Page 110 of Skate the Line

Rhodes casually moves closer to me and lowers his voice.“Boc, boc.”

A laugh erupts from my mouth. “Did you just ‘boc’ at me?”

His lip lifts, and I can’t help but notice how my body becomes fully charged at the sight.

The lights play with the sharp curve of his jaw, as if he needed any more help looking hot.

“You’re acting like a chicken. So yes, I did justbocat you.” He straightens his back and rests along the leather.

I sigh.

The booth has mostly cleared out. Malaki is ordering a drink at the bar, and Kane is in a conversation with some blonde paying us no mind.

I raise my chin. “Maybe I should ‘boc’ back at you, then.”

Rhodes peers at me over the rim of his cup. His fingers tighten against the glass. “You saying I’m afraid to dance with someone?”

“I sure am.”

The alcohol in my system, even if it isn’t much, gives me just enough confidence to throw some jabs back at him.

He’s right, though. I’m afraid.

I’m nervous I’ll panic and start shaking right there on the dance floor for all to see. I’m too untrusting now. All it’ll take is one wrong touch, and I’ll spiral.

Rhodes’s glass cup clinks on the table. He tips his chin and locks eyes with me. We’re at an impasse. My heart skips a beat when he nudges me and climbs out of the booth.

I suck in a sharp breath when he leans into my space. “You should know that I love to prove people wrong, Sunshine.”

Every time he calls me that, I grow warm.

He briskly slides past and goes in the direction of the dance floor.

My knees buckle from the way he grabs a random woman around the waist and presses her against his body.

Okay, now I’mhot.

I know a challenge when I see one.

Malaki eyes me from the bar. He wiggles his eyebrows at me, and I place my empty drink onto the table.

Georgia spots me heading their way, and the excitement is palpable. Scottie, Hattie, and Georgia quickly surround me, and our laughter fills the air. It reminds me of when Ruby and I used to go out on our nights off. I didn’t realize how much I missed letting go until now.

Malaki places another whiskey sour in my hand before heading over to the guys.

They’re keeping an eye on us.

Not just the Blue Devils, but others too.

Rhodes, with the woman still pressed against him, keeps his gaze directly pinned to me.

It’s comforting and unnerving at the same time.

Not wanting to cross too much of a boundary—because he is still my boss, after all—I don’t dance provocatively like every other woman.

Scottie ends up moving over to Emory, and they’re slow dancing together, even though the song is thumping with bass.

They’re sickeningly cute.

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