Page 10 of Broken Bridges

Wobbling, I thrust out my glass for a refill. “Hit me again.”

After a few more shots, I couldn’t feel my leg. Or my lips...or my arms...or my feet. Perfect. Before the pain returned, I needed to dance...well, sway and boogie on the spot. I grabbed Cole’s hand and hobbled onto the dance floor. We laughed and jigged around. Flint and Sutton joined us. She was adorable. Definitely a match for Flint. So much nicer than Lena, his last girlfriend.

But as the crowd jostled around us, a heavy blanket of warm air washed over me. I glanced toward the side of the dance floor. Through my hazy vision, I homed in on a hot guy with tousled shoulder-length, blond hair, dancing with another man. He moved his toned physique in perfect sync with the music, swaying his hips and rocking his shoulders. He was impeccably dressed in a black designer button-down, bootleg jeans and studded belt. His chiseled jawline highlighted his gorgeous lips and refined chin. The hairs on my arms stood on end. Wow! I hadn’t been captivated by a man in years. Not since Rhett in Chicago. This guy was next level. Hot. Sexy. Made my panties wet just looking at him.

He moved closer to his friend and whispered in his ear. A cute smile curled across his lips.

Cole nudged my arm, then followed my line of sight. “Who are you checking out?”

“The blond.”

Cole hooked his arm around my shoulders and burst out laughing. “That, my dear baby sister...is our new bassist. Lewis.”

My heartbeat quickened. “Your bassist?”

“Yes.”

Hmmm. Heat rushed to my core, pooled between my legs. Maybe LA wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Then Lewis erased the gap between him and his partner. He cupped the guy’s face, drew their lips together, and kissed him. Hard. Long. All tongue.

Ohwow. I couldn’t look away.

Lewis’s hands circled the man’s head and clutched his hair. His partner groped and grabbed Lewis’s ass. The fire blazing between them ignited the room, blasting me where I stood.

But my heart catapulted backward. My stomach hit the ground with a thud.

Crap. That would be right.

Just my fucking luck.

The first guy I was attracted to in months...was gay.

Chapter 4

LEWIS

I dragged my drunk ass over to the bar for another drink. Benson, the guy I’d been dancing with, kissing, and getting hot under the collar for, had to leave. Go home to his boyfriend. Prick.

I could pick ’em, couldn’t I? Not.

The first step I’d taken to move on from Emilio and the guy had turned out to be a dick. He’d been a great kisser and a sexy dancer, but a dirty rotten cheater. Good riddance. Maybe I should swear off men. My fun night celebrating with The Flintlocks had taken a dent, but it was nothing another drink wouldn’t fix. Time to put Benson out of my mind. Reset. Party on.

Slip wove through the crowd, who were herding toward the bar like thirsty sheep. He eased in beside me and slapped my shoulder. “No luck with that dude?”

“Nah. He turned out to be a jerk.” The taste of the Benson’s Grasshopper Martini lingered on my tongue, and the scent of his musky cologne still filled my senses. I hated the smell of musk. So no loss.

Slip jutted his chin toward the group of guys standing at a nearby high table. I’d noticed their I’m-interested gazes when I’d left the dance floor. Maybe not all was lost when it came to finding a moving-on hookup.

Overloaded with a ton of vodka, Slip swayed on his feet. “Wait a few minutes. I’m sure one of those guys will ask you to dance after the way you burned up the dance floor. Damn, you’ve got some moves.”

“Uh...thanks.” I nudged Slip’s ribs with my elbow. “You want some lessons?”

I’d only known Slip for three days, but we seemed to have the same sense of humor and loved music more than anything.

“None needed.” He leaned in closer and pointed to a blonde standing at the far end of the bar with her friend. As she sipped her cocktail, she threw come-fuck-me eyes in his direction. Slip’s killer smile curled across his lips as he winked at her. “I have some moves of my own.” With his bronzed skin and surfer-dude looks, no wonder he pulled in the women. He slapped me on the back. “I’m out of here. Catch you soon.”

“Later.” I flicked my hand in a drunken wave. He took off, meandering through the mass of people toward the girls. I leaned against the bar counter and waited for service.

---