15. Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Maci
I can’t contain my laughter. Dancing is so freeing and the atmosphere is pulsing in here tonight. The look I got from Sutton may be adding to my high.
When Leah’s number one pick of the night ends, we make our way to the bar for drinks. She shouts our order over the music and I take in the place. I may or may not be looking for a particular cowboy.
“God, I’ve missed you!” Leah squeezes me tightly. Her head shifts to one side of me and her eyes focus past me. “Hey, are you good if I go say hi to Pete?”
“Of course!” I wave her away as our drinks appear on the bar. She grabs hers and heads through the crowd.
Out of nowhere, Colt slides into the space before me. “Colt.” Surprise colors my voice. I hadn’t thought of him since our trainwreck of a one-night-stand.
The corner of his mouth tips in a smug way. “Hey. You came back.”
I take a sip of my drink, checking out the rest of the bar and I hum a non-committal response.
“Couldn’t stay away?” He leans against the bar.
My reaction to his smirk isn’t like it was last time I saw him. “I’m here with friends.”
“I’m glad you are.” His voice is lower. I’m surprised I can hear it over the music. It doesn’t have the desired effect.
The feeling of being watched washes over me and I avert my eyes again. “Look—" My eyes find Sutton’s. He’s standing at a cocktail table near the entrance. “I’m not really looking for anything serious.”
The cowboy’s eyes blaze into mine, but he doesn’t look happy. In fact, he looks the least happy I’ve ever seen him, and that’s saying something, because his expressions are mostly indifferent.
Except for when he held the door open tonight.
Colt shifts closer. “Neither am I. Doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun. Let me take you out while you’re still here.” He reaches out with his empty hand and trails his fingers down my hip.
“No, thanks.” I jerk back.
He ignores my vicious tone, chuckling at me. “You didn’t have fun?”
“I said no.” I knock his hand away, since he isn’t getting the hint.
He swallows deeply, setting his jaw tightly. His eyes don’t waver as he stares into mine before he looks into the crowd casually. The move isn’t casual, though. It’s deliberate. An effort to keep something locked away.
For a moment, he rubs at his temple in frustration. Maybe trying to stave off a headache?
He empties what remains of his beer and slams the bottle forcefully onto the bar, saying nothing more before walking away. He may as well have had smoke pouring out his ears. It reminds me of Alan in the kitchen last week.
A heavy breath forces itself from my lungs and I lean heavily into the bar. The drink goes down in one gulp after I yank the tiny straw from it. Tawny passes and I gesture to her with the empty glass.
“You good?” A deep voice nearby startles me .
Sutton’s steely eyes are trained on me. His body mimics mine, facing the bar top itself. “Yeah, thanks.”
Tawny sets my drink down and I throw it back like a shot.
Sutton moves closer, orders a few beers from Tawny, and gestures to my glass. Then he turns to me. “Where’d your friend go?”
My eyebrows jump. Does he mean Colt or Leah? He tilts his head toward the front door in a silent answer, pressing his lips together like he’s hiding a smirk.
I purse my lips. “She’s with another friend.”
Things are already more complicated than is necessary. I throw a look over my shoulder to see if Colt is with Leah and the rest of the MC. They occupy the space around the pool tables in the main room. Leah is racking the balls. As if feeling my eyes, she looks my way.
She gives me a questioning thumbs up to check on me, but doesn’t see my responding thumbs up because her eyes shift to Sutton standing next to me. Her eyebrows raise followed by a mischievous wink. I don’t see Colt among the group.
Sutton and I reach for our drinks at the same time, our hands grazing. He’s like a human heat rock. My eyes shoot up to his face.
“You’re hot.”
His eyebrows jump before he smirks. My cheeks flame, but I don’t bother trying to correct the mishap.
Pressing the bottle to his lips, he takes a long drink and I’m curious what they feel like. I watch his Adam’s Apple bob as he drinks.
Holy shit, I think my panties just spontaneously combusted.
Well, that was unexpected .
He studies his hand. Maybe it was my hand that was cold and not the other way around? Without warning, he stands fully and offers an upturned palm to me. “Dance with me.”
