Page 32 of Ignite

I’d come out to party but my head wasn’t in the game. There were other women here who wouldn’t become a headache tomorrow. Two had already done the whole stand-in-my-line-of-sight, giggle and oops, drop their phone. All a ruse to bend over and give me a first-row look at their ass—too small, or cleavage—seen better.

Truthfully, only one woman was on my radar. No one else registered a first glance.

Rylee checked her phone and sipped on her drink, while I watched for trouble. I wasn’t stalking Rylee, but felt the need to make sure she wasn’t hassled by randoms. I’d relax as soon as she finished her drink and left.

Do it. Just go over, offer to buy her a drink, dinner, anything.

I’d never been accused of having a lack of self-confidence when it came to women—

Except, Rylee had me tongue-tied and love-struck.

Except, we’d already had a moment back in her garage, but I’d blown it.

Except, some drunk asshole had decided to basically pin her to her table.

My jaw clenched as Rylee maneuvered away from the high table and tried to edge between her stool and the bar while the thirty-something-year-old dude who might have been a footballer in his day stood between her and the room. By edging left instead of right, she had trapped herself and from the look on his face, he knew it.

Either no one else had noticed, or in a packed room on a Saturday night, no one cared. Just another drunk asshole looking for a good time and any woman on her own would do.

I pushed aside my fresh beer before gripping it like a weapon. I knew from experience that glass would smash just as readily whether full or empty. Dad had been angry with life and the world. He’d given his life to his union mates who’d forgotten him before his body was even cold. I remembered him smashing a full bottle against the wall because the same commercial had been run twice during the ad break. And then he’d raged for days because it had been his last beer until after payday.

The shit I couldn’t forget. I shook my head and assessed the situation.

Rylee appeared to be trying to let the dude down gently, shaking her head, backing away, all the while with a half-smile. She didn’t seem to want to make a scene, and I’d bounced enough drunks in my time to know the dude wasn’t going to let her go without one.

Do it. Do it, asshole, do it.

You’ve been sitting here, waiting for an excuse.

No, she didn’t need me butting into her life, uninvited.

How many chances do you want? When she knocked on your window, there was chemistry. Every time you’ve been together, there’s been a connection.

What about the kiss.

My feet took action and my body followed. Without asking my brain for permission, my feet made their way closer, moving around tables and carving a path through other drinkers.

“C’mon, babe. One dance. One kiss.” I watched Rylee recoil at the guy’s breath and F-grade pickup line.

Again, she looked around for help, her beautiful eyes landing on me and widening in surprise. In an instant, I changed my approach. Setting down the beer, I pretended to have just arrived, rushing up and almost pushing drunk dude out of the way in my haste to reach her.

“Sweetheart, I’m so sorry I’m late. Were you waiting long?” Pride and ego be damned, Rylee could either accept me as a fake boyfriend or I’d find another place to hang.

“Ethan! The girls just left. I thought you must have found a better offer.” She reached for my hand and pulled me close enough to kiss.

Yes?

No?

Giving her the smile that used to get me into trouble, I ignored the drunk dude and focused on Rylee, “I told you once before, you’re the only perfect woman.”

“I thought you saidalmost.“ Damn, I loved her sass. I’d come over to rescue her, but she could still verbally knock me off my feet.

“Are you gonna hold that over my head forever?” I laughed, leaning in until our foreheads touched. Her skin was warm, soft, and lavender scented. The anticipation of another kiss had my mouth dry, stomach tight and brain fried. If she didn’t put me out of my misery soon, I’d explode.

“You should be more careful how you use your words,” she purred what I hoped was an invitation.

Yes.

---