Page 6 of Life of the Party

“Can you introduce me to him?”

“What? Sure—whatever—just…just hold on…” Riley searched through his pockets until he located his vibrating cell phone. A customer calling. “Shit. I have to take this. I’ll be right back; just stay here, okay?” His tall form disappeared then, through the crowd in the direction of the exit.

I turned my full attention back to the gorgeous man onstage, watching Grey, memorizing every move he made. I wasn’t the only one. Everywhere I looked, girls were staring, salivating, debating taking their shirts off, I could tell. Though their music was good, I suddenly understood why Serpentine was so popular.

It only made me want him more.

I flopped down at the table, Ecstasy lights dancing before my eyes.

“You okay, Mac?” Toby wondered.

“Yeah, I’m good.” I smiled, distracted. “You?”

He raised his eyebrows. “These mushrooms are intense.”

“Oh yeah? In a bad way?”

“No. Good, in a good way.” He decided.

“Okay.” I leaned back against him. “Good.”

Riley didn’t return until after the band was finished. The stage was dim and empty by the time he slid back into the booth, silent, ghost-pale, his eyes darting rapidly.

“You okay, Ry?” I wondered in alarm, looking him over. “What took you so long?”

“I’m good, I’m fine.” He sniffed and wiped at his nose.

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. “Okay, so…do you want to talk or what?”

But Riley ignored me, looking out past the table, nodding as someone approached.

“Hey, man.” He greeted, with an elaborate handshake. “Here, have a seat.”

Then, strong arms were rested on the tabletop beside, leather-studded bracelets upon the wrist, a beer in the hand. To my delight, the owner of those limbs was none other than Grey, who proved even more handsome up close.

His eyes were dark blue and fathomless, his lips full and brooding. Cool and detached, as if he were completely indifferent to what was going on around him, even his smile was apathetic, guarded almost.

I leaned forward with rapt attention.

“Sorry man, I missed most of your show. But what I heard was good.” Riley apologized. Grey nodded.

“I heard it all. And it was awesome.” I interjected, throwing Grey an inviting smile. He glanced briefly at me and shrugged, turning his attention back to Riley.

“Something tells me you’re responsible for the blackness of her eyes.” Grey chuckled slightly, tilting his beer against his lips.

“Yeah,” Riley muttered.

“It explains why I liked your band so much, anyway,” I was blatantly eavesdropping, but shamelessly holding out my hand. “Forgive Riley’s rudeness. I’m Mackenzie.”

“Mackenzie.” Grey hesitated a moment, then grasped my hand in his. The contact was brief, but his palm was warm, his touch electrifying. “Grey.”

“Grey,” I repeated slowly. He was strong and rugged and rough, a total man in every sense of the word. Suddenly I wanted to know everything there was to know about him, and I wanted him to know me…to know every part of me.

If there was such a thing as love at first sight, I think it happened to me right then.

“Want to come back to the VIP room?” Grey was asking Riley. “All kinds of fun to be had back there.”

“Well, actually, we were about to…” Riley sat back and turned to me. His face was completely pale now, chalky and white. “We were just about to leave.”

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