“What for? It gets really cold there. Besides, I’m an American, darlin’. Born and bred. Just like my daddy and my granddaddy before him. Everything I need is right here in the U-S-of-A.”

He stood right next to her now, but not close enough to have her backing away. Good. He understood personal space. That seemed to be a problem the hillbilly hadn’t quite grasped yet.

“So, this is your party?”

“Yup. It’s the only way I can get money out of these rich snots.”

“Money for what?”

“Poor families from where I used to live. Up in the holler, not far from here.”

Dear God, I’m near a “holler.”

“You haven’t always had money?”

“Oh, heck no. Lived up in the holler until I turned seventeen. Then my daddy made me join the army.”

Based on his age now that meant only one thing. “Vietnam?”

“Yup. Worst nightmare of my life, too. But it made me a man. When I got back, I put myself through school and got into computers real early on.”

“And now you’re here.”

“Now I’m here.”

“I like that story. That’s a good story.”

He took a sip of his scotch. “So what exactly is a full-human doing here anyhow?”

“Got kidnapped by hillbillies.”

“Did ya now?”

“Yup. It’s a long sordid tale that I’m not sure I’m in the mood to discuss right now.”

“You don’t need me to rescue you or nothing, do ya?”

Angie smiled and shook her head, “No. I can handle them fine.”

“Which ones are they?”

Angie glanced over her shoulder and nodded in Nik’s direction. He stood with his two brothers, a throng of gorgeous women surrounding them. Not that she blamed the females. All three men were gorgeous, but Nik outshone them all. He must have personal contacts with all the great designers. She didn’t know Armani, Gucci, and all the rest made clothes big enough to fit a man his size. And fit them they did. He didn’t wear a tux like some of the other men. Instead he wore black shoes, black slacks, and a black silk Tee. He threw a black leather mid-length jacket on over that and, if she were the drooling kind…

“Them.”

“Ah. I see.” His face suddenly went stern. “They are bein’ nice to you?”

“They bring me elk and deer.”

His big grin returned. He had to be the happiest man she’d ever met. “The woo-in’! They must like you.”

“So it would seem.”

“Not that I blame ‘em. You’re a charmin’ girl.”

“As are you.”

“Yes, I am a charminggirl.”

Angie snorted and went back to her martini. She liked this hick. He made her laugh.

“So, you interested in any of ‘em?”

“No.”

“Why not? Is it cause you think they’re hillbillies?”

“They are hillbillies. And I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Why are you women so difficult?”

“We’re not difficult. We just don’t take shit anymore.”

Boris looked at the current object of his lust. “She sure don’t. That’s one of the things I love about her. She’d rip your throat out as soon as look at ya.”

“That’s lovely, Boris. You should have that printed on a greeting card.”

She felt Nik behind her even before she saw his big hands braced against the bar on either side of her body. Why the hell did he insist on doing that?

“Back off, country.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not touchin’ ya.”

“No. But you’re invading my personal space.”

“Of course I am. It’s as big as Montana, so I really don’t have room to go anywhere else.”

She glared at him over her shoulder, but he was staring at Boris. The two men watched each other for several long seconds.

“What did you do,” Nik finally demanded.

Angie immediately jumped to Boris’ defense. “Hey, hey, hey! He didn’t do anything.” She turned in the circle of his arms, careful not to touch him. “He was being a perfect gentlemen. So back the fuck off.”

“I’m not talkin’ about you.” He raised an eyebrow at Boris. “I mean what did you do to Momma?”

Boris shrugged, “Nothin’ I haven’t done a thousand times before.”

“You’re disgusting.”

Boris became deadly serious, “I’m also your father. So watch how you talk to me, boy.”

Angie ducked under Nik’s arms and stepped between the two men. She put her hand on Boris’ chest. “Calm down.”

“Sometimes my boy forgets his place.”

“My place?”

Oh, man. This was getting bad. She never argued with her parents. There had never been a point. Of course, that also meant when they left again, she’d find someone to physically harm. Usually at the playground or the local diner.

But she was having a wonderful time so far and didn’t want it ruined by Nik’s bullshit.

With one hand on Boris’ chest and one on Nik’s, she stood between the two men. “Gentleman. The last thing you want to do is piss me the fuck off. So why doesn’t everybody settle the fuck down. And try and enjoy this goddamn evening.”