Page 12 of That Touch

“Oh God, ancient Roman history?” I groan as Axel poses, flexing and attempting to dance on stage with the music. “He’s so full of shit! I guarantee you he doesn’t even know where Rome is. This is embarrassing for the entire family.”

“Pretty sure that was you last time.”

“Come on, I wasn’t that bad,” I say, pointing toward him as he does a few wobbly one-handed push-ups. “And I sure as shit didn’t have some made-up backstory about who I was.”

“Mmm, well, you were drunk, so I beg to differ. I’m pretty sure there was mention of you winning multiple rodeo belt buckles, which I’ve yet to see you produce. It was certainly the first time I’d heard about your roping skills.” Dolly looks up at me, laughing.

“For the record, I do have amazing roping skills, and if Iwantedto, I would absolutely dominate at a rodeo.” She rolls her eyes. “I bet it still got you all hot and bothered,” I say, leaning down to make sure she hears me over the music. I don’t know why, but I settle my hands on her waist, my fingertips coming alive against the warmth of her exposed skin.

“Never said it didn’t.” She turns her head slightly toward me, and for a moment, our eyes lock and it feels like everything else around us disappears. My eyes dip down to her lips, where the tip of her pink tongue quickly darts out to wet them. I’m so tempted, so close. All I have to do is lean in a few more inches and taste her.

“You should have bid on me.”

“I did.”

“You did?” I furrow my brow. I don’t recall her bidding on me at all.

“Yeah.” She steps back out of my grasp, the moment dissipating. “It was between me and some blonde. She kept outbidding me, so I eventually let her win.”

“Why? Why’d you let her win?”

“Because you two were clearly into each other. I figured she came with you and it was your plan for her to win. You didn’t even look at me once that entire night. You kept being super flirty with her from across the room. I mean, you don’t even remember me bidding on you, so that kind of proves my point.”

“Shit, sorry.” I feel like an ass. “Clearly, I was more preoccupied with getting laid that night.”

“Yeah, kind of used to that.” She laughs, but it sounds like it’s hiding some other emotion.

“Yeah? That how it’s always been?” I’m not sure we should be having this conversation right now as bachelor after bachelor struts out.

She shrugs, turning her attention to the stage just as a tall fireman walks out with a man bun and more abs than I thought humanly possible.

“Please welcome to the stage Styles ‘The Stallion’ Terio!” The crowd is louder than it has been as women literally scream in excitement. I can’t help but roll my eyes. I turn to make a joke to Dolly when I see she’s one of the women who has completely lost her shit.

“Styles is 25, 6’3”, and a sensitive Leo who loves to have a good time. He can be goofy and make you laugh, or read you a poem he wrote and make you cry. When he’s not rescuing people from burning buildings, he can be found helping cats out of trees, assisting elderly people across the street, and always tipping more than 20%!”

“This can’t be real.” I glance around the room as the crowd roars.

“One hundred dollars!” Dolly yells, her paddle darting upward. “Don’t be jealous,” she says, turning to me.

“Jealous? Come on, his name is Styles? That’s not real and he sure as shit isn’t helping cats cross the street or whatever.”

“Three hundred!” she shouts, countering other bids. “It’s cats out of trees, Ranger. Why would a cat cross the street?”

“You didn’t tell me you’d be bidding.” I sound jealous. Okay, Iamjealous. I sound pathetic.

“Do I hear five hundred?”

“Five hundred!” she shouts louder. “I promised Mill I’d win an auction in the name of Dolly’s Boutique for the kids’ library expansion thing.”

“You know you can just donate the money, right?”

“Seven! Since when do you care? Remember, you did this too. Besides, it’s all just fun anyway and it’s for a good cause. Let us ladies have something for once.”

I raise my hands in surrender. “I just didn’t take you for being a cougar who loves a man bun.” I can’t finish the sentence without laughing.

“Since when did you become such a grump? You used to be fun. One thousand!”

“I’m still fun,” I huff.

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