Page 25 of No One But You

I sipped my margarita to put out the flames that erupted under my skin.

“I’m not sure what I missed, but it seems pretty intense.” Bryson acknowledged as he leaned on the table.

Kai’s brows raised in a flirty manner. He turned away, cutting off the oxygen, and the flames diminished. I sucked in a large breath.

“Kora just asked what it was I did well. I reminded her of my ability to change a tire and told her I have many other talents.”

“Yeah, I heard that much,” Bryson said.

“Like my amazing cornhole talents. My aim is spot on.” He turned toward me. “And I can get it in the hole the first time, always.”

Fuck me. Hopefully later. Heat crept up my neck, and I took another deep swallow of my drink. The cold, sour alcohol felt good going down and cooled me off. To bad there wasn't a breeze out here to help out.

Darlene leaned toward me and whispered. “You good?”

All I could do was nod.

Bryson smacked his hand on Kai’s shoulders. “Well, let’s go practice. Girls, you’re our teammates.” He grabbed Darlene’s hand. “Come on, beautiful.” He kissed the back of her hand as he pulled her to her feet.

Thank God. I needed some air and some space.

We moved to the grass and placed our drinks on the picnic table by the cornhole boards, Kai and Darlene on one end and Bryson and me on the other. It was a great game, not that I was any good, but with Kai’s skills he all but made up for my lack of them.

“Again?” Bryson hollered as Kai’s third bag slid into the hole. “Damn. You better be that on target tomorrow.”

“Once I get warmed up, I hardly ever miss.”

“You’ve already told us that. You got skills,” Darlene answered and caught my attention across the grass. Her eyes were shining with amusement.

Either my mind was in the gutter, or we were all deliberately using sexual innuendos for everything related to cornhole tonight. I couldn’t focus on the game any longer. My attention kept wandering to my sexy partner at the other end of the court who had that dimple stuck on his cheek. I was so focused on brushing my lips against it that my bag barely even landed on the board. Luckily, Kai was good enough on his own and finished the game. He didn’t need my help.

“Good game,” Bryson answered as we joined Kai and Darlene at the picnic table. “Should we play again?”

“I’m out. It’s Friday night, and my margs are getting watered down,” I said.

“I agree with Kora.” Darlene answered. “That’s fun but a lot of work, and I’ve done my share of work this week. Tonight’s about chilling.”

Another set of teams started a game at the cornhole pit, and Kai and Bryson agreed to play the winner. We relaxed at the table, Bryson next to Darlene and Kai next to me. He was so close, I could feel his body heat and smell his cologne. Maybe I was imagining it, but it seemed like he inadvertently sat close enough so our legs touched under the table. I thought of scooting away, but instead, leaned my leg against his.

His gaze caught mine, and I didn’t miss the slight lift of his brow. I hid my smile in my margarita glass. Time to drown those butterflies and have some fun.

Almost two pitchers in and the sun had turned into a rainbow of colors behind the thin layer of clouds in the sky. It was a perfect night in mid-May. The pub had country music pouring from the speakers, and the smack of cornhole bags hitting the boards, along with a game of volleyball at the sand pit, filled the air. Summer joined us and helped us finish our second pitcher.

My favorite song started playing over the speakers. “Time to dance and get this party started,” I yelled to Darlene.

“Yeah, well, I think you two have already done that,” Summer replied as Darlene and I jumped up.

I pulled Summer up, but she pulled out of my grasp. “Nope. Not gonna happen. I have some catching up to do, and anyway, you’re the two that like to dance. Me, I like to drink.”

“Fine. Don’t drink all the margs while we’re gone.” I danced my way onto a makeshift dance floor—basically just a square of grass—and Darlene followed. We were joined by others, mostly women. The night was still young, and the men weren’t much for dancing until more beer entered their systems.

“Didn’t know you had moves.” A sultry voice sounded near my ear. I turned, and Kai was so close, if I wanted to kiss his lips, I just had to lean in. The music turned to a romantic slow dance. “May I?” He held his arms out.

Damn. Hot and manners. He should be illegal. I nodded, and he wrapped me in his arms. One of his arms slid around my waist, low on my hips, and the other clasped my hand. He pulled me closer, and we swayed to the slow rhythm.

The scent of his cologne and the warmth of his body seeped into mine as we moved effortlessly together.

“You good?” he asked, his smile concerned and his eyes clear and damn beautiful.

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