Page 3 of Chasing Home

“You know my name.”

“And I was expecting you to be wearing a cowboy hat tonight,” she says.

“Disappointed?”

I spin us around, glancing over the top of her head to find Poppy and Garrison and Brody and Anna watching us without a care of how obvious they appear. Ignoring them, I give Aurora’s hand a squeeze and pull her a hair closer.

“Not disappointed. Just surprised,” she says.

I can’t keep from smiling again as I wink. “If I had brought it, I’d have already set it on your pretty head.”

“And that’s a bad thing? Don’t think I’d look good beneath it?”

Oh, we’re flirting now, are we? I’m a downright feral beast beneath my calm exterior. Her perfume drifts up my nose, and I swallow a groan.

Dipping my head, I bring my lips to the hot shell of her ear and say, “No doubt in my mind you’d look perfect beneath it. But there’s a rule when it comes to a man settin’ his hat on a woman, Aurora.”

Her breath hitches. “A rule?”

“Curious now?”

“You know I am,” she mutters, jerking her head to the side so I’m forced to give her space again.

“I’ll tell you the rule if you keep dancing with me,” I barter.

“I’m already dancing with you.”

“I want more time.”

“I wasn’t even going to come tonight. I’ve given you enough of my time.”

Her attitude makes me stiffen in my jeans. I fight the urge to readjust myself and spin us around again, this time maneuvering so she can roll out along my extended arm without hitting a table. Her plain tan sandals scuff along the floor when I pull her back into my grasp and quicken our pace.

“I can beg if you want. I’m not above it. Just don’t make me get down on the floor. It’s filthy,” I tease.

Her eyes aren’t dull anymore. They’re alive, bright, the blue nearly glittering. They light up her face like this. If I didn’t know any better, I’d assume she’s having fun with me right now.

She rolls her lips together before letting the corner of her mouth tug into a half-smile. “Something tells me you don’t mind getting filthy.”

“I sure as shit don’t. But not here. I have a feeling the moment I let you go, you’ll take off on me.”

Her throat strains with a swallow that I nearly miss behind the curtain of her wavy hair. My fingers itch to touch the shiny strands just a single time. But I keep my hands where they are, one on her waist and the other wrapped around her fingers.

“You’re smart,” she replies.

“So why haven’t you shoved me off yet? I’d hate it, but I’d let you go.”

Her fingers splay over my shoulder, and I fight off a shiver when she lowers them to my bicep, keeping them there. The soft prick of her nails through my shirt is criminal. A threat or a promise, I’m not sure yet.

I’m out of my depth here right now. Not once in my life have I experienced anything like this before. Love at first sight or something cheesy like that. Yeah, it’s gotta be. Or close to it.

“I don’t know,” she answers honestly, her perfectly plucked brows scrunching together. They’re thick and bold but somehow work on her features without being too much.

“Just let go, then. Let yourself have fun.” With me, I don’t say. It goes without saying.

Another song starts, this one slower than the previous ones. I almost laugh when I recognize the male voice on the track. They do this every damn time Brody’s here, either to bug him or to flatter him, I’m not fucking sure. He hates it either way.

I dip my chin and chase Aurora’s gaze as she attempts to keep it darting around the bar. Her expression has shifted in the past few seconds. To one of concern, fear maybe. My mind runs laps, attempting to come up with something to say to make her stay or to recall what it was exactly that could have sparked this.

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