“That’s a first class wingman move right there.”
“Wingwoman,” I correct and he chuckles, his eyes sparking.
“My bad,wingwoman.I’m Bridger.”
“Aspen.”
“And she’s also fucking taken,” a deep voice growls from beside me. The smell of averyfamiliar cologne invades my senses, making me want to clench my thighs together.
“Be nice. You know I came here for your sister,” I say as I tilt my head back to meet his gaze.
Phoenix looks around. “Where is she, by the way?”
“Your girl is a hell of a wing,”—Bridger pauses and gives me a wink—“woman.”
“Keep the winking to yourself, boy band.”
I elbow Phoenix as he drops into the empty chair next to me. “She left with a date. His name is Wade and I’m tracking her phone. Nina has the rest of his information including his mother’s maiden name and his streaming password.”
Bridger snorts and holds out his hand which I high-five, effectively making Phoenix’s frown deepen.
“You’re cool as hell,” Bridger says with a nod.
“Thanks.” I beam at him, ignoring the way Phoenix’s knuckles are white as he grips the edge of the table, so I rest my hand on his thigh because I’m really not in the mood to break up a fist fight.
“I just moved to Love Beach. My band and I have a couple of gigs lined up down there—one at the Sandy Skipper, I think, and then an acoustic thing at Love Beach Brews in February. You should come.”
“Oh! That’s my brother-in-law’s bar. Technically it’s my sister’s best friend’s husband but…semantics.”
“She’s not gonna visit you, jackoff,” Phoenix growls, making Bridger chuckle and me roll my eyes.
“I swear a girl has sex with a guyone timeand he thinks he gets a say in her business,” I gasp dramatically.
Nina rushes over, the three of us causing a distraction among the other speed daters. “Is everything all right, Aspen?” she asks, concern all over her face at the traffic jam we’ve caused.
“It is, Nina. I’m so sorry. We’re going,” I say, pointing to Phoenix while I hand Bridger my phone. “Put your number in there, and I’ll make sure we come down and check out your show. My sister lives in Love Beach.”
“Right on,” Bridger says as he taps away. “I’ll head out too,” he says, looking at Nina, “and keep the numbers even for everyone else.” He throws her a wink but she’s completely unaffected, as she nods and smiles back.
Bridger hands me my phone, the three of us walking through the library and out onto the street.
“Well, this was fun,” I say brightly as Phoenix wraps his arm around my waist, his fingers clamping down on my hip possessively. With a little wave, Bridger starts down the sidewalk. “Bridger, I forgot to ask—what instrument do you play?”
He grins. “I play bass. I’ll see you around, Aspen.” He salutes Phoenix who growls under his breath.
Neither of us speak again until he’s out of sight.
“Was that necessary?”
A slow smile graces his lips as he lifts one shoulder and lets it drop. “I dunno, but it was kind of fun.”
I spin out of his hold and slam my hands down onto my hips. “So you’re sayin’ youweren’tjealous?”
“Of that guy?” Phoenix says, hitching his thumb in the direction Bridger left. “No.”
“You’re saying he’s a nice, good-looking guy?”
“Sure,” he agrees as he wraps his arm around my shoulders, tucking me into his side as he steers us down the sidewalk, “but he’s those things for someone else.”
