Tiny Dancer

“You look beautiful, Miss Potter,” Lucas said as Layla walked out onto the porch in a floral print dress and her white cowgirl boots.

She had on a small denim jacket and a little crown of white Queen Anne’s lace. Her auburn curls seemed bouncier than usual, and those big blue doe eyes danced when she gazed at her tank of a man.

She didn’t need makeup, but he noticed her plump, pouty lips were coated in a light pink. Silver hoop earrings dangled when she moved.

“You’re quite the catch this evening, Mr. Foster.” She eyed the big, muscled man up and down.

His jeans fit perfectly with all of the right points begging to burst free.

He had on a blue long-sleeved dress shirt, tucked in so she could see that accentuated ass of his. His black cowboy boots looked brand new, and his dirty blond hair was slicked back.

His facial hair was perfectly trimmed to the short length that Layla liked, enough to show his maturity, but not too much to hide that baby face he was blessed with.

“I’m going to be getting you out of that dress some time tonight, Little Hippie,” he whispered as she climbed into his truck, Lucas leaning over to buckle her in.

“Yeah?” She rolled up her dress, letting him see the blue lace panties she wore just for him. “Promise?”

Lucas growled and dipped his head into her lap. “You’re killing me, Potter.”

Layla giggled as Lucas jumped into the driver’s seat, and they took off toward the dance. It had somehow become a habit to either hold her hand or her thigh when he was driving, and neither one of them mentioned it.

“No fighting tonight,” Layla warned as they made it to their destination.

“Who? Me? Never…” Lucas winked at her as they pulled into a parking space. The place was jam packed, and Layla was slightly nervous that Lucas would get into trouble.

Lucas helped her out of the truck, and he was already feeling the eyes on her. Everyone knew they were together, and those men were waiting for her to show up.

Layla—always the humble soul—didn’t stand a chance with those vultures. She’d never thought any man was staring at her, much less undressing her with his eyes.

She found Rosie and Shawna, and Lucas let go of her hand so she could mingle with the ladies.

“She’s a doll, and everyone fucking knows it,” Lyle said as he scoured Lucas’s face for any sort of smile. “Come on. You think anyone’s going to try anything now that the two of you are practically dating?”

“We’re not though.”

“No, but it’s been what? Four months now? Colt would be stupid as fuck to try something tonight. The two of you need to make it official.”

“I don’t love her.”

Lyle chuckled. “You fucking sure about that, Foster?”

Layla’s eyes met his, and he melted right into them, smiling at her as she gossiped and giggled with the women. It was nice to see her loosen up around his friends and comrades.

“What a woman, Foster,” Hugh was saying to him. “I’ve got my old lady at home, but that Layla Potter is a mighty fine specimen. Sure you’re glad you snagged her up before someone else did.”

“Hear that, Lucas?” Lyle grinned maniacally. “Such a good thing you made her ~yours~…”

Lucas needed a drink, but he had promised his little hippie he wouldn’t even have one beer. She had made him swear he’d wait until they got back to his place.

“Yeah, she’s something else,” Lucas agreed. Hugh was a friend and no one he needed to be concerned with. Colt and his bitch boys, on the other hand, were a different matter.

“Don’t let them get to you,” Lyle said as he patted Lucas on the back.

The two of them watched Colt and his buddies wander around the room like they were a posse of teenage boys looking for dessert. Of course, Colt stopped right at Layla, who wasn’t paying him any attention.

“Hey, beautiful.”

Colt tapped Layla on the shoulder, but even though her smile was friendly, Lucas watched from across the room as she pointed to him and waved.

Colt frowned and shrugged, tipping his hat to Layla and walking away.

“But she’s not yours, right?” Lyle chuckled, watching it all unfold.

“She’s a nice girl, and she’s my date. Of course she isn’t going to flirt with other men.”

Lyle sighed. “Man, you are falling hard, buddy.”

“Fuck off, Lyle.”

He most certainly was not falling for the little hippie. She had a nice pussy and she catered to him. Period.

Layla made her way over to them and smiled. “This is really busy tonight. I didn’t know they were having a chili cook off in there. I would have had you make yours.”

Lucas blushed. “You really like my chili?”

Lyle chuckled as Lucas glared at him.

