Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
We were on our second beer when an announcement came that it was open mic night. Then the house lights dimmed more than they had already been.
“You should go up there,” I urged, shooing her toward the stage.
Avery’s eyes glittered, and she winked. Apparently, she was feeling good after two beers. She didn’t drink a lot because her dad was an alcoholic, but two was enough to loosen her up. She headed toward the stage.
I went to the bar to get another beer, since I wasn’t driving. When a clear spot opened, I moved in with my wallet in hand. A male voice came over the speaker. One glance at the stage and I saw that Nate Bowmen had beaten Avery there. I didn’t catch more because a certain gorgeous man stepped in front of me.
“Hello again.” It was him, Mr. Fancy Pants.
“Hi,” I said and turned away to hide the flush that stained my cheeks.
“I can go,” he said with that amazing accent of his.
“No,” I said, finally facing him. “You can stay.”
The bartender came over with my beer. Before I could pick up my wallet from the counter and pay, Mr. Fancy Pants held out his card to the bartender. “Another one of those for me.”
“You didn’t have to,” I said when he looked at me.
“I did. I’m trying to impress you.”
That only made me grin harder. “By paying for a beer?”
The music kicked up, and he leaned in to be heard. “By showing you I’m a gentleman.”
I moved closer, my mouth just near his ear. “What do you think you’re buying with that beer?”
When I pulled back, his cocky grin made my stomach feel like a score of butterflies were taking off. “Hopefully, I’m buying your goodwill and a chance to prove I’m a nice guy.”
My heart wanted to believe a guy like him would want a girl like me. But my experience couldn’t quite trust it. I’d learned a hard lesson with Mitch Bowmen. This time when I got close, the skin of my cheek brushed against his, creating electric sparks. “Why me?” I asked.
He shifted, and our mouths were too close. There was a pull I had to fight so as not to embarrass myself by kissing him. “You are the most beautiful girl I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.”
“Such a flatterer.”
He held out a hand after leaving his untouched beer on the counter. “Care to dance?”
Captivated beyond words, I set my beer down and took his hand. Though I heard Avery belting one out, I was lost in the eyes of the man whose hand gripped my waist. As the song continued on, I couldn’t help but think about how this was the first real dance I’d had in a while. Shaking my ass at a bonfire or barn dance or two didn’t count.
I couldn’t have been more surprised when he twirled me around as Avery and Nate belted out another tune. When the tempo slowed on the next one, he pulled me close. My heart beat faster as the music faded to nothing, as our connection bloomed.
Never had I felt something like this since Charlie. Even with him, it hadn’t happened so fast. Charlie had grown on me as we’d grown up together. It had felt natural to be with Charlie, even though there hadn’t been the sparks I was feeling now.
I hadn’t heard the music stop. Nor had I seen Avery headed our way, as the pull was no longer escapable. He bent his head as I lifted onto my toes.
“I think we should call it a night,” Avery said with a vise grip on my arms. The smile she flashed him as she pulled me out of his arms was fake as fuck.
I waved before he was swallowed up by the crowd. In the car, Avery said nothing. My head spun as I replayed the events over and over in my head. By the time I made it home, I wasn’t sure that dance had happened. I could have conjured him in my head.
“Thanks, Avery,” I said as she tucked me into bed. “You’re the best.”
She glowed like an angel. “Never an angel,” she said as if I’d spoken my thoughts out loud. “I’m glad you had a good time.”
“I did,” I said. “But I should go get Zoe before Mom has a conniption.”
“I’ll get her. You sleep it off.”
I meant to argue, but darkness claimed me. Tomorrow I’d have to face my fears about the magical evening I’d had.
THREE
It wasn’t the filtered light streaming through my window that woke me up. It was my darling daughter, who put the tip of her finger to my nose. “Mom. Mom. Are you up?”
“Of course I am. It seems you are too,” I said before opening my eyes.
“I am. And I’m hungry too.”
“You are?” I teased.