Page 21 of One Last Time
Eli studies me and sighs. “I wouldn’t get any ideas, Noah. She’s had it rough, and I’m not sure you’d have a chance in hell. Plus, Heather will have your nuts in a jar if you played any kind of games. And she just got out of a pretty fucked-up marriage. Kristin isn’t a girl I’d chase if I wereyou.”
“Right.” I look through the window and catch a glimpse of her smile. The way her whole face looks brighter before she throws her head back and laughs without anyreservations.
Eli clears his throat. “Don’t be stupid,Noah.”
I give him a look that causes him to laugh. “Maybe casual is what she’s lookingfor.”
“I’m warning you.” Eli’s eyes are serious. “She’s not a girl you fuck around with. She’s got two kids, a piece-of-shit husband, who is going to make her life hell through their divorce, and if you hurt her . . . I’ll beat the shit out of you before Heather has a chanceto.”
The threat doesn’t go unheard, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to stay away from her. Instead of saying that to him, I take a swig of my drink and keep my eyes forward. The last girl I had this strong of a pull toward was my high school girlfriend. I loved Tanya with everything I was, and if she were still alive, she and I would be married. I know that in the depths of my soul. She was taken too soon, leaving me unable to moveon.
“Shots!” Heather yells as she and Kristin bounce out of the house, halting ourconversation.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Eli grumbles. “Baby, you know you can’t hold yourliquor.”
Heather laughs and curls up on his lap. “Kristin and I did fouralready!”
Kristin sits on the lounge chair next to me and sips her margarita. “You’re such a lightweight,Heather.”
“Whatever, Eli likes what happens when I drink.” She runs her finger from his lips down to his chest. “Don’t you,honey?”
He laughs and looks at me. “This is going to be a very interestingnight.”
I look over at Kristin and can’t help but agree. “It seemsso.”
The girls continue to drink and do shots through the next hour, but then Eli takes the bottle back into the house, cutting them off. Now they’re dancing—sloppily. Kristin tries to move her body seductively against her friend, but they keep giggling and almost fallingover.
“I should stop this, but I’m having trouble forcing myself,” Eli mutters before taking aswig.
“You stop it, I’ll kill you,” Iwarn.
“That’s my soon-to-be fiancé you’rewatching.”
“No,” I reply, keeping my eyes on the brunette. “I’mnot.”
Heather moves behind Kristin, giving me a clear view of Kristin’s body. Her hands are on her hips, swaying back andforth.
Kristin pulls her lip in between her teeth as she drops low while watchingme.
Fuckme.
Every muscle in my body wants to go to her, grip those hips, and have her touch me. Eli’s words ring in my head, keeping me exactly where I am, just staring ather.
I’m going to need a coldshower.
They dance for a few minutes, laughing and falling over, and Eli and I both shake our heads. Girls are a fucking odd breed. You’d never see guys do this crap, but when a chick does it...it’s hot as hell. Kristin’s eyes lift to me and she gives me a coysmile.
She’s really fuckingbeautiful.
Heather’s arms wrap around Kristin’s neck and they sway together. Both giggle as they whispersomething.
“Want to share with the group?” Eliasks.
“Nope. Girl talk,” Heatherreplies.
Kristin sticks her tongue out at him and spins her around. “Yeah, girls are talking. No penis inputallowed.”
Eli snorts. “I’ll be inputting somethinglater.”
