Asa glanced over but she was still on her phone, so he looked back to Mick and pointed. “You’re out of line.” Asa was surprised he’d managed to get the words out at all, given how hard he was clenching his jaw. “No one talks about her that way. You got me?”

“No, Asa. I don’t get you. Who are you? This is… I don’t even know. Did you find her after the homecoming game?”

A red haze slid over his vision and he stepped forward, his fist already in the process of cocking back for a solid right to the face.

Duke shook his head. “Asa!”

“What the hell’s going on?”

Asa looked over his shoulder to find PJ standing there, holding her phone, red-faced because it was clear she’d heard at least some of the worst parts of that exchange.

“Nothing at all. Just a misunderstanding I was clearing up.”

The look on her face told him exactly what she thought of that line. “Okay then. Well, I’m going home now.”

“What? Why?” Asa stalked over, taking her hands.

Her gaze narrowed in a way that had him shifting his body, keeping his thigh in knee-deflection range. She pulled her hands from his hold and he frowned. But she wasn’t going to be swayed or charmed. Not right then.

“There’s a crowd watching us. Your friend obviously has some sort of problem with me, and I’m way too tired to figure out what it is tonight. No, actually, I don’t care what his problem is since all this played out in public in front of our friends and the people I want to hire me in the future. And when I ask what’s going on, you tell me nothing. Not a fan of any of those reasons.”

She looked around Asa to Mick, who flinched when he caught her expression. “And you? Eat a bag of dicks. Asshole. The fuck you think you are?” PJ gave him the finger and turned just as Audra approached wearing the look women get when a dude has seriously messed up.

They headed to the parking lot.

“Go on,” Duke urged. “Watch it, though. She has dick-kicking in her eyes.”

“She needs to kick Mick, not me,” he muttered as he caught up to the women, who’d neared PJ’s car.

“I’ve got it from here,” Audra said through her teeth to Asa when he stepped in their path. She was really, truly pissed and ready to defend her friend.

Asa ignored Audra and spoke to PJ. “This is stupid. You don’t have to go. It’s a misunderstanding. He’ll change his mind about you once he gets to know you.”

“Oh, okay then. I’ll just wait around for your asshole friend with no manners to judge me. Because that’s going to happen. Oh, wait, no it isn’t. He has no right, and you have no right to ask me to do so. I’m going home and I’m going to bed. Call me tomorrow.” PJ waved a hand over her shoulder as they got to her car just a few steps away.

“Are you all right to drive?” He moved around Audra and then, exasperated, threw his hands up. “Audra, back off for a second.”

“You can fuck right off, Barrons. I know you did not just talk to me in that tone.” Audra looked him over slowly and PJ rolled her eyes.

“Audra. It’s cool. You go on back. I’ll call you tomorrow. It’s not a thing. I’m just done.”

Audra hugged PJ and then stalked off after giving Asa a dirty look.

He took a risk and stepped close once they were alone. “I don’t want you to go.” Which was odd. In any other circumstance he couldn’t imagine not having just said, Okay then, see you later, drive safe. But he didn’t want her to leave. He wanted her to sleep over like she had the weekend before. And he didn’t want her to feel bad because of Mick’s attitude.

Her expression was more amused and less annoyed, which he appreciated, as he was risking his balls standing so close.

“I watched you race, which was very sexy. I hung out with my friends and had burgers and half a beer. So yes, I’m cool to drive. I’m going home, where I plan to get into my pajamas and catch up on my DVR. Call me when you can.”

He was pretty sure that were their situations reversed, he’d be far less understanding. He kissed her quickly. “This isn’t like Mick. He’s usually ridiculously protective and mannerly. I don’t know what’s going on with him, but I’m going to talk to him right now.”

She raised her brow but didn’t say anything.

He opened her door. “I admire your restraint right now. I also need to tell you how hot it was when you flipped Mick off and told him to eat a bag of dicks. You’re a little bit crazy, aren’t you?”

“Young and crazy. Asa, you’re going to have such a good time with me.”

He snorted a laugh and hugged her to him, kissing her forehead. “I already do have a good time with you.” He remembered why she’d stepped away to start with. “Oh hey, is your mom okay?”

“Yes, she wanted to make lunch plans. Thank you for asking.”

“I’m going to kiss you. I’m giving you warning so you won’t maim me when I get that close.”

“Take your chances, Asa.”

He slid a palm around the back of her neck and held her close as he kissed her. She sighed into him, relaxing.

“You’re lucky you’re so good with your mouth.” She kissed him once more and then got into the car.

He closed the door and tapped on her roof before stepping back and watching her drive away, well aware of just how lucky he was.

And then he headed back to where Mick was.

“Just what the fuck is your problem?” Asa asked Mick as he approached where Mick stood with Duke, away from the main tent. Things had died down and people were back to drinking, so at least that much happened.

“How old is that girl?” Mick asked.

“I believe the term for females over eighteen is ‘woman.’ She’s twenty-five.”

“You’re how old? Forty-five?”

Asa flipped him off. “Thirty-seven.”

Mick rolled his eyes. “She’s too young for you. She’s your midlife crisis and you’re her sugar daddy.”

“Sugar daddy?” Asa barked a surprised laugh. “Is that what this is about? She’s got more money than I do. She’s a Colman. As in Colman Enterprises? She has her own business, which is successful. She’s not too young for me, and I’m not having a midlife crisis.”

“Anything younger than a decade is officially too young. I have socks older than her.”

“No, you don’t. You’re so full of shit.” Duke shook his head. “She doesn’t need a sugar daddy. She’s got talent. Real talent, and all the connections she needs on her own. Her family is more steeped in car culture than we ever will be.”

Asa shoved Mick toward where the Oldsmobile was. “See that paint job? That’s her. All her. Triple metallic. Perfect. She doesn’t need me for this. She’s got it on her own.”

Mick prowled around the car, peering closely at it until he came to a stop at Asa’s side again.

“I’m impressed by anyone with that sort of skill. But she’s so young, Asa. Innocent. I bet she has freckles and polishes apples she takes to the teacher.”

“And so what if she does? She’s a big girl. She knows how to say no, and that’s all it would take.” Not even that. He was in tune with her. Listened to her responses so he could avoid a situation where she’d have to say no in the first place.

“Take my word for it, Penelope Jean isn’t doing anything she doesn’t want to do. I’ve come to know her over the last months. You owe her an apology and some chocolate.” Duke shrugged. “Also, she didn’t polish an apple for you. I seem to recall you got the finger and an admonition to eat a bag of dicks. She brings me cinnamon candy popcorn because it’s my favorite.”

Asa laughed. “PJ is capable of handling herself, but in this case, you’re my friend and she shouldn’t have to. I won’t let you hurt her, Mick. She’s important to me.”

Mick leaned against a light post.

“Is this chick even your type? I’ve never seen you with a woman like her.”

Duke spoke this time. “Interestingly enough, she seemed to be your type. Don’t think you looking at her ass was a secret. Something you want to tell us?”