Carter's Treasure by Amy Gregory

end of the bench, which made Carter have to get up. “Dude.”
    “Get up. Come on, it’s a good song. Let’s go.”
    Carter glanced down at him. “Hunter, relax bud.”
    “Come on Mol, you’re dancing.” Eli shoved Molly again.
    “Here we go again with this telling shit.”
    Eli pushed her again and she practically fell out of the booth, and Carter had to help her catch her footing. As he grabbed her waist, her tank top came up, revealing the back of her low cut jeans and the top of what was very obviously a black lace thong.
    Jesse whistled. Carter followed at his line of eyesight. “Hey Frost, keep your eyes off my woman’s ass please.” Still, he couldn’t help but smile.
    “Damn it, Eli.” Molly barely had time to stand and pull down the tank top, before she was propelled onto the dance floor. She fought the manhandling with little force though, giggling the whole way.
    Jesse laughed, watching Molly being drug across the floor. “So, can she dance?”
    Brody let out a breath. “Um…Yeah…” he said in what sounded like a deliberately slow, low voice. “She can definitely dance. My dad always comes with us if we go out and he’s pretty cool. But I think she’s why he always wants to go. He has this need to protect her.”
    “Damn, Sterling. Your girl can freaking move.” Jesse grinned watching her
    “I see that.” Carter’s proud smile spread all over his face.
    “You’re not the jealous type, are you?” Brody asked.
    “Na, not with him, but maybe with a random stranger.”
    “Well, you don’t have to worry about that. She never dances with strangers. Ever. She’s kinda skittish around men she doesn’t know.” They all watched as she and Eli took turns teaching each other moves and laughing. “She just likes to have fun.”
    When the song ended, he hugged her to him and they started to walk back to the table, laughing like old friends. Even though he had his arm around her waist, another guy still approached her.
    Carter watched her cling tighter to Eli as she shook her head no.
    “Told you so—never.”
    “Okay, Mol, you’re my official dance partner.” Eli squeezed her waist as they got back to the table. “You can dance damn well for a white girl.”
    “You too.”
    “Oh no, baby. My momma may be white, but the woman can’t dance. I got my style from my dad’s side.”
    “Was that… style ?” Molly motioned to the dance floor. “Out there? Really?”
    Eli snickered at her teasing. “Oh, it’s a good thing you’re Sterling’s girl. I’d have to beat your ass if you were mine.” He swatted her butt playfully and kissed her cheek.
    Carter stood up to let them in the booth, taking the opportunity to hug her close before sliding back in the booth. “I ordered you a salad,” Carter said, still laughing. Molly’s cheeks were flushed from her banter with Eli as she laid her had against his shoulder.
    The waitress set another beer in front of her. “What are you all trying to do, get me drunk? I haven’t even finished the first one yet.”
    Dylan started in again. “We gotta make it easier for our boy Sterling here.”
    Without missing a beat, she looked flatly at him. “Has liquoring a girl up ever worked for you Martins, or do you have to resort to drugging her?”
    Jesse gave Molly a high five. “Ouch, dude, she got ya. Nice one, Molly.”
    “Martins. Don’t even start tonight,” Carter warned.
     
     
    Molly did her best to steer the conversation a different direction, but her nerves were starting to fray. At least Carter didn’t act like a jealous fool; he hadn’t minded her dancing with his friends. And though he was showing restraint when it came to Dylan, he was stepping into the protective boyfriend roll seamlessly. She grinned to herself as she bit off a chunk of bread. The conversation and laughter danced around her, but all she could concentrate on was the man sitting beside her. His palm on her thigh, gently stroking her and leaving bites of