Page 21 of King of Rhythm
“I can’t stand crowds or even other people half the time. You draw attention, even without meaning to. Not because you were once in a band, but just because of who you are. You’re good and kind and handsome and if we’re together, I’ll never be able to hide and blend into the background like I want to.”
Sucking in a deep breath, my lips quiver as I wait for Bryce to say something.
His mouth firms into a thin, straight line, his eyes narrowing as he stands and silently watches me.
Blowing out sharply, I continue in a rush, my words coming faster and faster. “And if you’re still willing to try, and maybe not force me to stay too long, will you please go to happy hour tomorrow with me because I love you and the idea of never seeing you again terrifies me more than anything?”
“Does this place have dancing?”
My mind scrambles to make sense of what he’s asking. “Umm… I guess. It’s a tiny little dancefloor, I don’t know that I’ve ever seen many people on it.”
“Will you dance with me? Even if we’re the only people out there?”
Biting down hard on my lip, I nod my head and answer honestly. “Yes.”
Bryce reaches for my hands, drawing me closer. His nose rubs along my jawline and I swallow hard.
“Good,” he whispers, placing a kiss under my ear. “Because I want to dance with the woman I love.”
I start to melt when the sharp sting of his teeth pinching down on my earlobe has me tensing up, my breath catching in my chest.
“And angel, don’t you ever refer to yourself as plain again. I don’t know who filled your head with those lies. You are beautiful and anyone who doesn’t see it doesn’t deserve to.”
His mouth shifts to my lips and I cling to him as he kisses me, uncaring of who might be witnessing me kissing the man I love.
***
BRYCE
Avery wasn’t kidding. This happy hour is a bore. And Trevor? I shake my head and grin behind my glass of stout. Meeting him, I can now agree, the term jerk face fits him perfectly.
Funny enough, when we were introduced at the beginning of the party, he recognized me. Apparently, he’s a fan.
“Bryce? You’re from Men on a Mission,” he said, a wide grin splitting his face. “I loved In the Zone! I didn’t realize you were so short though,” he said, taking his hand and lowering it to his shoulder and then skimming it near my forehead while laughing.
Avery tensed up next to me and I squeezed her hand, letting her know it was okay.
My girlfriend shocked me, though.
“Shame some men only have height going for them. Unlike Bryce, who’s the whole package.” She gave Trevor a wink. “And then some.”
We walked away while Trevor’s face went from pink to red. He avoided us for the rest of the evening.
After we finished making the rounds and Avery introduced me to all her coworkers, she begged to leave. I told her she needed to last a full ninety minutes and reminded her of her promise.
Currently we’re sitting at the table in the back, while Sarah alternates between grilling us and Avery looks at the big clock near the bar and gives me the occasional pouty frown.
“And you don’t have any brothers?” Sarah asks me with a pout of her own.
“Only a sister. Avery has a brother, Aiden. Why hasn’t she set you up with him?”
If looks could kill, I would be stiff on the ground, Sarah’s cheery brown eyes having turned wintery cold.
“Excuse me,” she says, grabbing her drink and standing. “I should go congratulate the man of the hour.”
“Ouch, what did I say?” I ask after she takes off.
“Crazy enough, Sarah used to date Aiden’s best friend and let’s just say the two of them didn’t end on good terms. My brother, being my brother, took his friend’s side. This is allbefore I started working with Sarah, so I don’t know too many details.” Avery takes a fast sip of her soda. “Somehow, she forgave me once she learned who my brother was. I didn’t think to warn you about it. Whatever you do don’t mention this to my brother next weekend, okay?”
