Page 6 of Spreading Her Wings

We turned around, facing a man about the same height as Auston. The sleeves on his sweater were pulled up, revealing the tattoos lining his arms. Auston grabbed the man’s hand, pulling him in for a half hug and a pat on the back.

“Hey, don’t blame me,” he said, tossing a look in my direction. I narrowed my eyes at him.Asshole.“Logan, this is Katie. Katie, this is Logan.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” I said, holding out my hand and flashing him the wide smile that always won people over.

He shook my hand. “Even nicer to meet you. When this asshole said he had agirlfriend, I knew I had to meet her. I mean, he’s been my best friend for, what? A decade? I’ve never seen him with a girl for more than a night before.”

Auston stiffened next to me, and I chuckled at his discomfort. I would’ve loved to have been a fly on the wall when he’d admitted he had a girlfriend. Before I could respond, a woman with curly, blonde hair walked up and wrapped her arms around Logan’s waist. Her light-colored jeans hugged her full hips and thighs, and tattoos covered the backs of both of her hands, disappearing under the sleeves of her blue sweater. I imagined they traveled up her arms.Yeah, definitely overdressed.

“Babe, this is Katie. Auston’sgirlfriend.” When Logan introduced me, the woman squealed. I looked up at Auston, amused by the blush growing on his neck. Had he really never been with a woman for more than one night?

“God, you’regorgeous! I’m Simone, Logan’s better half.” She nudged him with her elbow, winking at me. I started to reach my hand out when she glared. “I’m obviously hugging you,” she said, pulling me against her.

“Ash and Jackson are around here somewhere. You know how it goes,” Logan said, tilting his head towards the murmuring crowd of people.

Auston laughed and clapped his hand against his friend’s back. “We’ll come find all of you in a minute. Let me take your coat,” he said, turning to me. I froze.

“I’m okay,” I said, realizing how stupid that must have sounded when I suddenly became aware of how warm it was in the room. I swallowed, more nervous about the outfit I chose to wear.Stupid, Katie. Stupid.

“Don’t be ridiculous, kitten. Give me your coat.”

I cringed at the nickname, but the amazement on their faces didn’t fall. Slowly, I unbuttoned my coat and slid it off my shoulders.

“Holy shit. You’re not just gorgeous—you’re fuckinghot!” Simone widened her eyes and dragged her stare from my head to the strappy shoes on my feet.

Heat warmed my cheeks. I was used to being told I was hot at a bar, but I wasn’t used to being told that by women at a bar in front of my fake boyfriend, who was now staring very intently at me. My arms felt bare without the tattoos that covered Auston and his friends, and I ran my hand along the opposite arm in a meek effort to cover myself.

Auston held my coat in his hand, placing his other hand on my lower back and leading me away from his friends. I hoped we were going to the bar because I needed the liquid courage to wear this while his friends were all dressed in casual sweaters and jeans.

“Jesus, kitten. I told you to wear whatever you want, and you chosethat?” Auston’s voice was strained.

“I wanted to make a good first impression. It’s too much…”

He took a long perusal, goosebumps rising with his gaze. “I wouldn’t say toomuch,” he chuckled, tossing my coat on a stack behind the bar before grabbing a couple of glasses. “What do you drink?”

“Tequila and soda with lime, please,” I said, and he laughed.

“I should’ve known. You and Andy and your tequila.”

He filled the glasses—one for me and one full of beer. “Let’s go find Ash and Jackson. They’ll be equally shocked to meet you.”

I instinctually bit my bottom lip and sucked in a breath. “Take a shot with me first.”

“Okay, but I don’t shoot tequila.” He grabbed two shot glasses, pouring tequila in one and gin in the other. “To us,” he said, tapping his glass to mine.

With the liquor warming my throat, I stepped back from the bar. “Okay, now we can go.”

Katie looked like fucking sin dipped in leather, and when she tossed her head back with the shot, her throat bobbed.Jesus.When she’d taken off her coat and was left in that barely-there tank top, I was sure the mouth of every man in the bar dried out.

Her heels clicked against the floor when I led her to the table my friends surrounded. Logan had his arm possessively wrapped around Simone and was nuzzling her hair. Jackson ran his hand through his hair and turned his blue eyes in our direction.

“Mm, mm, mm.Youmust be the delicious Katie I’ve just recently learned about,” he said with a doting glance in her direction and a glare in mine. “What the hell is wrong with you, huh? Not bringing this absolute dime around us sooner should be a crime.”

She laughed, shrugging at me before turning her attention back to Jackson. “It’s nice to meet you, uh…”

“Jackson, baby. My name is Jackson,” he said with a kiss on her cheek. Grabbing the man next to him, he pulled him over. “And this is myfiancé,Asher.”

“Call me Ash, please,” he said, kissing her other cheek. Jackson and Ash, always the charmers. When Ash stood straight, he fixed his suit jacket, running his hand over the short brown stubble on his chin.

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