“So fucking feisty.” He laughs and leans down to whisper in my ear, “My divorce goes through in less than a week. I’ve been separated for a year, but things between my wife and I crashed and burned long before that. And I promise I’m not on a date, sweetheart. I’m here foryou.”
“What?” I’m soconfused.
But he doesn’t answer my question. He merely takes my arms, winds them around his neck, and tugs me flush against his body. His big, hard body.Mmm.That deep voice rumbles in my ear. “Your sister told me where I could find you.” He kisses my temple. “I came for you. To findyou.”
Those sick, drunk butterflies are back and battle around my stomach. I peer up to find myself nose to nose with him. “You came here forme?”
Hesmiles.
He came here forme.
I smile back like aloser.
The music shifts to something sultry that heightens my lust-filled fog. “You’re not here with Sandra?”Because buzzed Tori needs everything to be crystal-clear.
Ethan’s eyes soften as he nestles me closer until our lips are a breath apart. “I swear that was more a misunderstanding between me and Logan. Why would I be here with another woman when you’re all I’ve thought about since you barged into my life like a damntornado?”
I laugh, and it feels so good. So warm. Like I’ve stumbled across a sliver of sunlight on a rainy day. “You must be a glutton for punishment.” With Lana del Rey’s “Burning Desire” swelling around us, I’m ready to scale up Ethan’s deliciousbody.
Sweet delight pulses through me at thethought.
Until a faint voice—one that’s thrashing around in my head, trying not to drown from the alcohol—cautions me against doing anythingrash.
Against doing anythingnaked.
Because naked gets my heart introuble.
Plus,don’t I deserve a better explanation for what happened at the diner last night? Even buzzed, I knowthis.
But then his lips brush against my ear and he whispers, “I’m a glutton for anything that involvesyou.”
Just like that, my resolve to keep some distancesnaps.
22
Ethan
Tori’s smilegets me everytime.
I’m not sure I even deserveit.
Soft, smooth skin greets my rough palm when I drag my hand over her slendershoulder.
“Let’s get out of here,” I rasp in her ear, hoping she hears me over themusic.
The way those gorgeous hazel eyes heat beneath my stare makes the trek to the city worthit.
I hate clubs. Loathe them. But I’d haul my ass to Austin again to have her look at me like this. With fondness and vulnerability and desire. With the kind of intensity that makes my blood heat and my fingers itch to delve beneath the teasing hem of herskirt.
She nods but holds up a finger and motions for me to follow her through the crowd. We stop in front of a group of people, and she leans over to whisper to another girl, whose eyes dart to me. Then Tori grabs my hand and leads me to theexit.
A bouncer opens the door to let us out to the back parking lot. Warm air and the scent of barbecue and cedar hits our faces as we stroll into thedark.
“Guess I should’ve asked where you parked,” Tori says, turning towardme.
She starts to let go of my hand, but I tighten my hold. “Thisway.”
After having music blare in my ear for the last hour while I scanned the crowd for her, the quiet seems more amplified, making me feel like tonight, this moment, isimportant.
