Page 3 of Bounced Into Love

“Like I’ve been saying all along, there isn’t a chance in hell that she’s going to end up on a date with that guy”—Candice didn’t even try not to be obvious when she pointed in his direction—“no matter how many times we bring her here.”

It was as though the entire club quieted at that exact moment, until the only sound left was Candice’s voice. Everyone at the tables next to us turned our way, and I felt my cheeks heat further as they stared at us. It felt like they were all focused on me, and I was so embarrassed. I wished the floor would open up and swallow me whole. But then I felt a large, warm hand on my shoulder. When I glanced up, it was him—the guy I couldn’t get out of my head.

“It’s you,” I gasped, my head tilted way back to look at his face. At about six foot four, he was more than a full foot taller than me. His frame was muscular where mine was slight. I was only one hundred and fifteen pounds, and at my best guess, he weighed maybe two hundred more than me. His hair was thick, dark, and wavy. His eyes were a pale shade of green, almost the exact same shade as the cat I had when I was a little girl.

“Yeah, I’m definitely me.” He offered the girls at the table a brief smile, aiming his question Susan’s way. “Do you mind if I borrow your friend for a moment?”

“Of course not,” Susan answered as she nudged my chair with her foot.

Candice leaned forward in her seat, giving him a clear view down her shirt as she asked, “Are you sure it’s Kiara you want to borrow?”

I had a feeling Susan’s foot did a lot more than nudge Candice’s chair when she jolted up and cried out, while I glared at her.

“Feel free to keep her as long as you’d like. The rest of us were getting ready to ask for our bills. I’ll make sure Kiara’s is taken care of.” She beamed a reassuring smile my way. “Since she was planning to request a ride share to get home, she doesn’t need to worry about hurrying up because one of us is waiting on her or anything like that. She can stay as late as she wants.”

Everything Susan said was true, but I still couldn’t help but feel like she was serving me up to the guy on a silver platter. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. One part of me was excited that he’d approached me, but another was incredibly nervous. I was usually super shy around guys, especially hot ones. And Candice was right about one thing—he was super-hot and way out of my league. Susan should’ve known how out of my depth I was, but she didn’t seem to care.

I felt a squeeze on my shoulder, and my gaze swung back up to him. “Are you okay with that plan?” I couldn’t get my lips to move, so I just nodded in agreement. He flashed me a grin and asked, “You sure about that answer?”

I nodded more emphatically, and his green eyes filled with male satisfaction. “I’d like to hear it from your pretty lips. You think you can do that for me, my little angel?”

My little angel.

Oh.

My.

God.

It was the sweetest nickname I’d ever heard, and he’d chosen it for me. Not Candice. Not any of the gorgeous, half-dressed women in the club who’d more than jump at a chance with him.

Me.

The least I could do was give him the answer he was asking for. The one I felt deep down inside.

“Yes.”

Chapter 3

Jaxson

Yes.They were only three little letters, but hearing them changed everything for me.

After listening to what Mark had to say, I couldn’t take my eyes off my red-headed angel. When she’d gotten a startled look in her blue eyes after she caught me staring at her, I’d almost convinced myself that my boss was right—even though I was the last guy she should’ve picked, she wanted a chance with me.

Then I heard the insulting way one of her coworkers talked about me being out of her league, and I couldn’t stop myself from walking over. I figured I’d prove to everyone that the woman had it all wrong. I’d take my red-head to the bar and talk with her for a little while. Soak up being close to her while she got to know me. I figured it wouldn’t take long before she realized she was the one who was out of my league.

Then I’d try like hell to figure out how to let her walk away from me. For good. My only hope was that she’d stop coming to Ice every Friday so I wouldn’t be tortured by seeing what I couldn’t have each week. It was also my biggest fear because I wasn’t sure how long I’d be able to last before tracking her down if I didn’t get my weekly fix of her.

But now? It had only taken one little word from her luscious mouth to get me to toss that plan out the window. If the interest in her pretty blue eyes was as real as it seemed, there was no way I was letting her get away from me. Making her mine would more than prove her jealous coworker wrong.

Holding out my hand to help her up, I flicked my gaze at the woman who’d basically pushed my red-head into my arms. “Don’t worry about her bill. I’ll make sure it’s covered.”

As I led Kiara—and fuck if her name wasn’t as sexy as she was—away from the table, the jealous one hissed something about how the other one should appreciate the sacrifices she made for their friendship. She was making about as much sense as she had been when she was spouting off that bullshit about me being out of Kiara’s league, so I shrugged it off. But I didn’t forget it. I made a mental note to keep an eye on the woman in the future since I didn’t like how she talked about Kiara.

Instead of leading her to the bar, I headed up to the VIP section. I got Kiara settled in a booth in the corner before sliding in right next to her until our thighs were flush against each other. Then I signaled for one of the waitresses to come over. “Grab us two waters and a strawberry lemonade vodka, please.”

The waitress smiled and nodded. “Right away, sir.”

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