It’s not a question but he waits for my agreement.
I stand and take his hand. His grip is firm, but not unpleasant. My eyes fall to our fresh drinks.
“They have more,” he says into my ear, pressing his front to my back. With our hands clasped in front of me, he leads by following. Something I’ve never experienced before.
I’ve barely stepped over the threshold when he tugs gently at my hand, pulling me against him and wrapping his other arm around my waist. My free hand grabs the back of his arm instinctively. Our height difference becomes a little clearer knowing my hand usually rests on a shoulder.
Over the years, I’ve danced with my fair share of men. Sutton is the first to immediately manipulate my body and I’m unsure yet if that is in my favor or not.
My eyes slide up his chest as he swiftly guides us around the dance floor. His touch is gentle, secure, and comfortable. I admire his scruffy facial hair and strong jaw.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” There’s a sparkle in his eyes. His voice stays low, unbothered.
“I—" A memory floods me. My eyes linger on the bar tables, but I can almost feel the warm breeze as Nana and I swing on the front porch. She told me about dancing with my grandfather when they first started dating. She always talked about how much fun they had together.
My mouth pulls into a smile at the idea of a sort of shared experience with her .
When I draw my eyes back up, Sutton is still studying my face. “I was remembering something my grandmother told me.”
As we move through a corner, he releases his grip on my waist, gliding his hand along my arm as he pushes me out for a spin. My body moves willingly, expecting him to pull me directly back in after an easy double spin. Instead, he leads me across his body as he turns in a circle. My hand slips from his and slides along his lower back as we move around each other.
For a split second, I think of the rotating Earth and the moon orbiting it. Facing me again, he secures my hand and pulls me firmly back into him.
“Are you trying to impress me?” I attempt to hit with more sarcasm and less awe. This isn’t my first rodeo, but I’m wondering if I’m in over my head.
“You haven’t had a proper dance?” He grins down at me. Before I can respond, he’s tossing me out for another fancy spin series.
Laughter bubbles out of me. It’s like being on a roller coaster. I have no choice but to give in to the glee tunneling through my body. When he pulls me back in, I let the laughter flow from me. “I’ve had plenty of dances before. Nothing like this,” I finally admit.
“I think it’s going to take a lot more than this to impress you.” His smile is playful and his eyes never leave me. He tips his head down. “You were lit up like a sparkler out here earlier. I was hoping to see that fire again if I brought you.”
The heat in my cheeks isn’t the only heat I feel now. As if knowing, he tightens his grip on my waist.
I’ve experienced butterflies before. But the sensation his rugged looks and sure hold ignite is less chaotic, more delicate, and highly flammable. My body warms from the core outward.
How did I miss this last week? Everything seemed so off-kilter. It’s as if I’m looking at the world with fresh eyes.
“Should I be keeping an eye out for an angry biker at my back?”
My eyebrows shoot up, but I recover and shake my head as we make another circle. “No. I think he left.” I sweep the area where Leah is once more.
“Boyfriend?” His eyes flash.
I shake my head again. “Just a guy who doesn’t like hearing no, apparently.”
His jaw tenses even though his eyes stay soft on me as he continues to effortlessly move us around the floor. It’s packed tonight. His eyes never leave me and yet I’m not concerned we’ll crash into anyone.
“One more question.” Sutton waits for a response. I cock my head to one side and stare up at him. “Do you trust me?”
“I trust you enough to dance with you.”
“That’s all?” He teases as we move into another corner. I purse my lips playfully, not giving the reason for his question much thought.
The last bars of the song play. Sutton’s eyes stay laser-focused on me. He sends me out for a final double spin, eliciting a smile. Both of my hands come back to his and he pulls me directly to him pinning my hands behind my back with his.
My breath catches. Neither of us moves as people exit around us. It’s only a second before a new song will play and I know we need to move, but I can’t bring myself to break our contact. His eyes drop to my mouth. Just as quickly, they move back up and he slowly releases my hands, sliding his own forward on my hips and then releasing me.
I immediately miss the warmth of his body and his hands on me. When he extends his hand, I grasp it without hesitation.
