Page 24 of Memories with Fire

“Dang,” I hiss out between my teeth. It’s both impressive and sexy. I wish I could appreciate it for longer, but she’s suddenly whirling around on me.

“No,” she says, her voice filled with barely contained fury. “No, we cannot talk. You,” she pauses, takes a step closer to me and pushes an index finger hard into my chest, “cannot talk about dancing. I told you. You don’t get to bring up the past.”

My eyes narrow at her. For the first time tonight, I wonder how many glasses of wine she’s had, and now she’s added a shot. It doesn’t stop me from stepping into her, which forces her back a step, into the bar. Her finger stays rooted against my chest, and dang, it’s the best thing I’ve felt in a long time.

“Why?” I challenge her.

Hailey blinks in surprise. “Because! I told you, this doesn’t work otherwise.”

“Not good enough.” My head shakes, and I repeat, “Why?”

She huffs, and though I don’t see it, I swear I hear her foot stomp. “Because you make the ice melt too easily.”

Disbelief flashes across her features, and I’m sure she can’t believe she just said that out loud. I have to bite back a laugh. She looks adorable. Frustration she has with not only me, but with herself now, her green eyes irate and a little wild. Her freckles are dancing along flushed cheeks, and I’ve got to admit, it’s a good look on her. It’s probably from both the alcohol and a bit of embarrassment, along with her anger. She’s frazzled and she’s never been prettier in my eyes.

Suddenly she spins back to the bar and raises her glass at the bartender, who unfortunately, is doing nothing at the moment. “Martin, another please.”

He glances at me once again and I shrug. I’m not Hailey’s keeper. If she wants another, she can have another. She might regret it later, but that’s on her, not me. Besides, I’m amused by her at the moment.

When the drink is poured and she’s raising the glass to her lips, I step closer, putting a hand on the chairs on either side of her, effectively caging her in against the bar. I don’t let my body touch hers, but I’m close enough that I can feel the heat coming off of her. Putting my lips near her ear, I feel the shiver run through her as the glass freezes near her mouth.

“Why is that such a bad thing?” I ask in a low whisper.

For a moment, she doesn’t move. I don’t think she even breathes. Then she tilts her head back, the glass with it, drinking the amber liquid in a few swift chugs.

With her head bent like this, it touches my chest. I angle myself so I can watch her down her second double in three minutes. She’s damn gorgeous like this. So close to me that I can smell the coconut and vanilla scent of her perfume, see the dusting of makeup she has all across her face, and feel the silky strands of her hair as some of it slides across my neck.

I dang near feel drunk as she moves the glass away from her mouth and slowly turns and tilts her head towards mine. I can feel her soft breath against my face, the smell of whiskey on the tip of her tongue as she gazes up at me. The alcohol is warming her, I can tell by the look in her eyes. I won’t let this go any further than it already has, but dang it, it feels good to be right where we are.

“Because it’s easier to hate you,” she whispers back to me. Shadows line her green eyes that dart to my lips and linger for a second longer than they should before they come back to mine. “Because anything less and I wind up here.”

“Where is here?” I urge.

“In your arms, wanting to kiss you,” Hailey murmurs.

For a moment, I think she might actually kiss me. I know I definitely wish for it. Then I realize what that would mean and how much she would probably hate herself for it in the morning when she sobers up. Her hating herself is the last thing I want.

Even though I don’t want to step away from her, I know I have to. She gasps as she stumbles backwards, but I catch her by the top of the arms to keep her from falling. When she growls, I know the trance has been broken and whatever little bubble we’d put ourselves in is completely gone.

“I think you should probably get home,” I tell her quietly as I release her and take a step back.

Twisting around on me, she snarls, “You should probably go home. All the way back to Texas where you came from.”

Darting around me, she looks like a woman on a mission as she heads straight for Savanna. I frown as I watch the two women, Hailey interrupting a conversation the former was having. They step away from an older couple she was speaking with, Savanna putting a hand on Hailey’s forearm with a deep look of concern etched in her expression. Hailey keeps shaking her head, but then she looks in my direction and Savanna follows suit, her unease deepening.

It's another few moments of what looks like questions from Savanna, and head shakes from Hailey, before the two are hugging. Then Hailey is headed for the doors, and dang it, I’m headed right after her. There’s no way I’m letting her get behind the wheel, and it would be a pretty penny to pay for a cab up to Bear Creek, where I’ve learned Hailey is still living.

I glance at the table where the others were sitting to find Liam getting to his feet. I hold a hand up to say I’ve got this, but I’m not sure if he’s going to listen to me. Not until Quinn grabs his arm and I see her say something to him. Whatever she says appeases him enough that he’s hesitating, but I don’t see what he does next because I’m out the door.

I wish I could have said a goodbye to Nate, but at least I got to congratulate him earlier. I think he’ll understand that making sure one of his paramedics gets home safe is more important.

When I’m out the door, I look left and then right, spotting Hailey already on the sidewalk next to the bar. Shaking my head, I sigh, wondering how difficult she’s going to be. Jogging over, I give her a wide berth so she doesn’t turn around and try to hit me for following her.

“Hailey, stop. Let me take you home.”

“Leave me alone, Luke,” she retorts.

Rolling my eyes, I try again. “What are you going to do? Walk to Bear Creek without a jacket?”

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