Page 23 of Wildest Dreams

I take a quick glance at the stripper pole, grunt, and then look down again.

Then I do a double-take at the stripper pole.

She shoves at the large muscles of my chest, freeing herself from the intimacy of our embrace.

“Hold the fuck on,” I say quickly as she squeals and starts racing back through the bar. “You’re not going up there,” I tell her, right on her tail as she teeters precariously through the patrons.

She eyes the pole deviously over her shoulder before throwing me a sly little look. “We’ll see.”

I shove my fingers through my hair, keeping pace with her as I look over my shoulder. I’m not sure if seeing Aisling wrap a leg around that pole would be a dream or a goddamn nightmare.

When I turn back around I see that Aisling has led us to the guys, their arms already open and ready to take her in the centre of the huddle.

We stare at each other in heated silence as she squeezes herself into the middle of the group.

“I’m heading,” I say, clasping hands with Austin. I keep my stare locked on Aisling though, a silent invitation for her to come with me – to put the past behind us and show her that I could give her the future that she’s always wanted.

Instead she places her hand on her heart and mock-gasps. “Oh no, please stay.”

I huff out a laugh and slide my eyes over to Tristan. He looks a little worse for wear now that there’s a bruise forming on his jaw, so that perks me up a little. We give each other a quick shove on the shoulder anyway.

Even though we’re both pining for the same chick, we’re still solid friends. It’s just something that we’re going to be mature about and deal with.

Unless of course he actually starts dating her, in which case I’m going to have to kill him.

When I finish up with the goodbye punches I drop my gaze back to Aisling.

She leans back against the bar and starts sucking my soul out with her eyes.

I jerk my chin at her. “You coming with me or what?”

She lifts a limp wrist and begins inspecting her nails. “No, thanks.”

Heat climbs up my neck, every piece of primal instinct telling me to take her with me.

“Aisling.”

She flicks her gaze up to meet mine.

“Let me walk you home.”

She wafts that limp little wrist delicately around. “I’m in safe hands, don’t you think?”

I inhale, sharp and deep, and finally call it a fucking night.

“Fine,” I grunt. Then I tip my head at Austin. “See y’all.”

When I get back to the cabins it’s fucking beautiful. The air is warm and quiet, and the moonlight reflects off the lake’s gentle undulations.

But the moment isn’t perfect, because she isn’t here.

Caden and his girlfriend are wrapped up on a blanket on the water’s edge, and he gives me a subtle nod when he hears my boots breaking through the brush.

I nod back at him, neither of us saying a word, because for Caden and Winter the momentisperfect. I trudge quietly up to the cabin I’m sharing with Hunter, open the door, and then stare down at the bed.

My eyes slide down to the carry-on on the floor as I think back on something that Aisling told me earlier.

I glance out of the window toward the lake house and frown. I mean, it’s not cold out, but that doesn’t mean that the girl shouldn’t have a pair of pyjamas.

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