Best Of You (Colorado Black Diamonds #5)

Prologue

DECLAN

“More shots!”

“Bro, the bottle is empty. I don’t need anymore.” I clap my friend on the shoulder and drain what’s left in my red cup. “I’ll stick with beer.”

“You’re so lame.”

“I have an early flight home. No way I’m dragging my hungover ass onto a plane.”

Flipping him off, I make my way through the maze of people in the living room toward the kitchen. The line for the keg is long, but I skip to the front.

Perks of the party being at our house.

With it being the last night of school, we decided to go all out. Since our team is the most popular on campus, it brings everyone out in droves.

“Hey, Declan. Want to go upstairs?” a girl asks from where she’s sitting on the kitchen counter.

“Sorry. Just need a refresher.” Grabbing the hose, I top off my drink and head back into the house.

Music shakes the walls. Christmas lights hang from the ceiling. The stench of sweat and alcohol linger. Our house is the place to be tonight.

Squeezing through the masses, I bound up the stairs, needing to hit the bathroom. Turning the corner, a small woman bumps into me. What remains in her cup spills down the front of my shirt.

“Oh God. I’m so sorry.” Her gaze flits up to meet mine and her jaw drops. “Wow. You’re pretty.”

“I could say the same about you.”

Long, blonde hair curls down over her shoulders. Blue eyes are hidden behind thin, round glasses. There is nothing sexy about the overalls she’s wearing, but damn, she somehow makes them look good.

“You should probably change your shirt.” Her warm hand tries to wipe up the alcohol now dampening the front.

“It’s fine.” I grab her hand to stop her, holding it against my abs.

Is it shameless? Yes. But I don’t care.

Because this woman is stunning. Even my liquored-up brain realizes this.

“Wow. You’re really pretty. Like really, really, pretty.”

I smirk down at her. “So you’ve said.”

“You’re a ranunculus.”

“What?” This woman is fucking gorgeous, but I have no idea what she’s saying. Likely a result of all the drinks I’ve had tonight.

“A frog.”

“I’m sorry, what?” I couldn’t have heard her correctly. “A frog?”

“You’re not listening to me.” Her words slur together. I don’t know if it’s her, or the haze of my own buzz. “You’re attractive. Like the ranunculus.”

“What’s this…rancoolous?”

She rolls those pretty blue eyes at me. “It’s a flower.”

“So I’m a frog flower?” I ask her.

“Ugh. Pretty guys never get it.”

“I don’t think you’re explaining it right,” I argue. “Besides, if we’re going to continue discussing this, I need to know your name.”

“Alice.”

“Alice. I’m Declan.”

“Okay, Declan. Why aren’t you understanding my little frog flower?”

“Is it a frog sitting on a flower?”

Alice sways and I shift us so she’s leaning against the wall. “Ugh. I’m too drunk to be having this conversation.”

“I think we both are.”

“I never drink this much.” Alice points a finger in my face.

“Why are you drinking this much tonight then?”

Standing like this, I’m a full head taller than she is. “Stupid family stuff.”

“Care to expand on stupid family stuff, Alice?”

She shakes her head then winces. “No. You’re still a stranger.”

“You’ve now called me a frog and spilled your drink all over me. I’d say we’re friends now.”

“Maybe if I kiss you, you’ll turn into a prince.” Her blue eyes grow wide under her glasses. “Oh God. I didn’t mean to say that.”

I smirk. “Are you saying I’m not a prince?”

“I mean, you’re really pretty. All princes are pretty.”

“You’re still going with pretty?”

“Declan, you are too good-looking for your own good. That’s why you’re a ranunculus.”

“You keep saying this.”

“You keep saying this,” she parrots back at me.

“You’re a little tipsy,” I tell her. “Do you want some water?”

“I—”

Her face turns green as her hand flies up to cover her mouth.

“Oh shit. Are you—”

She pukes. All down the front of me.

“Oh God.” I gag. I bury my face in the crook of my elbow to try and stop myself from doing the exact same thing.

“Oh my God.” On top of still looking green, she looks more embarrassed now. “I can’t believe I did that. I’m going to go die in shame.”

Grabbing the cup in her hand, I set it on the floor next to me and take her hand in mine. “C’mon. Let’s go get you some water and you can sleep it off in my room.”

“I am not sleeping with you.” Alice digs her heels in so she isn’t moving.

“Did I say that?” I turn back to face her.

“Gross. Did I just step in vomit?” someone shrieks behind us.

“You’re coming with me.” I scoop Alice up into my arms and take her to the bedroom at the end of the hallway.

Shutting the door behind me, the noise of the party is muted. I set Alice on her feet and walk over to my dresser. Stripping out of my T-shirt and jeans, I grab a pair of clean sweats and shirt to change into. Heading into the bathroom, I grab my mouth wash to give her.

One perk of the house – I only have to share a bathroom with one other guy.

“We’re not sleeping together,” Alice tells me again, taking the rinse into the bathroom with her.

“Trust me. I don’t sleep with drunk girls.” I pull the soft cotton shirt over my head. “I don’t want to smell like puke.”

“Ugh.” She buries her face in her hands as she walks out. “I’m so sorry.”

“Do you want a shirt to sleep in?”

One blue eye peeks out between her fingers. “No. I should really get home.” She sighs. “I don’t like spending the night in strangers’ beds.”

“I can’t drive and there’s no way I’m letting you get home on your own.”

“I can grab a ride share.”

I shake my head and pull her hands away from her face. “No. I don’t want anyone taking advantage of you.”

“But—”

I hold up two fingers. “Scout’s honor. You can sleep it off here, and I’ll make sure you get home in the morning.”

She eyes me before giving me a slight nod. I’m guessing anything more and she’d be worshipping the porcelain god again.

“Fine.” Alice sits on my haphazardly made bed. “But where are you going to sleep?”

I grab one of the pillows on my bed and the blanket on the end. “On the floor.”

“Like a prince.”

“I’ll make sure you get home once you’re feeling better.” I brush the hair off her forehead and pull her glasses off her face as she lies down on the bed. Her eyelashes kiss the tops of her cheeks.

Fuck. She is so damn beautiful, it hurts.

“Thanks, Declan. I’m sorry I puked on you.”

“I’m not.”

“Really?”

“Nope.” I shake my head. The buzz is already starting to wear off. Perks of being a college kid with a high tolerance. “I can honestly say this was the best night of the year.”

“Now I know you’re lying.”

“Who me? I never lie.”

Alice laughs and it hits me square in the gut. It’s the sweetest sound I think I’ve ever heard. Better than the sound of skates on ice.

She yawns. “Such a charmer.”

“Go to sleep, Froggie. I’ll make sure you’re okay.” I flick off the light and stretch out on the floor. “Just make sure if you need to puke again, you lean the other way.”

“Such a charmer.”