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I probably could’ve taken offense that nobody thought I was so hot I’d distract the o I did okay, after all So hair and hippie chic

Eva’s bean soup had been sio out I had a feeling La Rosa Negra would be a dive, so I dressed accordingly: worn jeans, peasant blouse, sweater in ed to squeeze in some laundry

"We set?" Chuch asked e’d dropped the last bowl in the sink I felt a little bad about sticking Eva with the dishes, but not enough to put off our errand

"Yeah" I answered for Chance and me

The one back to watching TV Azteca after thehappens to her, I hold you personally responsible, priuard her with s they carried the weight of a vorit in blood on the pages of some holy book

Butch yapped, but I shook my head "No way," I told him as ent out the door

Because he knehere ere going, itwas parked behind the Maverick, so Chance tossed him the keys Like any conscientious short person, I crawled in back

"How far are we going?" Chance wanted to know

Chuch got us on the highway before he answered "Near don ’Bout twentywe should know?"

"It’s best if you letChance is here for obvious reasons" Yeah, I knehy--toto part with inforuy "I think maybe we should’ve left you at ho with that I had too big a stake in this to permit them to form a boys’ club at this juncture Plus, you never knehen ht come in handy

Before I could bitch, Chance shifted, elbow on the back of the seat, and put in, "Yeah Those jeans are a felony"

"That bad, huh?" I glanced down at the worn denim Chance never appreciated my sense of style

A slow sood Do you know there’s a rip on the back of your left thigh?"

"Ah, no" Great Now I’d worry all night whetherout

"Sexy," he told me "Shows just a hint of skin"

I quirked a brow "I thought you wanted me in suits from Lord and Taylor"

"Once I did Now I just want you" Beneath the ruainst the pavement, his words crushed ht into my nervous system

God, I hated that he could move me like this My chest hurt, so I rubbed it, and then cursed silently when I saw his gaze tracking the ain For Christ’s sake, why me?

My pained bewilderment must’ve shown because Chance turned around without another word I stifled a sigh Like too many dark chocolate truffles, he was rich, sinfully delicious, and bad for ht kill ether

"We’re al in when he did, Chuch did me a favor

I sat quiet as we drove the last few blocks and found a place to park Even in the dark, La Rosa Negra didn’t look pro painted an unlikely shade of green To my surprise, shiny new cars lined the curb outside

This wasn’t just any seedy little corner bar stashed beyond a warren of one-way streets and seeated inside had money to burn; they just didn’t want to do it conspicuously Our cherry Mustang looked right at hoside the other sports and uess what it was like inside I’d been inside a dozen cantinas like this in Mexico City Sohts when dreahborhood to nurse a beer, letting the susurration of other people’s lives wash over me

"Let’s do this" Chance climbed out of the car and offered his hand, which I took

He pulled me from the back seat easily Whipcord built as he was, I didn’t doubt he could carry me off like a Sabine wo look at the Corona neon sign flickering in thebefore calling myself ready