Page 4 of Could Be Worse

“Right, sunshine,” he replied without hesitation and lightly pinched my chin. Those blue, blue eyes bore into mine and possessed me like a drug-induced haze.

Sunshine? Swoon!

“Fine.” The woman huffed and stormed to the other side of the bar, where a seat was vacant. She’d have a perfect view of us. Wonderful. But still. My hero. He saved me from the wicked woman out to steal my stool… and him.

Not that I want to meet a man, fall in love, and have a family. Absolutely not. I was a professional dancer. I had goals. Dreams to achieve. Marriage and babies were at the very bottom of my to-do list.

I was also still reeling over being forced to quit the Nutcracker. A man and kids would be a huge distraction and hindrance from my career. It wasn’t like I would never dance professionally again. I most certainly would, even if I had to go to Vegas or California, though my dad would hate me moving out west.

“Are you just going to stare at me, sunshine? Or are you going to snag the stool you fought so hard to claim?” His question shook me out of my thoughts.

“Oh, um. Yes.” I smiled, my cheeks heating up. “Thank you for playing along. The restaurant is packed, and I’m starving.”

“Is that all it was? I’m not the man of your dreams?”

Okay. Wow. “It’s too early to tell.”

“Fair enough. What’ll you have?” He raised his hand for the bartender.

“Cheese curds and a dark stout.” I pressed my hand to my stomach and tried to not exhale a deep breath. I was totally being swept away by his handsome good looks and easygoing attitude, and I didn’t want him to know how he was affecting me.

He ordered my food and beer, getting another for himself. It seemed like he was finished eating but planned to linger a bit longer. Yay me! I didn’t like to eat alone.

“So, do you live in Mankato?” he asked. “I mean, I should know more about you if I’m your boyfriend.”

“I didn’t say you were my boyfriend. I just said we were together.”

He nodded. “Right. My mistake.”

“But no. I’m just passing through. What about you?”

“I’m here on business.” He didn’t take his eyes off me. There was a strong something between us, but I wasn’t sure if it was a good thing.

I shifted on my stool and observed the room. The professional woman from earlier was glaring at me—shooting daggers at me. “Honestly, is she for real?” Clearly, she was unconvinced we were together. She wouldn’t be wrong, but... “Play along,” I told him as I curled my arm around his and put my head on his shoulder.

“Do you play this game regularly?” His smooth-as-velvet voice wrapped around me, pulling me closer to him.

“No, never.” I smelled his woodsy cologne and rubbed my cheek against his denim button-down shirt. He was warm and oh so cozy to curl up against.

“Aren’t I the lucky guy?” His words melted my insides, and I relaxed against him.

“You are.” I lifted my face toward his, to check his expression and found his heated blue eyes, which were on me.

He assessed me leisurely, our faces a mere breath apart. “What are the rules?”

“To look convincing so that woman will stop staring at us.”

“Hmm. Let’s give her a show.” He shocked the hell out of me when his lips descended on mine.

I didn’t flinch or jerk away. No, I responded in an instant, kissing him back. Like, what was happening?

He gently yet deeply kneaded my lips, as if we’d been doing this for years together. So natural. So confident and unabashed. It was like he didn’t give a damn who might be watching us.

I totally melted into the best kiss of my life. Everything around us faded away. I looped my arm around his neck to pull him in closer. I didn’t feel the move was too forward. After all, he’d initiated the kiss.

“Fuck,” he muttered, spreading my lips apart, and plunged his tongue into my mouth.

I met him halfway, exploring him like he was me. Hints of a hoppy beer and smokey barbeque sauce tempted my palate.

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