CHAPTER 1 #3
Luckily, the bartender comes back with our order quickly, so I don’t have to try to get my voice to work right away.
He grabs the glasses and his beer, and I grab the pitcher.
He looks over with a nod. “Lead the way, sweetheart.” Crap on a cracker, the things he makes me feel when he calls me that can’t be normal.
I walk over to our table. Mary is whispering to Hanna, most likely giving her a play-by-play of what’s happening.
Christy’s got a big smile on her face as she gets off her stool to come help, only to trip backward and crash into someone standing at the next table.
Mary and Hanna don’t react, having gotten used to her regular bouts of klutziness.
Mister Sex-on-a-stick bursts out in laughter.
He sets the glasses on our table. “Well, I see your friend has met my brother.” I see him give a nod toward Mary and Hanna.
“Ladies. I’m Emmett, and the one rubbing his arm is my brother Cash.
” Christy apologizes to Cash, and I pour our drinks.
Cash reaches over to shake my hand, and although he’s good-looking, he’s got nothing on his brother.
I look over at Hanna and realize the light must be decent in here because I watch her get that gleam in her eye that I know means trouble.
She’s gonna meddle with Christy and her latest accident victim.
“I’m just so glad we came out tonight and not tomorrow like we originally planned.
Otherwise, we wouldn’t have such good company.
I mean, Christy could’ve tripped over a complete asshole.
” If daggers could come out of eyes, Hanna would’ve been in trouble, but the guys came to her rescue and saved us all from an argument that I know was about to get going.
The brother speaks up. “Don’t worry. I, for one, don’t have one drop of assholeness in me.
My brother over there, however…” He gets a laugh from Christy, Mary, and Hanna.
Okay, I chuckle a little, too, as Emmett stares daggers at his brother.
Apparently, it’s daggers all around tonight.
Without thinking, I reach my hand out and touch his arm.
“It’s okay. I’ve got brothers who throw me under the bus like that on the regular.
I think it’s usually just a way to make themselves look good and says less about me than it does about them.
” That gets a laugh out of Emmett. Holy hell, he’s sexy when he laughs.
Like, I’m surprised women don’t just end up pregnant around him because I know that smile just had my ovaries working overtime.
I might be in trouble, because honestly, if he asked me to let him do unspeakable things to me, I think I’d learn to speak in tongues.
Pay attention, girl. I missed the question Hanna just asked, but by the guys’ expressions, I’m guessing it was a tad personal.
Cash grins at her and answers, “I’m as single as they come and happy to enjoy my time with any number of ladies.
In fact, this evening, you and your friends are already quite the entertainment.
” His friends all chime in, answering Hanna, though a couple definitely seem to be checking out Mary and Christy.
I look back at Emmett, and I must have a look on my face because he smiles and leans in closer.
“I’m divorced. Been that way for almost five years.
She and I get along and are better friends than spouses.
My son is eight. I’m a deputy with the sheriff’s office.
Been there about three years, having been one in Clark County before.
I’ve got three brothers and a very spoiled dog.
” He takes a sip of beer before continuing.
“I’m also very interested in getting to know you. ”
Emmett
Watching the look of surprise come over her gorgeous face tells me she definitely doesn’t see herself the way I do.
“You’re…you’re interested in me?” I nod.
“Yeah, I am. What do you say to that?” I can see her brain working.
She takes a sip of her drink and, after a few seconds, looks back over toward me and gives me a slight smile.
“I’m Kinsley. I’m in my last semester of graduate school.
Then, I’ll have my teaching credential and master's. I’m a history nerd and love watching documentaries.
I have two older brothers who are identical twins and the bane of my existence, though I love ‘em. My mom and I get along okay, but my dad is one of my best friends. I don’t have any pets, but I hope to get a dog when I move back here. ”
She takes another sip and gives me a cheeky grin.
“And I’m most definitely interested in getting to know you, too.
” I couldn’t hide the smile on my face even if I tried.
“Well, Kinsley, what do you say to a conversation and a game of pool?” She hops off her stool.
“I’m always down for a good conversation and winning a game.
