Page 24 of Finding Hope

“Ha!” Jess laughs. “I heard the women fight, too. There’ll be no husband stealing.”

Clicking my tongue and thinking about Evie Kincaid, I silently confirm the womendoknow how to fight.

Even the eleven-year-olds.

“Guess I’ll have to find my own, then. I’m sure there are stillsomehot guys left if I look super hard.”

“Don’t have to look too hard,” Laine murmurs. Glancing over my shoulder, her seductive lips lift into a filthy grin. “I’m still pissed he zeroed in on you and not me. I justknowhe knows what he’s doing.”

“Hmm?” Lifting my brow and peeking over my shoulder the way women have been doing since the club scene began, warmth pools in my belly at the sight of him, at the sight of Club-188-Guy, and the reminder of what his body did to mine.

Like he was waiting for me to turn, his arctic blue eyes pierce mine, but his large, skillful hands squeeze someone else’s ass. Her back is to me, his lips near her ear as though he’s telling her secrets, but his eyes lock me in and refuse to let me go.

I watch his lips move, her hands explore his chest, his hands knead her ass. I’m not embarrassed as I watch them, as I study his muscular, broad shoulders, or as his eyes graze my naked back and long legs.

Discreetly pressing my thighs together to quench the dull throb and memories from weeks ago, his eyes snap to the movement and send my pulse speeding.

“Oh,lawwwwwd,”Laine murmurs. “Please tell me you’ll let him take you back for another seven minutes in heaven. Then maybe just FaceTime me or somethin’. I wanna watch.”

Tearing my eyes from his, I turn back to my girlfriends and smile. “You’re a freak. And no! I’m never letting you watch me have sex.” Sucking up half my cocktail in one go, I beg for liquid courage, and maybe that seven minutes.

I’m not embarrassed to see him, I’m not even embarrassed to see him with another girl, but damn, his eyes make my knees weak.

“Hey, I can appreciate a good lady body as much as the next chick,” Laine argues. “You’re hot, and I wouldn’t even be embarrassed to see your ass. As long as it’s his big man hands slapping your cheeks pink, I don’t even mind.”

“Seriously, you’re a freak.”

“No, I see where she’s going with it,” Jess – the quieter, shyer, platinum blonde twin – agrees. “I’d be into watching. I could pretend it’s meand not you. He’s sexy as hell; it wouldn’t be a hardship to be touched by a man that looks like him.”

Laughing at my idiot friends, I shake my head and enjoy the buzz of my chugged liquor. Dancing, drinking, hanging with my friends, I spend hours being watched, and hours tryingnotto watch him dance with other girls and flirt with the female bartenders.

Giving one single smile and wave when my brother catches my eye, I acknowledge that I see him, that he sees me, that I’m safe and being responsible, then the girls and I gravitate toward the blind spot we found in this club.

The guys can’t see us, but we can see them.

It’s perfect.

It’s a shame the only nightclub options in this town are Club 188 or Rhinos. The stools at Rhinos will leave a girl with syphilis.

My options are watchful brothers or syphilis.

Yay.

7

JACK

BAMBIE’S BACK

“Go home, Jack.”

Turning away from my open ogling of Bambie’s sexy back, I focus on Tink’s angry scowl.

Closing one eye, I work on bringing her into focus. “No way. Imma stick around a little longer. Get me another drink.”

Her brows pull tight. I know that face; she’s about to stab me. “No, I’m not getting you another drink! Go home before I call the guys to get your stupid ass.”

I sway on my feet and clutch at the bar to stay upright. I might be a little wasted. Or a lot fucked.

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