Page 16 of Spotlight
That feeling is mutual. I’m basically gawking at her, but I can’t seem to stop. I’m still so stunned. God. I must have thought about her a million times. And she’s been here the whole damn time.
When she’s drained the entire glass, she finally angles her body toward me. The earlier fire is back in her gaze. “Was New York some kind of joke? Did you know who I was the whole time?”
“What? No.” Is she for real right now?
Her piercing stare narrows as if she’s not sure she believes me. I consider telling her that if I had known who she was, I would have already tracked her down. That night has lived rent-free in my head ever since. It isn’t often that you meet someone and connect with them like we did. I wouldn’t call it love at first sight, but I would say it was a hell of a lot more than lust at first sight.
“I had no idea who you were,” I say, my tone low and serious. “But I’m really happy to see you again.”
She snorts a laugh, stare moving back so that she’s looking behind the bar toward the shelves of liquor bottles. “I’ll bet.”
“I’m so for real right now. I must have thought about you a thousand times since that night.” That number is low, but I can already tell that she’s hesitant to believe anything I say. Less seems better.
Squaring her shoulders, Olivia glares at me. I’ve never seen eyes so blue or a mouth so kissable. Her brows lift, indicating that she might have said something.
“Sorry, what?” I ask. She’s so damn pretty it’s distracting.
An exasperated scoff leaves her mouth, and she mutters, “Unbelievable.”
She starts to walk off and I put a hand on her forearm to stop her. Tingles race up my arm at the feel of her warm, soft skin.
“Wait,” I say, voice closer to pleading than I’d like. “Can I get your number or take you out sometime?”
“Seriously?”
“Uhh…”
“I don’t think so.” She takes a step and so do I.
“Why not?” I ask.
“I don’t date.”
“Ever?”
“Not since the last dozen attempts.”
“Because none of them could get you off?” I ask quietly.
Her face flushes. “Oh my god. I can’t believe I told you that.”
“Nothing to be embarrassed about.”
Her face scrunches up adorably and she gives her head a little shake. “Look. I like your brother and Sabrina is my best friend, so let’s just forget about New York and everything we said and did there, and try to enjoy tonight for them. Okay?”
“Not likely.”
Exasperation flashes across her features. “I’ll see you around.”
This time I let her leave. I stare after her and feel a smile tug at the corners of my mouth. “You can count on it.”
* * *
The bar is filled with Archer’s friends and teammates. I’ve met most of the guys already, but as I walk up to Brogan, he motions with his head for me to join them and says, “Baby Holland, let me introduce you to the guys.”
“Guys, this is Flynn. Aka Flynn the Flame. Aka Baby Holland. Aka?—”
“They get it,” I say, then smile at the group crowded around. I nod my hello to each of them as Brogan points and calls out their names. Tripp, Cody, and Merrick.
