Page 111 of Waiting for Acceptance
“Ok, I need a drink!” she yells over the music.
“Just one more,” I tell her, earning a glare from her, but she doesn’t argue. I turn to wait for the bartender and hear Ruby come up from behind me.
“Um, okay. So this night has been wild. Not only did I just see Zander and Tana making out in the hallway, but Jackson is here with one of the new teachers—according to Leah—and guess who else I just saw?” Ruby says, her eyes widening when I turn around to face the conversation she was starting with Lauren.
“Who?” Lauren asks impatiently.
“Uh…” I raise a brow at Ruby but she makes no effort to answer.
“What a small world.” This Australian motherfucker and his accent.
“Hugh? Oh my god, what are you doing here?”
“I’m in town on business and I heard so many locals talking about this place, I had to come check it out for myself. It’s very loud.”
“That it is,” she agrees.
“I was surprised I never heard from you. My reason for being in and out of town is because…” A group of people behind me get frustratingly loud and I can’t hear him anymore. Lauren must not be able to either because she turns her ear towards him and he steps closer to her—much closer than I’d like for him to be. I’m trying to remain civil, but I did already punch a guy forgetting too close to her tonight, who’s to say I wouldn’t do it again. Her mouth pops open and she gasps and the look on his face after sets me off. I reach out and grab her arm and, very calmly, pull her into my chest. She’s tucked safely under my arm as I throw back the scotch I ordered when Ruby came up, and she wraps her hands around my forearm instantly.
“Well, I wish I could help you, but me and this guy have been pretty busy traveling lately. Plus, I don’t do a lot of commercial sites, but I have plenty of great recommendations I could give you if you’d like.”
“That would be lovely. You can text or email them to me. You still have my number, yes?” I look down at Lauren but she just nods.
“I do, I’ll send them to you.”
“Well, I am going to find somewhere less crowded and with fewer peanuts on the ground. It was great seeing you all again.” Hugh waves and heads towards the door.
“This guy?” I tease, and she turns around, looking up at me. I adjust my hat and her eyes watch the movement before finding mine again.
“What? It’s like a term of endearment!”
“This guyis a term of endearment?”
She rolls her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. “Well, I could have called you Lucifer.”
I grab her cheeks with one hand, pulling her lips to mine, sliding my tongue into her mouth as I kiss her right in the middle of this bar. “One of these days you’re gonna learn your lesson about rolling those damn eyes at me, baby.”
She catches her breath and looks at me, eyes wild with desire. “What if I don’t want to learn it?” She pulls her bottom lip in with her teeth and I clench my jaw.
“Brat.”
The most devilish smile appears on her face. “Asshole.” Then a more serious look washes over her features. “You heard me tell him I wouldn’t work with him, right?” She’s actually worried about me being upset, and I don’t mind how much I enjoy that.
“Yeah, I heard.” I smile, wrapping my hands around her waist. “I trust you, Trouble. I just…don’t like looking at his face.” She laughs and her hands come up to my cheeks.
“If it makes you feel any better, I like your face a lot more.” I narrow my eyes at her.
“Just my face?” I tease.
“And your hands.” Her hands caress the backs of mine.
“And your lips.” She leans up and kisses me.
“The way you talk to me.” She smiles, standing on her toes to reach my ear.
“The way you fuck me,” she whispers, and goosebumps race down my arms.
“I like you more, Fitz. Every single thing about you, I like.” I bend down and pick her up, squeezing her body to mine as I breathe in the faint smell of coconut on her skin.
