Page 27 of Space Balls: Houston, We Have Liftoff
“Now, y’all scoot.” I wave away the crowd. “I have a feeling this particular member of the menfolk”—I thumb over my shoulder to Vance—"has ulterior motives for showing up tonight, and I amjustintoxicated enough to hear him out.” I give Vance the once-over, as if daring him to say otherwise.
He just smiles.
The women laugh while the men murmur words of encouragement to him as they disperse.
He returns my once-over. “You think I have ulterior motives, hmm?”
“Yep.” I grab my fresh rum and Coke from the bar, the empty shot glasses still resting next to it.
“I can’t just be here having a good time?”
“Nope.” I sip pinky out, like the lady we both know I’m not.
“And just how did you come to that conclusion?”
I heave another sigh, slightly worried I’ll hyperventilate. “Because, Vance, you have never, not once, shown up at any of our gatherings. It is too coincidental that you’re here tonight after I rocked your world in my family’s guest bedroom, then shot you down at Heartbreakers in front of your mom.”
The bartender walking past stops, looks at us, shakes her head, then keeps walking.
I tip my drink toward him. “And let’s not forget that earlier you admitted to showing up tonight just for me.”
He laughs. “Oh yeah. I did.”
I hitch an elbow up on the bar and lean on it. “So what is it you want?” I wave my drink-free hand down my body and try and keep the hopeful note out of my voice. “Seconds?”
“Seconds would be good.” His eyes roam over my face, and I can feel the heat of his gaze touch on my eyes, my mouth, the length of my neck and pause an extra second on my exposed shoulder and the visible hot pink bra strap. “Thirds and fourths even better.”
My internal temperature gauge just spiked. “Listen.” I put my drink down and straighten from the bar, clasping my hands together, trying to look solemn. “I appreciate the prior use of your penis, and even applaud the confidence it took to down Blow Jobs in a crowded cowboy bar, but I need to make this clear. I amnotlooking for a boyfriend.”
Vance winks. “That’s great, ’cause I’m not looking for a girlfriend.”
“Good.” I drop my hands, ignoring the sting of his acceptance. “We’re on the same page then.”
He looks into the neck of his beer bottle. “Just out of curiosity, though, whatareyou looking for?” His question sounds too casual to be believable.
Annoyingly, that sparks a flash of unwelcome hope. But if he wants to play games, so can I. Laying on the dramatic flare I’m known for, I heave yet another sigh. “I don’t know. But if you want to be a big strong man and tell me what Ishouldwant, I’ll listen.”
The music changes, and we both watch Ian, Flynn, and Holt take their fiancée, wife, and girlfriend into their respective arms and sway, shuffling their feet to another slow two-step.
Something that isn’t quite lust but leaves me wanting all the same crashes over me. It’s the same feeling I had at Jackie’s wedding. It feels like—
Vance’s bottle hitting the bar top makes me jump.
He takes a step closer, and his scent covers me, bringing lust back to the forefront.
“Well.” He leans down, his breath tickling my ear. “For starters, how about you want more of that fun we’ve had together?”
Fun. For a brief second, I feel hurt, but one look at his sly smile and I shake it off.
“What?” I step back, taking a deep breath and trying to gain control. “Breaking and entering in search of orgasms wasn’t enough fun for you?”
He chuckles, and my eyes clock the way his shoulder muscles bunch as he does. “Oh no, that one goes down in the record books for sure. Even if you were just messing with me.”
I pick up my drink, wrapping my mouth around the small straw. His eyes narrow on to my lips, making me feel triumphant.
“But I’m sure we have a few more record-breaking moments in our future.” He closes the distance between us again. “Weren’t you saying something about the lotus position?”
Trying not to let him see how he’s getting to me, I don’t retreat. Instead, I joke. “Oh, Vance, Vance, Vance.” I pat him on the shoulder in a consoling fashion. “I’m not sure an old man like you could handle lotus.” Shaking my head, I tsk. “In fact, I’m not sure you could handle me more than once—period.”
