Page 18 of Test the Ice
Am I really that bored with life that I’m putting this much effort into a woman who refuses to even smile at me?
I think she’s rolled her eyes at me more than she’s smiled at this point.
I shake my head and head to the bar. I ignore the loud group of college girls staring at me as the bartender hands me a beer. I rest my hip against the edge and stare out onto the dance floor.
A few nights off from hockey and I don’t even know what to do with myself other than force some woman I barely know to the club with me to babysit Kane so he doesn’t get into a fight over his best friend’s little sister, who is currently pulling every one of his strings.
Daisy and Reese break apart as Daisy starts to dance with a random guy.
Kane’s ears are bright red, his anger not so subtle. They’re both glaring at each other, playing their own type of game.
I casually slip my attention back to Reese while taking a swig of my beer. The malty flavor coats my tongue, not even coming close to distracting me enough that I’ll stop staring at her perfect ass in those tight jeans.
She catches my eye, the strobe lights from the dance floor coating the side of her high cheek bone. Her eyes quickly shift elsewhere, like she doesn’t want to admit she was looking for me.
I smirk because she totally was.
I place my beer on the bar and stand up a little taller. She’s on the complete other end of the club, avoiding me, until a man comes up beside her.
She immediately searches for me, and when our eyes meet, a hint of worry shows within the shadows across her face. My chest tightens, and the beer on my tongue dries out.
Before my brain can catch up to my body, I’m halfway across the dance floor to reach her. I’ve lost Kane and Daisy, but I can’t really seem to care. He’s on his own for now. If he wants to keep his spot on the Blue Devils, he’ll think twice about getting into some fight.
Same goes for me, which is something I remind myself as I come up behind Reese and the guy whose name is about to go on my shit list.
“No, I’m good,” Reese squeaks. “I’m here with someone.”
Me? She’s referring to me, right?
“Who?” the man asks. “A boyfriend? Because I don’t see him.”
Reese stalls.
She reaches up on her tiptoes to look past the man in the direction of the bar, where I just was.
“That’s because I’m behind you,” I say, slipping out from behind the man. “She’s here with me.”
My arm finds Reese’s waist right away, and I pull her in close. She’s a perfect fit against my body.
“Fucking figures,” the guy mutters. He runs a hand through his hair and disappears to look for the next willing female to lure.
Reese’s shoulders fall, a soft sigh escaping her mouth.
“You good?” I ask.
“Yeah.” She nods. “Thanks.”
Before she puts any space between us, I grab onto her hand. Her chin jerks upward, the warm color of brown in her eyes sparkling with surprise.
“Now you owe me a dance.”
She gives me a look that’s nothing less than a warning, but I pull her onto the floor anyway.
Seven
REESE
Malaki’s handslips into mine, and he pulls me further onto the dance floor.
