Page 109 of That Moment
She’s talking with Dolly and Brooklyn, head tipped back as she laughs, and for a second, I just watch her. Beyond her physical beauty, that woman is stunning down to her bones. Thecrazy thing is, even if she hadn’t fought for me, even if I’d just broken her heart and walked away, she’d still never hate me over it. She’s not that kind of person.
Her eyes shift away from her friends every minute or so, glancing around the room. She says something to Juniper, then looks away from the group. She’s scanning the crowd, like she’s looking for someone. When her eyes find me, they light up, a huge smile taking over her entire face, and damn if it doesn’t hit me right in the gut.
I pull out my phone and type her a quick text.
Me:You look beautiful, baby.
She glances down at her phone in her hand when it buzzes, reads the message, then looks back up at me. Her lips curve, barely, like she’s trying not to show it. But she doesn’t reply. So I push. Because I can’t help myself.
Me:You know I’ve been thinking about you on your knees… You never finished.
She reads it, bites her lip, cheeks flushing. Shakes her head like she’s scolding me, but that smile gives her away. I grin into my beer.
Yeah. She feels it too.
I make my way over slowly, talking with a few people as I pass—Ranger gives me that knowing look, Axel just raises a brow but doesn’t say anything. He’s been watching me more lately. I can’t blame him. If he knew half the things I even thought about doing to his sister, he’d lay me out flat.
By the time I reach Adrienne’s circle, she’s mid-story, the girls hanging on every word. Brooklyn spots me first. “Well, look who decided to show up. We were starting to think you got lost.”
“Would’ve been here sooner,” I say easily, eyes sliding to Adrienne, “but I had to make a stop in town.”
“Priorities,” Dolly teases, nudging Adrienne. “You hear that? Man’s got things to do.”
Adrienne smirks. “Scotty always hasthingsto do.”
There’s a flirty undertone to her voice. One that makes my pulse kick.
“Not doing anything right now.” I take a long pull from my beer, eyes never leaving hers. “But who knows, might be doing all kinds of things later.”
Brooklyn whistles, Adrienne smiles but rolls her eyes, cheeks pink. But I don’t look away. I want her to see it, to feel it. Then Dolly, with her not-so-subtle meddling, pipes up. “I just still can’t believe Adrienne Slade’s the only single one left standing in the group.”
“I know, right?” she joins right in, “who would’ve thought career Barbie would be married to her job?” Laughter ripples through the group. Adrienne laughs too, light and easy, but it twists something in my chest.
Single?
I wait. Give her the chance to say something. To correct them, to tell them she’s not single. But she doesn’t. She just shrugs, brushing it off like it’s nothing.
“Guess I’m picky.”
The words slide under my skin. Not because she’s wrong, but because I hate the way everyone looks at her like she’s still fair game.
“Maybe you just haven’t been claimed yet.”
Her head snaps toward me. “Claimed?”
“Yeah,” I smirk, getting a rise out of her. “You know. Taken. Branded.”
Her brow arches. “You offering?”
I take a step closer, enough for her perfume to hit me. She looks up at me with a cocky smile. “Thought I already did.”
Her breath hitches, but she covers it with a sharp little smile. “Pretty sure I’d remember if you had.”
The group has gone quiet; they’re all watching us now, some grinning, some pretending not to be listening. It’s all banter on the surface, but underneath, I can feel the current, and I know she can too. It’s written all over her face.
I lean in, murmur near her ear, “Maybe I need to remind you.”
That does it. She steps back, mumbling something about needing air, and turns toward the barn. The group turns to look at me.