I’m so screwed .
“Your friend okay?”
We wait for a new round at the bar. Leah is still playing pool with Pete and Colt is nowhere in sight, both of which I verified as soon as we came off the dance floor. “Yeah. She’s playing pool.” I gesture in the direction of the two pool tables.
Sutton gives a cursory glance. “You want to join them?”
He’s being subtle, but I don’t know why. He doesn’t strike me as the type to beat around the bush. “If you have somewhere to be, don’t worry about me.”
He straightens and closes the small gap between us, looking down at me with those intense eyes again. “Worry isn’t the word I would use.” His voice skates over my skin, low and enticing.
“Oh?” I snatch my glass off the bar and take a sip in an attempt to hide my surprise.
“No.” Leaning his weight back on his heels he adds, “But if you want to play pool or hang out with your friends, then I won’t stop you.”
I steal another glance. Leah is in her element, pushing Pete’s shoulder with exaggerated flirtation and likely winning the round. “Leah’s my friend. But the others aren’t really.”
There’s a question in his eyes. I don’t offer and whatever it is doesn’t get asked. After a beat, he says, “Well, you’re welcome to come with me, then. I’ll introduce you.”
With my free hand, I motion for him to lead the way. His palm warms my lower back as he guides me toward the table where I first saw him.
A broad, blonde man stands with his back to us. He’s wearing jeans, a navy tee, and dirty ball cap, mingling with a few people.
Past them, on the front wall is an arcade game that measures the force behind a punch. Someone swings at it and I stop in my tracks. Sutton turns sharply, looking me over. Finding nothing amiss he takes a step toward me, cocking his head to one side in question.
“You’re not going to hit that, are you?” My eyes dart past him, to the game, before returning to his. I’m forced to look directly up at him when he closes the remaining distance between us.
The corner of his mouth kicks up. “Do you have something against that machine?”
“It’s a tool machine.” My drink nearly sloshes out of my glass when I abruptly cross my arms in an effort to appear sassy. The last thing I plan to do is spend time with guys who think they’re tough because of a high score on a simulated punching bag.
His returning grin is everything. “Do I look like a tool to you? Be careful how you answer.”
I laugh. “No. But I’ve been fooled before.”
“I don’t seek validation from inanimate objects.”
“Who do you seek validation from?” This time I take a small step forward. It’s not a challenge. I’m just trying to cover up my own surprise at asking a very pointed question.
Sutton gives me a sexy half-smirk. “Not many.”
His hand falls against my back again and we continue walking. The blonde turns and catches sight of us. A flash of surprise crosses his features before his face splits into a boyish grin.
“Hey, man, I thought I lost you.” His smile never falters.
“Maci, this is my best friend Nick. Nick, this is Maci.”
Nick reaches across the table and gives a smooth, confident shake. “Ma’am.”
“Oh no, don’t do that.” I laugh awkwardly.
“No?” His face remains pleasantly curious .
“No, please. I’m way too young to be a ma’am.” Nick opens his mouth to protest, but I put a hand up to stop him. “I know, I know. Southern habits die hard. I do it, too. But please—just Maci.”
Nick nods with a thin-lipped smile and eyes Sutton who hasn’t taken his eyes off me. “Ok, Just Maci.”
I grin. “One more thing, Nick. And this one is really important, so be careful how you answer.” Sutton’s eyes spark when I use his words. “Are you going to hit that machine?” I hike an eyebrow to indicate the space behind him.
He immediately laughs. “No ma-No. No, I’m not. Do you want to hit it?” He gives me a boyish grin and laughs at my returned expression.
All I can think is how different tonight is from the last time I was here. The company, the atmosphere. I catalog Leah’s whereabouts again.
The next few hours fly by. I take turns with Sutton and Leah on the dance floor. There are constantly new people coming up to Sutton and Nick. Sutton introduces me to a few who seem like more than acquaintances, but overall the conversations are short and surface level. It’s how I would assume it would feel to hang out with celebrities.
Around one, Pete and Leah make their way over to us. Pete is supporting Leah who is more than a little inebriated. My jaw clenches and I set my current glass on the table. Nick and Sutton also zero in on the movement.
