times, but tonight the group was exceptionally hilarious. She mouthed “thank you” to Sophie as the band made their way backstage to get ready for their performance.
Candace pulled her phone from her clutch to check Facebook; maybe she’d even post about being at the club. For once she had something cool to write. She was about to stretch out her hand to capture a good angle for a selfie when his voice cut through the crowd.
“This seat taken?”
She straightened. Seats were sparse, but that probably wasn’t why he was asking. She titled her head up and to the side and looked straight into Luke’s eyes—his beautiful, many-shades-of-green-she’d-never-seen-before eyes.
There goes letting my hair down.
Her heels might have been rockin’, but they weren’t stand-all-night-in-one-place comfortable. She’d have to sit by him.
“Yes.” She turned back to the deafening stage.
“Perfect.” He slid out the chair next to her and sat, scooting it in so they practically touched legs.
She rolled her eyes. Of course he’d put his butt in the chair. He had no regard for her or her feelings. A chill crept up her arm to her neck. She was missing something here. When had her body started betraying her when it came to Luke friggin’ Carrigan?
“Do you always watch Sophie play?” He leaned close and heat radiated from his cheek to hers.
“When I can.” She tilted her head but made sure to keep a safe distance from his scent. “Have you seen Orange Heart perform before?” She took note of his dark jeans, slip-on brown leather loafers, and blue polo and decided not to acknowledge his cuteness. Men had looking good so easy when it came to clothing.
“No. Sophie invited me.” He turned and their eyes locked.
“When?” Before she could stop the word it tumbled pathetically from her lips. She made herself hold his gaze. She froze her face and prayed he didn’t notice that she still wanted her lips to touch his.
Why hadn’t Sophie said anything? Either she’d asked Luke there to hit on him or—or, what? Candace had no idea what had gone through Sophie’s head.
It doesn’t matter. More power to the both of them.
Candace and Luke obviously didn’t have anything but a professional relationship, which was one step up from the disdain they’d cultivated for decades.
“Today. Said she was worried and wanted a warm body in the seat.” He indicated the crowd surrounding them. “Worried for no reason.”
“They have a faithful following.”
The waitress bought Candace a refill and Luke a beer.
I’m drinking the same thing he made me last night. Perfect.
She was going to try to glide by that embarrassment. She sipped her Moscow Mule and out of the corner of her eye could see Luke smile right before the beer bottle hit his lips.
Caught
.
Luke leaned over and she could feel his hot breath on her neck as he spoke, lowly, in her ear. “You can just admit that I know what you like.” He lingered close.
A siren deep in her belly awakened, her lips fell apart, and she blinked twice, keeping her face toward the stage.
Before she could say anything, the loud strums of electric guitar rang. Luke returned to his space, leaving her cold. She ignored the confusing moment and focused on Sophie and her rock band. They covered some great ’80s music and performed original songs of their own. The nagging image of Luke sitting next to her stifled her enjoyment. She could smell his sweet scent and remained hyper-aware of his actions the entire time. When he shifted, her heart beat faster. When he reached out his hand for his beer, she licked her lips. Every time he brought his hand up to scratch the back of his head or touch his scruff, she about fainted wondering if his hand would somehow land on her thigh. Her nerves were shot.
“You like?” she asked.
“Yeah. Good music,” he shouted over the drum of music.
“That’s not what I’m asking.” She winked, but it wasn’t one of those coy winks. It was obvious.
Candace pulled her phone from her clutch to check Facebook; maybe she’d even post about being at the club. For once she had something cool to write. She was about to stretch out her hand to capture a good angle for a selfie when his voice cut through the crowd.
“This seat taken?”
She straightened. Seats were sparse, but that probably wasn’t why he was asking. She titled her head up and to the side and looked straight into Luke’s eyes—his beautiful, many-shades-of-green-she’d-never-seen-before eyes.
There goes letting my hair down.
Her heels might have been rockin’, but they weren’t stand-all-night-in-one-place comfortable. She’d have to sit by him.
“Yes.” She turned back to the deafening stage.
“Perfect.” He slid out the chair next to her and sat, scooting it in so they practically touched legs.
She rolled her eyes. Of course he’d put his butt in the chair. He had no regard for her or her feelings. A chill crept up her arm to her neck. She was missing something here. When had her body started betraying her when it came to Luke friggin’ Carrigan?
“Do you always watch Sophie play?” He leaned close and heat radiated from his cheek to hers.
“When I can.” She tilted her head but made sure to keep a safe distance from his scent. “Have you seen Orange Heart perform before?” She took note of his dark jeans, slip-on brown leather loafers, and blue polo and decided not to acknowledge his cuteness. Men had looking good so easy when it came to clothing.
“No. Sophie invited me.” He turned and their eyes locked.
“When?” Before she could stop the word it tumbled pathetically from her lips. She made herself hold his gaze. She froze her face and prayed he didn’t notice that she still wanted her lips to touch his.
Why hadn’t Sophie said anything? Either she’d asked Luke there to hit on him or—or, what? Candace had no idea what had gone through Sophie’s head.
It doesn’t matter. More power to the both of them.
Candace and Luke obviously didn’t have anything but a professional relationship, which was one step up from the disdain they’d cultivated for decades.
“Today. Said she was worried and wanted a warm body in the seat.” He indicated the crowd surrounding them. “Worried for no reason.”
“They have a faithful following.”
The waitress bought Candace a refill and Luke a beer.
I’m drinking the same thing he made me last night. Perfect.
She was going to try to glide by that embarrassment. She sipped her Moscow Mule and out of the corner of her eye could see Luke smile right before the beer bottle hit his lips.
Caught
.
Luke leaned over and she could feel his hot breath on her neck as he spoke, lowly, in her ear. “You can just admit that I know what you like.” He lingered close.
A siren deep in her belly awakened, her lips fell apart, and she blinked twice, keeping her face toward the stage.
Before she could say anything, the loud strums of electric guitar rang. Luke returned to his space, leaving her cold. She ignored the confusing moment and focused on Sophie and her rock band. They covered some great ’80s music and performed original songs of their own. The nagging image of Luke sitting next to her stifled her enjoyment. She could smell his sweet scent and remained hyper-aware of his actions the entire time. When he shifted, her heart beat faster. When he reached out his hand for his beer, she licked her lips. Every time he brought his hand up to scratch the back of his head or touch his scruff, she about fainted wondering if his hand would somehow land on her thigh. Her nerves were shot.
“You like?” she asked.
“Yeah. Good music,” he shouted over the drum of music.
“That’s not what I’m asking.” She winked, but it wasn’t one of those coy winks. It was obvious.
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