Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
VIOLET
Seth held the door to The Crescent Moon open, and a shiver raced down my spine as he stared at me. My feet slowed. Actually, everything seemed to slow down.
Things felt different. I couldn’t explain it, but there was this tension between us.
Was it new? Or had I just never noticed it before?
I stepped inside and he placed his hand on the small of my back as we weaved through the crowded bar, seeking out Logan and Izzy. I was suddenly ultra-aware of his touch. Like the way his gaze had lingered as it ran over me.
“There,” he said, leaning down until his chin grazed my cheekbone. His warm breath against my ear had heat pooling low in my belly. “In the corner.”
He led me to the right and I spotted the couple at a high top.
Logan smirked. “Wasn’t sure if you guys were actually going to come.”
Seth grumbled as he pulled out a chair and I climbed up on it.
“What do you want to drink?” he asked, so close a mix of leather and wood enveloped me.
“Cranberry and vodka.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Probably should order an appetizer too.” He lifted his hand, attempting to flag down a waitress.
Once we all ordered drinks and a plate of nachos, I fiddled with the light pink pendant hanging around my neck.
Izzy tipped her chin in my direction. “My friend Lyla has a few of your crystal pieces. That one you’re wearing is pretty. What is it?”
“Rose quartz.” I still couldn’t believe I listened to Hattie and wore it tonight.
“Lyla said she just ordered a black tourmaline pendant because of its protective and resilient benefits.” Izzy angled her head to the side. “What does rose quartz do?”
“Oh, umm…” I could feel Seth’s eyes trained on me. “It can do a lot. Helps with emotional pain, eases stress, enhances confidence.”
“You make those?” Logan asked.
“She has a shop on Etsy,” Seth answered quickly.
I glanced over at him, again wondering how he knew that, and made a mental note to ask him. “I’ve been making them since I was a teenager. My mom was really into essential oils, healing crystals, and incense, so I learned from her and started designing jewelry with them.”
The waitress appeared, setting the nachos and our drinks down.
“What would you suggest for me?” Izzy asked as the waitress walked away.
I studied her carefully, only knowing a little bit about her.
But her wide smile and carefree attitude was enough for me to give her a suggestion.
“I would suggest citrine. It’s my personal favorite.
It’s literally called the happy stone because it promotes joy and positivity.
You could pair it with an amethyst that will offer calm among chaos. ”
“That’s the one she needs.” Logan smirked as he brought a piece of nacho to his mouth.
She swatted at his chest. “Are you trying to say I’m chaotic?”
“You signed us up for ten dozen cookies for the bake sale tomorrow.”
She rolled her eyes. “And the girls and I got them all done today, didn’t we?”
“You sure did.” He kissed her temple, and I couldn’t help but smile. They were too cute.
“So are the girls back in school now?” I grabbed another nacho from the plate, popping it in my mouth.
“There’s a back-to-school thing and bake sale tomorrow. School starts Monday.” Izzy took a sip from her cider before placing it back down on the table.
Seth was quiet as usual as we chatted, only adding in here and there, but his presence next to me was unmoving. It was comforting to know he was attentive, even if not talkative.
As I finished the last of my drink, Izzy suddenly jumped up from the table. “Oh. I love this song.” She grabbed my arm and pulled me off my stool. “Come on, let’s dance.”
Was Logan not much of a dancer either?
We left them behind to find a good spot on the crowded dance floor. The music was a good mix, and we were having a great time in our own little bubble, until two guys slowly made their way into our space.
They acted harmless enough, maybe a little drunk, but I didn’t even have a chance to assess their intentions when Izzy’s voice pulled my attention to her.
“And here comes caveman one and two.”
I followed her gaze back toward our table. Seth and Logan were headed straight toward us, death glares aimed at the guys near us. Izzy giggled as Logan pulled her into his arms.
I didn’t really know what Seth would do. Excitement coursed through me as he took my hand and spun me, bringing me back against his chest.
“Thought you said you don’t dance?” I shot him a smirk over my shoulder.
“I don’t.”
I chuckled at the contradiction because he was, in fact, dancing with me. He moved us slowly, swaying back and forth. I was overwhelmed by the sensations his touch was causing. The way his fingers dug into my hip and his body pressed tightly to my back.
I closed my eyes as his fingers brushed along my side. My core throbbed, wishing I could find out how his touch would feel on other parts of my body. His warm breath skated across my ear sending goose bumps down my arms.
“Want another drink?” he asked.
I nodded, hoping that would ease the need gathering in my belly. He stepped away and instantly I missed the connection. I tracked him as he flagged down the waitress and ordered us more drinks. I took a moment to look around, noticing the guys from earlier had their own dance partners.
Izzy yanked on my arm as the song changed again. “I love Sugarland.”
