Page 26 of The Fangirl and the Grump

“You’ll love them,” she says with a laugh. “And there’s no tequila.”

I turn back to Bram, who’s still grinning at me, his eyes sparkling with something I can’t quite define. It’s not interest, exactly. But it’s notnotinterest, either. Like…curiosity, maybe?

When he turns to make the drinks Willow ordered, I watch him with a fair amount of curiosity of my own. He’s gorgeous, really. All broad shoulders, strong features, and a thick head of strawberry-blond hair, he looks like a Ken doll come to life. Or maybe a G.I. Joe, if the bulges beneath his shirt are any indication of the muscles hidden beneath it.

I remember thinking of him as a fine hunk of man meat the first time I saw him, and the description still fits. But despite all that, I feel nothing when I admire him. Just like with Jacob on our date, there’s no spark.

Maybe I’m broken. Fucking Carter-douchecanoe-Hawthornebrokeme.

Before I can build a good head of steam thinking of that asshole cheater, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. A shiver runs down my spine for no reason. I spin on my stool and scan the crowd, looking for eyes on me, but no one is staring.

Huh. Weird.

As I start to spin back toward the bar, my eyes freeze on the entrance and the tall, dark, bearded man walking in our direction.Hiseyes are on me.

And he doesn’t look happy with what he sees.

“Things just got interesting.”

Bram’s words break through my trance, and I look toward him quickly, breaking whatever weird staring contest I had going on with Mr. Dark And Grumpy.Trace Bardin.

He’shere.

And he’s coming this way.

I stare at the four shots Bram has set on the bar in front of us. Four. I snap my gaze to Willow, but she’s looking over my shoulder as her brother’s unmistakable presence approaches.

“I thought it was just going to be the two of us, Willow.”

His voice whispers over my skin like the softest silk despite his angry tone. I fight the urge to shiver again as my mind goes haywire. What is happening here? Why did Willow invite him when she knows he hates me?

Okay. Maybehateis a strong word. But he certainly dislikes me.

“I can go,” I whisper in Willow’s direction, but she grabs my forearm when I start to move and rolls her eyes at her brother.

He’s still standing behind me, and I can feel his breath against the skin of my bare shoulder. No longer able to control it, I curl my shoulders inward as another shiver trickles down my spine.

“Keegan’s not going anywhere,” Willow says firmly. “And neither are you, brother. We’re going to have a few drinks so you two can get to know each other better. She’s my friend, and you’re going to have to get over yourself at some point. Why not tonight?”

I watch Willow’s face as she stares at him intently, silently daring him to disobey her. It’s impressive, really, considering Trace is at least a decade older than her. Maybe more. And he’s a little intimidating with his broad build and thick beard, like a big, grumpy lumberjack. All he needs is an ax to carry around.

“Fine,” he concedes after several beats, effectively shocking the shit out of me.

I twist around to look at him, and I’mnotshocked to see him frowning back at me. Indignation swells through me, and I stiffen my spine. What’s his fucking problem, anyway? I mean, I know I called him Wolf Daddy––twice––and he doesn’t like it, but I didn’t know that. I do now, so I won’t let it happen again.

He’s acting like I did it on purpose to piss him off.

Well, fuck him very much. I’m here to drink and have fun with my friend, and if Trace wants to be a grumpy stick in the mud, he can have at it. I’m not going to let him bring me down with him.

And I’m not going to think about my body’s reaction the second he walked through the door. It was an anomaly. A coincidence. Yeah. The air conditioning kicked on at that exact moment, making me shiver. That’s it.

Nothing more.

Looking back at Willow, I shrug, and she releases my arm. Grabbing one of the four blue shots in front of me, I lift it into the air. Willow grins and grabs one for herself, holding it up next to mine. Bram copies suit, and all three of us look toward Trace. His eyes fall closed for a beat, and when he reopens them, the dark orbs bore into me as he reaches out to snag the last shot glass.

Willow cheers, and all four of us clink our glasses together before throwing back the shots. Willow slams her glass down on the bar and motions for Bram to pour another round. I hand my glass over as the liquor warms my belly, then chance a look at Trace.

He stares at his empty glass with a thoughtful expression, then sets it down beside mine for Bram to refill. The bartender fills the three glasses, but sets his own in the dirty bin behind the bar. Willow boos him loudly, and a laugh bursts through my lips.

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