Page 53 of Call it Reckless

To my relief, his smile returned. His thumb rubbed across the back of my hand, causing a tiny shiver to rush through me, leaving goosebumps in its wake. “Can I buy you and your friend a victory drink?”

“I—” A gesture caught my attention over his shoulder. Cam was waving her hand and indicating they were moving to a table. I’d almost forgotten I was here with others. “I’m sorry. I’m here with my friends. They’re waiting on me. And you’re with your friends, so have a great evening, Reid.”

I might have gotten the better time this evening, but more than the fake bull, the thing that had really thrown me was Reid. If I was so opposite his type, why did he seem to stare at me with such longing in his eyes?

CHAPTERSEVENTEEN

Reid

Asudden whoop rang out across the bar.

I smiled as I watched Bristol, Cam, and the other girls laugh and take turns hugging Em. I even saw a couple wipe a tear from their eyes. I guess she’d spilled the secret she’d been keeping.

Despite having a good time in my own group, I had a hard time keeping my gaze from wandering toward their table over and over. Even before the news broke, Bristol and her friends appeared to be having a great time. I was glad to see my friend, Emalee, out enjoying herself. Cam, too. They were hard workers and deserved some time off.

I was happy to see Bristol having fun, too. But I could have used an evening off from her being constantly in my view. It was bad enough she was constantly in my thoughts.

I noticed her as soon as she walked into the bar tonight. She had almost a rocker chic look going on, with her leather jacket and a flashy belt that highlighted her trim waist. She’d looked stunning in her dress at the cotillion, easily one of the most beautiful women there. But there was something different about her appearance tonight. She wore a layer of confidence that was both sexy and irresistible. Yes, her friend, Paige, was beautiful and had easily caught the attention of most of the men here. But it was the wildness, the raw energy, that made Bristol beautiful in her own way.

But there was a softness to her, too. Knowing how she’d picked up on Lexi’s discomfort with Sybil the night of the cotillion. How she’d defended a helpless animal and then took it into her home because he deserved better.

Paige had said I’d gotten under Bristol’s skin, but it was the other way around. More and more I was attracted to her boldness. I liked how she’d made me feel alive rather than merely carrying on. I was captivated by how her incredible hazel eyes shone mostly green when she was happy or burned more amber when she was riled up.

Watching her ride that mechanical bull earlier, so determined yet graceful, had forced me to admit to myself I wanted her. Her supple body gyrating as she was bucked and spun, her skin pink and glistening while her hair slipped from her braid until later, she just let down that beautiful mane of dark hair, her smile of satisfaction when it was over… It all had my mind recreating the same image, only it was me under her. It was me making her smile, and it was me who wore her down until we were both exhausted with the effort. My god, it would be glorious.

“Dude, why don’t you just ask her out already?”

“Hmm?” I returned my attention to my table, where Zane and a couple of other friends from the department sat staring at me.

“You’ve been looking over there for a solid five minutes,” one of the guys, Joe, said.

I cleared my throat and tried to assume a more casual tone. “It’s nothing. I was just thinking about something.”

“Something like a table full of babes. I wouldn’t mind clocking any of them, if you know what I mean.”

It was no secret the single guys could get a little crude. I usually ignored it, but it steamed me a little more than usual tonight.

“Leave them alone.”

“Oh, someone’s already got a boner for one of them. That’s okay. I’m not picky. Just let me know which one, and I’ll pick another.”

A couple of the other guys laughed, but Zane and I glared at him.

“It’s no wonder you don’t have someone at home waiting for you, Wallace,” Zane told him.

“What? And be tied down like you?”

“Only when we feel like being kinky,” Zane retorted. “Nothing like having a warm, soft body welcome you into your own bed each night.”

However innocent his words, they still made a little piece of my heart sting. It didn’t seem that long ago that I’d returned home to welcome arms after an evening out with the guys. Abby hadn’t always understood my need to relax with them. She thought after working with them all week I’d be glad to get away from the stress of the job. I was. But it was also important to build camaraderie and unwinding together was a part of that. At least, it was for me.

I bet Bristol would get it. She was like a wild eagle that needed to fly to feel free but wanted the security of a warm nest to return to.

“Seriously, why do you keep staring over there? You got a thing for one of them?” Joe pursued.

“Aye. Maybe the lass who bested you on the bull?” Shane Gallagher suggested. His family had settled here from Scotland, and even though he’d been born here, his parents’ dialect still slipped into his speech after he’d had a drink or two.

I wrapped my hands around my beer glass and shifted my chair so it was harder to see the group of girls laughing and getting along like they’d known each other for years rather than a few weeks.

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