Their Blue-Collar Girl (The American Soldier Collection 4)

“You try and use that rationale with some drunk and see if he takes no for an answer, kid.”

“First of all, this isn’t the first bar I’ve ever had to work in and secondly, I can take care of myself. Look…there’s your house!” Lori said sarcastically before Charlie could respond to her.

She pulled the car in front and put it in park.

“You’re going to eat that ice cream all alone?”

* * * *

The nerve of him talking to her like some child, telling her what to do, insulting her maturity and now asking to share her celebration with him? Lori didn’t say a word as Charlie reached over and turned off the ignition. Trevor and Dante were out of their truck and approaching the car. As Charlie pulled the keys from the ignition, his arm caressed her knee and thigh. She gasped from the instant effect he had on her as she looked toward him.

“I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings. Let’s get out and enjoy the night sky.”

“You know, Charlie, you have some nerve. Do you realize how bossy and arrogant you are? What makes you think that you can tell me what to do, treat me like some child, and just take control?” She was raising her voice to him as he got out of the car with the brown bag.

Lori got out, barely looked at Dante and Trevor as she slammed her door shut, and walked around the front of the car toward Charlie who hopped up onto the hood of the car.

“I’m talking to you, Charlie!”

He was making her so angry, and when he looked at her, he had a smirk on his face.

“Look at that sky, baby. Tell me you want to miss that?” he asked her as he pointed up.

She had no choice but to look and of course once again he was right.

“It is beautiful, now let go of my bag,” she demanded as she moved closer toward the hood of the car.

She should have seen it coming as Charlie grabbed her hand, turned her around, placing her back in between his legs and against the car.

He held her from behind as he spoke to her and she could feel every breath against her hair.

“Relax will you!” He moved her hair away from her neck, clearing a path to make his next move.

“What seems to be the problem?” Trevor asked with a smile as he leaned against the car on her left. Dante took position on the right. She felt panicked, unnerved being surrounded by all this testosterone.

Charlie kissed her neck softly and then her shoulder.

“We’d better have the ice cream before it melts,” Lori said as she quickly moved away from him and began taking the ice cream out of the bag.

* * * *

Charlie found her shyness appealing. He intimidated her, made her nervous. He was starting to realize that her sexy, tough attitude was mostly an act.

Lori placed some M&M’s on top of the already melting vanilla ice cream.

She took the spoon and dipped it into the container.

“Wait, shouldn’t you make a toast or something?” Charlie teased.

Lori raised the spoonful of ice cream with the two pieces of colored candy on it.

“No more cast, good-bye to the past!” she said as she took a bite with her eyes closed. Charlie watched her and the seriousness in her voice as she made the toast. He glanced at his brothers and they seemed just as intrigued. He couldn’t help but wonder what could have possibly occurred in her past that she needed to leave behind. She was only twenty-one. His father and brother did mention her going through a rough time and no one, including Lori, had explained exactly how she broke her wrist.

“Don’t I get some?” he asked.

She took the spoon and handed it to him as she looked up once again into the starlit sky.

* * * *