Page 3 of Heartbeats & Highways

As the men beat on one other, the crowd boiled over with excitement at each successive blow. With each spray of blood, with each smack of skin, the throng roared. Toro and Savage fought the way only grown men could—they were strong enough to kill.

Toro began to slow, his movements sluggish as he tried to catch his breath. It was the invitation Savage needed. He kicked Toro’s legs out from under him. After Toro fell to the ground, Savage jumped on top of him and began to pound his face like a blacksmith working a piece of iron with a hammer. After a minute Toro stopped moving, and when Savage stood over his massive, sweaty form, the huge man didn’t get up.

Oscar ran into the ring and then lifted Savage’s arm and declared him the winner.

The crowd roared its approval.

I shivered at the energy and adrenaline in the warehouse.

Savage’s head swiveled with magnetic force; his eyes locked on mine.

My gaze widened and I gasped.

Danger poured off him. Danger and . . . something else.

Ever so slightly, he inclined his head at me.

Desire swirled in my belly.

His claim was obvious, but I had no intention of being summoned or commanded.

I’m not a whore.

I scrambled off the keg and shoved my way to the bar.

There was a lull—patrons that had placed bets on Savage were busy seeking out their winnings, and those who’d lost were pouring out of the establishment as fast as they could.

Daisy and Roxy were standing next to one another having a conversation I couldn’t hear over the rumble of the crowd.

Roxy saw me first. “Hey gal. Amazing fight, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, it was something else,” I said, my voice breathless as though I’d run a great distance.

“Did you see who he nodded at?” Daisy asked, looking around as if she could find the bearer of Savage’s attention.

“Me,” I exclaimed.

Both of them looked in my direction. Roxy let out a laugh and Daisy grinned. “Well, what are you waiting for?” Roxy demanded. “Go to him. Immediately!”

I shook my head. “No. I can’t. I don’t want—I need to get out of here.”

Daisy studied me, all traces of humor leaving her face. “All right. Leave out the back. We’ll cover for you.”

“Thanks,” I murmured.

I escaped out the back door, refusing to look behind me; refusing to look and see if Savage was watching me flee.

Chapter 2

I leftthe warehouse and grabbed a cab instead of waiting for the bus in the chilly air. In my haste to get away from the fight and bloodlust, I left my jacket behind.

I closed the door to the cheap motel room I’d been living in for the past several weeks. The noisy heater under the window blasted hot air and I shivered despite the warmth.

I’d hit up a diner close to the motel and ordered a burger and fries, along with a small soda to go. I set both containers on the nightstand and then went to the heater and turned down the knob.

It was a mild winter so far, which was a relief. But the air in Texas was humid, adding a layer of dampness to everything.

I debated taking a shower before eating, but the food was still hot and cold fries wouldn’t taste nearly as good. I sat down on the edge of the double bed and opened the to-go container.

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