” I watch her walk over to the pool tables.
The sway of her hips has me wiping at my mouth to make sure I’m not drooling.
Between her body and that little bit of sass she just showed, I’m in serious trouble.
*********
We just finished the game where she narrowly beat me, but honestly, I can’t find it in me to care.
The conversation and laughs made this the best game of pool I’ve ever played.
Kinsley is funny, and you can tell her friends and family mean everything to her by the way she talks about them.
She’s got an electric presence that draws me to her.
I can’t look away, and I don’t want this night to end.
I can’t remember ever feeling like this with anyone before, even with Meg.
With Meg it was always a more comfortable thing-definitely not electric like this.
Shockingly, that doesn’t scare me as much as it should.
We give up the table to a couple of Cash’s buddies. I follow Kinsley back to the table, then reach out and grab her hand to get her attention when I hear the song that just started. She turns back and looks at me. “What do ya say to a dance, beautiful?”
Kinsley
Is there a case of a woman simply combusting? I mean, like, just poof, and she’s gone? Like in those cartoons? I know you’re laughing at me, but I seriously think that might happen tonight.
I’d be a medical oddity that scientists can study for years to come.
Shut up. You’d be like this too if the sexiest man you’ve ever seen in real life seemed to be interested in you.
The man, whose skin is the same shade as my favorite latte, makes me want to lick his chest in the worst way.
Part of me wants to trace his tattoos with my tongue, but until I find out who did them, I’m holding off. If it was my dad, then just no.
Emmett has eyes that I swear can see into my soul.
He could probably make my bra pop off just by staring at it.
That’s how intense his eyes are. Take all that away, and I think I’d still be attracted to him.
He’s funny, puts me at ease, and is easy to talk to, especially for a tree I’d really like to climb.
Pay attention, girl. I nod at Emmett, ‘cause my dad didn’t raise no fool. A chance to slow dance with him? Abso-fucking-lutely!
I follow Emmett over to the dance floor, our hands still connected. He turns and pulls me into his arms. I finally notice the song that’s playing is Riley Green’s “Worst Way.” I might be in trouble, but I think it’s the kind of trouble I want to be in, if nothing else, at least for tonight.
He places his finger on my chin to bring my head up so I can look him in the eyes.
He ever so slowly dips his head down toward me.
I can tell he’s giving me time if I don’t want him to kiss me, but I want that more than my next breath.
I go on tiptoes to meet him halfway. At first, he barely touches my lips with his.
Just that whisper of a kiss sends a current through me.
Holy shit. He must feel it too, ‘cause he opens his eyes and looks at me for the briefest of moments. He kisses me again, this time with no hesitation… and all thoughts disappear. All I can think of is his lips are the most amazing thing to touch me…Then his large, strong hands pull me into him, even closer. I have an overwhelming urge to pull myself up his body so you can’t tell where I start and he begins.
Emmett breaks the kiss. He lets out a sound that can only be described as a half-moan and a half-sigh.
“Holy hell, sweetheart. That was something…just wow.” He’s right.
I have no words for what that was, but I definitely hope it happens again.
He rests his forehead on mine and slightly sways us to the music.
I’ve never felt this way about anyone, let alone someone I met just an hour or so ago.
Cash
Watching my brother dance with the girl he hasn’t taken his eyes off all night, I feel a shift in the atmosphere. I don’t think I’d ever seen him look at Meg that way in all the years they were together. I also think he’s laughed more tonight than in a very long time.
Holy shit, I swear I can feel the electricity of that kiss from here.
Someone bumps my elbow, and I glance out of the corner of my eye and see that it’s Dustin.
“Dude, I don’t know your brother from Adam, but that’s a fucking panty-melting kiss if I ever saw one.
Must not run in the family ‘cause I’ve never seen you put those moves on anyone.
” Fucker. “I’ve never seen my brother do that before either.
” One of the girls who came with Kinsley, speaks up.
I think it’s the one named Hanna. “It’s like they talk about in that one series I read.
It’s the boom. It’s not quite love at first sight, but it’s basically where their world is turned on its axis and they just know that the person they just met is their person. ”