini you were wearing.”
Her eyes held his and he took a sip from his beer. She swallowed hard and then looked down and then back at him shyly.
“How is work? Anything new going on?” she asked.
He thought about the woman who was abducted that they were asked to find. “Just some side work for some friends of ours.”
Someone bumped into Burker and he stepped closer to Eliza. He used the opportunity to wrap his arm fully around her and immediately felt how feminine she was. He inhaled her shampoo and the scent of her light perfume.
“How about you? What have you been up to besides posing in calendars in a bikini and very tight dress?” he said to her, not hiding his displeasure about it.
She turned to look at him. His hand slid along her waist as she faced him and his thumb brushed the underside of her breast. She opened her mouth to speak and then gasped, perhaps feeling the spark he felt too. Someone else bumped into Eliza Grace and she pressed her hands against his chest. He turned her toward the bar then reached up and cupped her che
ek.
“You looked incredible in those pictures,” he whispered and she swallowed hard.
“I don’t know why everyone is making such a big deal about it,” she said and looked away. She stepped back and Kenneth showed up along with Shelby, Bender and Sam Pace.
“So, you didn’t think to maybe warn us about the calendar?” Kenneth asked her. She looked at Burker and he raised one of his eyebrows at her. She exhaled and then Shelby interrupted, giving her a hug.
“You look gorgeous and those pictures in the calendar, hot,” Shelby said as she hugged her.
Burker squinted his eyes at Kenneth, who gave him an angry expression and then Bender and Sam shook his hand hello. “You didn’t have a clue either, huh?” Bender asked him.
“Nope, and we’re pretty pissed off about it,” he said to Bender then his attention went to Eliza Grace as Shelby Ann pulled her toward Caroline and Missy Ann.
“So, your plan of action?” Kenneth questioned Burker as Parker joined them to shake hands hello.
“Your cousin hasn’t exactly changed her mind about us being her guardians,” Burker said to him.
“Well, help her to change it,” Kenneth countered.
“Making any progress?” Bender asked and then took a slug of beer from a bottle of Bud Parker passed him. Sam grabbed a few more and passed them out then joined them. Burker watched Eliza Grace, and she looked up and caught his gaze. He watched her intently until Missy Ann grabbed onto her arm and started talking to her. He watched her walk further and further away, but then he caught sight of Lynch and Tazer. They would watch over her too.
* * * *
“Oh my God, what did Parker do? What did he say to you in the back hallway? You came out holding hands,” Missy Ann asked her.
“He was upset about the calendar and pictures.”
“I bet he was. The four of them are pissed and so are your cousins,” Shelby Ann said to her.
“They’re acting crazy. What’s the big deal? It wasn’t like they didn’t know Eliza was modeling,” Caroline said to them.
“It’s because they want you for themselves, Eliza. They don’t want to share you with anyone,” Missy Ann told her.
“What? Why would you say that?”
“Come on, Eliza Grace. You know they want you, but they have been giving you time to adjust to them and to dating,” Caroline said to her.
Eliza Grace felt the tears hit her eyes. “They know about the attack?” she asked them.
“They were there to see you after those guys hurt you when they took me,” Shelby Ann said to her.