Page 11 of Tangled

“You know, I’d have to agree with you,” I reply, which catches her off guard. Her face immediately softens, but she recovers her icy glare.

“Glad we see eye-to-eye then,” she fires back before turning around to grab her empty drink.

“Here. Let me buy you a drink so then you can tell me just how many other songs shouldn’t be interrupted,” I tease before lifting my hand in the air and signaling Tony behind the bar, whose eyes have been glued on me since I walked over here. A slight tip of his head lets me know he understands our need for a refill and catches one of the cocktail waitresses on her next trip.

“I can buy my own drink,” she argues as I take a seat at one of the empty stools at her table. I know her friends will be back soon, but now that I’ve seen this woman up close, there’s no way I’m ready for this conversation to end this quickly. Tony’s right. I need to have some fun, and by the way this woman is so easily offended and quick to fight, I’d say she’d certainly entertain me for a bit.

“Expecting your friends back?” I ask as I take a sip of my beer. I watch her eyes follow my glass and study my mouth while I sling back the last gulp and settle my empty glass next to hers.

“Yes, and they’re very protective of me. I don’t know if you have what it takes to take them on too.” She shrugs as the waitress sets down our beers. “Thank you,” she addresses Cindy the cocktail waitress in the sweetest tone I’ve heard from her yet, then turns her daggered eyes back to me. I can’t tell if she’s just really pissed off that I interrupted her or if she’s just keeping her guard up.

“Are we about to fight? Because I really don’t want to get my ass kicked by four women. That wouldn’t bode well for my reputation, Red,” I smirk as I call her by the first nickname that comes to mind. It’s not original, but it fits her to a tee.

When you think of the color red, you think of fire and passion, lust and power. And this woman is putting off all of those vibes and more. Not to mention, the deep red of her hair is gorgeous—clearly not natural—but eye-catching, nonetheless.

“And what reputation is that?” She shoots back, watching my eyes as I peruse her face.

“How about we save that for the get-to-know-you portion of the evening?” I jest as her friends stagger back up to the table.

“I didn’t realize we were going to get to know each other…”

I chuckle. “Oh, I think we’re about to get to know each otherverywell.” I raise my glass to my mouth as one of the women chimes in, interrupting our conversation.

“Hey, sorry it took so long, but Amy is in pretty bad shape,” the professionally dressed blonde nods her head toward a woman who can barely stand.

“Shit, Amy. I’m sorry. I never should have made you do tequila shots with us. I know you never drink,” Red consoles her friend, which shows me yet another side to her. Nice to know she’s not just pissed off at everyone in the world.

Her overly drunk friend just sways with her eyes closed, as the other two women hold her up.

“Hey, who’s this?” The brunette turns to me, pointing a finger in my direction.

Red turns to me with her signature glare before twisting back to her friend. “This is someone who thinks it’s polite to interrupt people while they’re dancing to Bon Jovi,” she juts her thumb in my direction, which makes me chuckle.

“Oh, shit, you interrupted her while she was dancing? Or singing?” The brunette leans into me, then throws her hand in the air. “Doesn’t matter. No one interrupts her while she’s jamming.”

“See?” Red turns to me and smirks.

“Wait… you look kinda familiar. Do I know you?” The brunette points at me again.

I narrow my eyes at her and give her a once-over. Nope, definitely haven’t slept with her. I’ve probably just seen her around town.

“Don’t think so,” I shake my head. “But I was just trying to get to know your friend here,” I toss my noggin in Red’s direction.

“Well, we need to get Amy home,” the blonde pipes in.

“Yeah, and my boss just called and I have to get on an earlier flight tomorrow to be in Philadelphia by nine, so I need to jet too,” the brunette adds, then turns to Red and covers her mouth with her hand to shield her words from me, attempting to whisper but failing miserably.

“You want me to call you an Uber too? Or are you staying?” She tilts her head in my direction, widening her eyes in concern.

Subtle.

Red turns to me, sliding her eyes slowly down my body and then back up to my face, peaking her tongue out slightly to lick her lips. The movement makes me swallow hard. Fuck, this woman is making my heart race and my dick wake up from his celibate slumber, which would be slightly embarrassing if I attempt to stand right now.

She turns back to her friends. “I think I’m going to hang out for a bit longer. I can get my own ride. Amy, feel better babe. Sorry again,” she lifts her hand to caress her friend’s shoulder before she mumbles something incoherent.

The brunette digs in her purse and grabs her phone and then holds it up to my face and snaps a picture of me with the brightest flash I’ve ever seen, leaving me dazed and confused as I sit back and lift my eyebrows at her.

“What the fuck was that for?” I growl a little too aggressively.

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