“Well, let me go find some beer.” Lyle excused himself.

“Thank you for inviting me, Lucas,” Layla said, moving closer toward him.

“You want a drink? Tea? Soda? I think they have some hot chocolate too.”

Layla nodded, looping her arm with his. “Sure. Let’s go.”

People moved out of the way. Lucas was a huge man and known to cause trouble, but most of the whispers were about Layla. He knew it—she didn’t.

The smile plastered to her face was so sweet, so genuine, and people were drawn to her.

“I’ll have a sweet tea, please?” Layla asked the guy behind the counter, who was eyeing her up and down.

Lucas put an arm around her shoulder and nodded. “Same.”

The guy passed them their drinks, careful not to even look at Layla again.

“Thank you,” Layla said, rolling her eyes at Lucas. “You’re too much.”

“You’re mine tonight, so these fuckers better stop fucking you with their eyes.”

“Lucas…,” she warned, her blue eyes dancing with lust for him. “I only want to be here with you—not them.”

Lucas wasn’t sure what he believed. Layla was a people-pleaser, but she seemed to enjoy his company.

“What were you and Lyle talking about?” Layla said, swaying to the song the DJ was playing.

“You.”

“Me?”

“Surprised?”

“Very…”

Lucas took her cup and placed it on the bar next to his. “Would you care to dance?”

Layla smiled. “Of course.”

She took his hand as he led her to the dance floor. They’d danced before, many times, since they had become involved, but this was so different. People watched them—watched Lucas hold her like he had never held another woman.

They watched the two laugh and flirt with each other as if no one was looking.

Across the room, Shawna smiled at Rosie, who winked at her.

“So, how long do you think this’ll last?”

Rosie shrugged. “I won’t pretend to know Lucas as well as you all do, but I think they’re good for each other.”

“They don’t know that yet.” Shawna sighed as Billy and his wife strolled over.

“Talking about the young lovers on the dance floor?” Billy chuckled. “If Lucas doesn’t fuck it up, they could have a future.”

“You’re so cynical,” Shawna said, sipping her beer.

“I’m honest and I know him. He’s hotheaded and possessive, especially with Layla.”

Rosie nodded. “I see that, but he’s been so good since she became his sponsor.”

“I would have loved her type of sponsoring when I was going through my shit,” Billy teased.

Wanda rolled her eyes. “You’d better be glad I love you.” She leaned in and kissed her husband on the cheek. “He’s torn up over that girl, but he’ll never admit it.”

“You don’t think?” Rosie asked.

Wanda shook her head. “He doesn’t want to hurt her. Watch it happen. Lucas is a good man and she’s an amazing woman, but he’ll be sure to blame himself for something and let her go. Mark my words.”

On the dance floor, Lucas held her close as Patsy Cline’s “Crazy” played over the speakers.

“You are so beautiful,” Lucas said, staring down at his little hippie.

“You’re not so hard on the eyes,” Layla teased. “How many of these women are going to keep batting their eyelashes at you tonight, Lucas? I can only imagine which ones you’ve been with…”

“Is my little hippie jealous?” Lucas chuckled. “I’ve been with a few of them, but they don’t hold a candle to you.”

“I’m not jealous,” Layla lied, turning her nose up as yet another woman walked by, running her fingers along Lucas’s arm.

Layla’s fingers dug into Lucas’s shoulders, and the man laughed softly.

“Not jealous, huh?”

“Oh! I got ahold of my biological mother, and she wants to see us during my spring break. Are you still available to take me?”

Lucas nodded. “I am not going to pass up the chance to fuck you in Oklahoma.”

“Are we going to do it across the country?” Layla shook her head. “Document it? Send people postcards from each state we fuck in?”

Lucas narrowed his eyes. “Well now, that sounds like a damn good time if you ask me.”

Layla leaned in to him, putting her head on his chest as Lucas held her close.

“You’re insatiable.”

Lucas nodded, resting his head on hers. He wanted to say so many things. His mind was wrapped up in all of the months they’d been involved and what would happen to them in the future.

“If I’m not careful, I could very well fall in love with you.”

“Is that so wrong, Lucas?” Layla asked him, pulling herself further into his hold.

“Everything is wrong with that, Layla. Every damn thing about it is wrong.”