“I offered to take her home, but she wouldn’t let me.” Pete’s muttering an explanation to me and I’m curious if he thinks Sutton and Nick might kick his ass. Leah is too drunk to be safe. Guilt washes over me. We’ve never split up before. I should have kept a better eye on her.
“She’s really drunk.” My voice doesn’t carry much weight. I cup Leah’s face in a hand. “Do you want to stay with me tonight? ”
“No, I’m fffine.” She sways on her feet as Pete removes her arm from around his shoulders. She pats Pete’s cut, just above his Member patch. He presses his lips together in defeat and turns to make his way back to what’s left of the MC at this hour.
I slide my arm around Leah’s waist and turn to Sutton. “We need to go.”
“Agreed.” His jaw is tight and his serious gaze flits between Leah and me.
“We’ll help.” Nick scoops Leah up with one arm under her legs and one behind her back.
“Wha—" I’m equal parts stunned and grateful. It’s not like I could’ve gotten her easily out to my Jeep. Her protest is mumbled at best and her eyes fight a losing battle to stay open.
Outside, I take in a huge breath. The air inside had become thick and stifling, and I relish the cool wind filling my lungs. A crisp chill has replaced the rain.
“That’s my Jeep.” I point to the second row and use the key fob to unlock it.
Nick expertly navigates the thinning cars. Somehow, he manages to open the back door, without dropping Leah, before setting her gingerly in the backseat. His wide frame disappears inside as Sutton and I approach, and I hear the distinct click of the buckle before the door shuts solidly.
“Thank you.” Once again, I’m met with the inadequacies of my words.
Nick gives me a two-finger salute. “Hope we get to see more of you two.” His voice is genuine and he touches me on the shoulder as he walks back to the bar.
Over his shoulder, Sutton says, “I’ll meet you back inside,” as I lean in to start the car.
“Thanks,” I say, standing again .
“No thanks needed.” He steps forward, closing the gap between us. “When do I get to see you again?”
Knowing he’s interested in seeing me again boosts my confidence. The practical side speaks first. “You know I’m not sticking around. I’m only here now because Leah begged me to go out with her this weekend. And we have brunch tomorrow.”
“So you’ll be here tomorrow.” He smirks.
“I’m getting the impression you have selective hearing.” I wet my lips and his eyes narrow on my mouth.
An all-consuming tension builds as he drags his eyes back up to mine. “Not at all. I prefer to have a solution-based mindset.”
“Mm-hm. And what seems to be the problem?” The door is cold against my back as I lean into it, crossing my arms over my chest. Both actions are an attempt to ease the magnetic pull between us.
He ignores my question. “Do you want to see me before you leave?” He’s giving me an out, while simultaneously backing me into a corner. I can’t play coy if I admit a desire to spend more time with him. I don’t know what the point would be anyway.
I uncross one arm and turn my hand over, channeling my inner Leah. “Phone.” I bend my fingers up and down a couple times indicating for him to hand it over.
In the shadow of his hat brim, his eyes soften as he looks between my upturned palm and my face. He obliges, unlocking his phone and offering it to me. A stunning sunrise fills the home screen. My eyes flick up to him. He watches me with dark eyes.
I quickly program my number in and hand it back.
Without checking, he pockets the phone, holding me in his magnetic gaze. “One more question. ”
I squint at him.
“Do you trust me?”
A breathy laugh pushes out of me. How could I not after both he and his friend made sure Leah and I were safe tonight? I don’t know what’s so important that he’s asking for a second time.
I bite my lip, determined to keep the upper hand somehow. “Mostly.”
“Good.” Sutton slides a hand onto my hip and leans down to kiss me. It’s warm, and tender, and brief. I think he’s going to leave it at that until he comes back in for a second kiss, and this one is everything.
His other hand presses against my neck, fingers tangling in my hair like an anchor. I grab the front of his shirt with both hands, pulling myself closer to him and his intoxicating warmth. Too soon, he pulls back.
“In case you change your mind about seeing me again,” he says.
I’m certain I can’t after that.