Country wasn’t one of my favorites, but I did like this particular song. Seth was back and smirking at me as Izzy and I danced and lip-synced the lyrics. I could relate to “Settlin’” at the moment. After the mess with James, I had no intention of settling for anything less than what I deserved.
Seth leaned forward, so close to my ear that his words made goose bumps break out on my arms again. “Thought you didn’t like country?”
“I said some of it was okay.”
“I definitely remember you saying it was mostly depressing.”
“Mostly is the key word.” I sent him a playful smile and squeaked when he pinched my side. I swatted at him, and he grabbed my hand, pulling me closer and swaying us again to the music. For someone who said he didn’t dance, he was doing a damn good job at it.
The waitress placed our drinks down on our table a moment later and I nodded that way. “She brought our drinks.”
“Are you done dancing?”
I pressed my teeth into my bottom lip. Did I want to stop dancing with him?
That was a complicated question. I liked the idea that I could flirt with him and not have to worry about if he wanted it to go further.
But also, I could use a break from the way he was causing my body to come alive in ways I wasn’t even sure James ever had.
“For now.”
He turned us, placing his hand on the small of my back, and led me back to the table.
I could feel his gaze on me as I sipped my drink, and I peeked up at him. If I weren’t sitting on a stool, I probably would have stumbled back. The way he was looking at me was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.
Desire and need swam in his eyes, matching my own. One night together was a bad idea, but it didn’t stop me from wondering what it would be like.
SETH
I tipped my beer bottle toward Violet’s necklace. “Isn’t rose quartz the love stone?”
Was it dumb that part of me hoped her wearing that particular gem meant she was opening herself up to the idea of a new relationship?
Was that what I wanted? I sure as hell didn’t like the idea of her starting anything with someone else.
That became glaringly obvious after the softball game last week when I thought Daniel was flirting.
And it hit me again earlier in the evening when I imagined her dancing with one of those guys who’d made their way over.
In fact, the thought of her with another guy made me see red.
She nodded and tilted her head, studying me. “How do you know about the stones?”
“Lyla mentioned you make jewelry.” I shrugged. “I was curious, so I looked it up.”
She opened her mouth and then shut it again. My gaze drifted down to her lips, covered in a dark crimson red. I forced myself to look away. Tonight was utter hell. Touching her like I had when we danced, having her pressed against me—it was all perfection and misery at the same time.
A second later, Logan and Izzy took their seats. Well, Logan sat back on his stool. Izzy was almost in his lap rather than on her own stool.
He whispered something in her ear and an obvious blush rose to her cheeks.
“We’re going to get the check and head home,” Logan said as he raised his hand, signaling the waitress.
It was apparent the reason they were rushing home.
I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to do the same with Violet.
I shifted uncomfortably, willing my dick to not make a scene as I tried to push away thoughts of plowing into her.
How her plump lips would part as she moaned my name, her perfect tits bouncing each time I drove into her.
I blinked and bit back a groan. Jesus. I really needed to get my shit together. I’d never had such a visceral reaction to a woman before, and I had no idea how to handle it.
Once we paid the check and were alone at the table, Violet and I sat, continuing to nurse our drinks.
“Did you have a good time?” I asked.
Her gaze met mine, holding me captive as she searched my face. For what, I wasn’t sure. Did she feel the same thing between us tonight that I did? Was she questioning it?
“Yeah.” She ran her tongue along her bottom lip, and I tracked the movement, swallowing down a groan that bubbled up as I was inundated with memories of the kiss we’d shared last weekend at the softball game.
Noticing her drink was now empty, I downed the last of my beer. “You ready to go?”
She pulled her lower lip into her mouth with her teeth and sent me a slight nod.
Neither of us said a word as we made our way to the car and I drove toward her townhome.
Obviously, I knew what my issue was. I wanted an excuse to kiss her.
In truth, I wanted so much more than that.
But I had no intention of screwing up something real between us by having one night together.
Why was she so quiet, though? Was she having the same thoughts?
I parked in front of her townhome and looked over at her. All the air left my lungs at the desire that stared back at me. But it was mixed with so much hesitation and uncertainty, it just cemented the conclusion I’d already come to.
I couldn’t let this happen. Not tonight. Not yet. And if she asked if I wanted to come in, I wasn’t sure I was strong enough to say no.
“Thanks for coming out tonight.” I choked out the words, hating what I had to do. “Do you want to grab coffee or lunch one day this week?”
Hopefully, that was enough to remind her of our plan, without sounding like a total dick. Her brows pulled together, and I saw the moment in her eyes when she put us firmly back into the fake dating category.
I wanted to scream No, don’t. Invite me in, but I couldn’t.
“Yeah, I’ll text you.” She grabbed the handle, not even glancing over at me as she opened the door and slipped out. “Goodnight, Seth.”
“Goodnight.”
I sat frozen, hands gripping the steering wheel until she was safely inside her house. Because every fiber in my being wanted to go after her.