Page 38 of When It Reins
“Thursday?” I gulp and let out a breathy laugh. “Wow.”
Felicity grabs hold of my hand again and squeezes tightly. “Everything is going to be great, just you see. You can use Phil and the band for your set too!”
“Can I bring someone?” I ask before I can process the question.
She smiles kindly at me and nods. “Of course, whoever you want.”
I nod my head, all of my feelings from the night coming to a head, and I am over feeling this way, so turned around and upside down. I need to take charge.
I take a step away from the bar and march my legs over to Mitch. I hear my sisters give encouraging words and, for once, am grateful that my sisters can read me like a book. They know exactly what I’m about to do.
Mitch tenses as he sees me coming, but that doesn’t stop me from moving toward him like a woman on a mission. He stands up straight from where he was leaning against the wall and waits for whatever I have to say.
“Hey,” I start, placing my hands on my hips.
He gives a half smile, his eyes alight with humor. “Hey.”
“I want you to come with me and play a concert this weekend.”
His expression changes and gives away his confusion. “A concert?”
“I’m opening for Felicity this weekend.”
I don’t know what I’m expecting, but it’s not for his blindingly brilliant smile to break through, giving me something that I know is rare. Pride flashes in his eyes as he reaches out, grabbing my hand, and for the first time ever, lacing our fingers together. It’s such a small thing, but it makes the butterflies in my stomach flutter rapidly. “Then fuck yeah, I will. Of course I will.”
Happiness lifts my heart at his words. “Good.” Then I clear my throat and take a step back, giving him my best flirty smile and letting our hands hang out between us, slipping apart as I move away. “I need a hot date on my arm, anyway.”
His eyes jerk back to mine from where they were watching our hands, and his mouth opens in surprise.
I wink and let go of his hand, swishing my hips back and forth as I walk away, feeling like a weight has finally lifted from my shoulders.
Mitch
She thought she was winning something right now, and she wasn’t wrong, but I wasn’t about to let her just walk away like this.
I step forward, reaching out and clasping my hand around her forearm. Her skin is warm against my roughly calloused hand, but as always, she is soft to the touch. She spins, surprise lighting up her expression, and her mouth opens. “What?”
I don’t answer her. I just keep my face neutral as I lead her where I want her.
There were a thousand times that I wanted to grab her around the waist, pull her to the dance floor with me, and spinher around that floor like so many other couples do every single night.
I never had the nerve to do it and not take everything a step further. Now, my feelings are changing.
Falling into step with me as I move us to a classic two-step song, I see out of the corner of my eye as she watches me. I know she’s shocked. This isn’t something we did every day, but I couldn’t help it.
Her flirting, her putting herself in danger like she planned to, her getting a gig she more than deserved. Every ounce of it made me absolutely crazy with want for her.
“You know, you could get fired for leaving your post like that.” She teases, a glint in her eye showing me how unserious she is.
“Nah. The owner loves me.”
She hums, ignoring my obvious flirt. “Annmarie does have a certain fascination with you.”
I snort at the comment, my grip tightening around her.
“And you’re the brother-in-law to Thea, so she’d never fire you.”
I nearly roll my eyes, something completely out of habit for me, and level her with a stare. “And you? You have any reason to keep me around?”
