Page 28 of Any Cowboy of Mine
“Can you believe those two? They haven’t even looked up since we got here. I’d bet our bar tab that they don’t know we’re even here,” Brad said.
“Honestly, I have no idea what to say about them,” Sophie said, her eyes still watering. Her best friend danced with Steve, her cheek pressed up against his chest, her eyes shut and a stupid, reality-TV smile plastered on her face. “This isn’t like her at all, I can tell you that much.”
“Steve, either. In fact, I’ve never seen him do anything that might be deemed semi-romantic in the past few years. Definitely nothing in public. It’s fucking weird.”
Sophie nodded, and decided it was now or never. She tossed back the rest of the shot and let out a loud hiss, shaking her head violently.
“Another?” Brad asked, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
Her eyes got big, a silent plea against that idea, and he laughed again.
“No, I mean, yes. Anything but that.” She shuddered again, a strong taste of what amounted to rubbing alcohol still lingering in her mouth.
“Let’s do something easier on the palate. Lemon drop again?”
She grinned, nodding.
“God, please. You don’t mind?”
He shook his head, and she so badly wanted to reach up and kiss that playful smile off his lips. She was worried the moment between them had passed when they saw Jackie and Steve locked in their formidable embrace. Brad’s hand had come tantalizingly close to giving her what she wanted, and in the hotel hallway no less. They had chemistry, that was for sure.
“Not a bit. Lemon drops it is.”
She flagged down Sam and made sure it was clear that when she or Brad ordered any other shots that night, they wanted something that wouldn’t make their insides feel like they were filling with lighter fluid.
“Do you think we should include them?” Brad gestured to the dance floor. Steve and Jackie hadn’t so much as moved in the past ten minutes, except in a small circle that only they were a part of. The most entertaining part was when a fast song would come on the speakers, the couple didn’t move. They just swayed as if Aerosmith was really Marvin Gaye.
The bar was pretty cleared out, only a few of the wedding guests who looked like they took pretty good advantage of the open bar lingering in the dark corners. Other than that, it was eerily quiet, just the music and movement from the center of the dance floor.
“Nope. I want to watch this unfold. Wanna bet again on how long it takes them to look up?”
“Hell yes. Double or nothing one of them has to pee in the next twenty at least.”
Sophie shook her head, the room spinning while she did it.
“Too cheap. I wanna bet heavy on this one,” she said, a small hiccup passing through lips that were still swollen from her passionate but short-lived escapade with Brad a few minutes earlier.
The bartender arrived with their lemon drops, and Sophie burped, a tiny escape of air that left her in a fit of giggles. Brad joined in, which made it even harder for Sophie to stop.
“I’m so embarrassed,” she choked out between fits. She was, too. She could only imagine what Drew would have to say about her burping, and in public, too, adding insult to injury. No doubt he’d have sent her home in a car, only to lecture her the next morning on the perils of over-drinking and embarrassing oneself.
Brad let out a loud belch, drumming his hand on his chest. “Don’t be.”
At this point, Sophie could barely contain herself. She hiccupped and quickly covered her mouth with her hand. Oh, this wasn’t going well. But when her gaze met Brad’s, the way he looked at her said that wasn’t entirely correct.
There was something in Brad’s eyes that saw her—the burping, giggling fool she was—and didn’t shy away or try to change her. His gaze was more intoxicating than all the shots in the bar. It was also decidedlynotthe look of a friend. There might still be a chance for their night to end the way it was heading before they’d seen Steve and Jackie.
“Okay, Sophie,” Brad began, his eyes taking her in with the look of a predator before he pounced.Oh, let me be the prey.“Then what’s your bet?”
She swallowed hard. “I’m going to go a little bit less optimistic and say they won’t come up for air until they get kicked out.”
“I think that’s actually a pretty safe bet. But what’s your wager?”
She thought for a minute before answering, wondering how brazen she could—and should—be. Fuck it. There was only one way to see what sort of chance she and Brad might have. Playing it safe wasn’t going to get her anywhere, especially laid.
“Winner gets to plan the rest of the night.” She paused again before adding, “And morning.”
Brad grinned like he’d won the lottery, then pulled her in for a long kiss that sent her head spinning. Sophie relaxed shoulders she didn’t realize were tensely awaiting his answer. Okay, so not friends after all. Or notjustfriends. She’d already told him more about her life than she’d ever told Jackie. For some reason, Sophie felt like Brad could quickly become one of the best friends she’d ever had. Add the fire that burned in her chest when she thought of kissing him, touching him, and he’d prove to be one hell of a worthy partner in the game that was her life.
