Back in the Saddle (Jessica Brodie Diaries #1)(51)

I followed his eyes to the back of the building—wait, it was the front. It was the direction we came in—stored in sober brain—and saw a large roped off area housing a team of guys. They were standing in groups or sitting, all with a beer, laughing and causing a ruckus, as boys did.

Big party, but also roped in, so definitely prestigious! If only the girls could be here! They’d go bananas!

I spied Candace leaning against the railing with the pretense of looking for me, but constantly sidetracked by a joking Ty. When he pointed, as yet another bouncer was opening the roped off section and waving us through, she jumped and screamed.

“Oh God.” Randall rolled his eyes.

“She’s excitable.” I laughed, getting a bear hug from a bubbly, buzzed Candace.

“I am so glad you made it!” she exclaimed. “There are way too many guys, and I know you can put them in their place.”

“Hardly.” Ty grinned. “Hi ya, Jess. Whose your friend?”

“Oh yeah, that’s Randall, from I.T. Hi Randall,” Candace said.

“Hi Candace. How long have you guys been drinking?” Randall asked in a somber tone.

“Oh, since work ended. Not straight, though. I had two then went home to change and Ty came to get me. Then we came here and met everyone. That’s Ty, by the way.” She threw a finger over her shoulder.

Before I could lose my lunch on the everyone comment, I saw Adam in the far corner. Knowing he was probably here with his bud, William, a chill went up my spine and tingled my hair follicles. It was like a turkey waiting in a line at Thanksgiving, wondering when it would get the axe. I nearly turned and ran!

Yeah, I’ll just focus on my date with a God running around to distract me. Super easy.

“C’mon, you guys.” Candace led the way into the heart of the ant hill—the critters being guys instead of ants—and to the largest grouping of males. I searched every face I passed, then the faces I wouldn’t be passing, in secretive, fervent glances. No William.

I did a quick glance behind, pretending to check on Randall, and scanned the way we’d come. Then the banister. Then what I could see of the stairs, stage, and floor below. Still no William. I didn’t see Moose, either, which hopefully meant they were busy and absent.

“What’s that sigh for?” Randall asked as he pushed into my side. He was acting like we’d been dating for a year, rather than a few hours.

Which was cute. But not making me comfortable. I was still damaged goods in my headspace, but I couldn’t explain why. Correction—I didn’t want to explain why--but it was making things slightly awkward, for which I felt guilty.

As we stopped in front of a team of guys, all having stopped what they were doing to glance at the new vagina on scene, I said, “Hi everyone. I’m Jessica, and this is Randall.”

Eyes swiveled to the man at my side, then back to me, some having lost their interest, some having gained determination. These guys were single and in need of someone to chase.

“Let me make the introductions of these clowns,” said a familiar baritone behind me.

Chapter Eleven

My stomach heaved, then dropped away. I almost needed to put my hands up and scream as if on a roller-coaster. I gave a mighty jump, jolted, and let go of my beer all at the same time. The bottle skittered across the floor and bumped up against a pair of shiny, black dress shoes.

Then it just got worse. His scent wafted by my nose, making me remember a thousand little moments. My groin pooled wet and my knees went wobbly, barely able to support my body. A shot of fear was called up from that night, replaced by his eyes and a solid feeling of comfort. Of safety. I nearly reached forward to clutch onto him, but just in time I saved face and grabbed Randall instead.

“Did you see her jump?!” someone shouted.

The background filled with laughter and pounding on tables.

But I didn’t hear any of it. I’d met his eyes.

The world came to a crashing halt. He was done up and looking good! He had on a crisp white button-up shirt that did wonders for his pecks. It was stylish, trendy, and fit him nicely. It was nothing compared to those eyes. Fire lit them up as they held me, penetrated me, invited me to fall in and get lost deep, deep down within their depths.

And I wanted to. I wanted to let go; let him suck me in.

Yeah, focusing on Randall would be a cinch…

His smile faltered as he looked down on me.

“Earth to Jess!”

I looked away in a haze.

Ty was holding a new beer, an intrigued look on his face. Everyone else was still laughing, except for Randall, who was looking at his shoes.

Get a grip, Jessica, you boob!

“You remember me, of course,” I said to Ty, coming out of it and swiping the beer. I then juggled it a minute in my numb fingers. “I’m the clumsy one that tries to swan dive off stairs.”

“Yeah! How the hell did you even get up here?” He laughed.

All this must have happened in a split second because the boys behind me were still laughing and making jokes about William scaring me. Little did they know, and they would never know, that it was his presence that had the effect, not the suddenness of his appearance.

“Shall I introduce you around?” William asked in a hushed, deep voice. It vibrated my bones and liquefied my skin. I paused with my eyes closed, soaking up the feeling.