Page 11 of Junkyard Dog

He was cute.

Sweet.

Dark eyes. Straight teeth.

Funny.

Passionate about lizards.

Logically, he was a good match for her.

Maybe the whole butterflies-in-the-stomach thing is overrated.

“You like this song?” he asked, motioning toward the dance floor.

She nodded, accepting his hand as he led her to join the mass of people bouncing and grinding to the music. She checked the bar for Max, laughing when he caught her eye and gave her a thumbs-up.

“So you and your cousin hang out here a lot?” Chris asked, stepping closer to her without missing a beat.

“Not really,” she replied, forcing a smile when he turned an accidental brushing into a full-on hold on her hip. “We usually hit another place.”

He smirked at her, pulling her a little closer. “Then I’m glad you came here tonight.”

The butterflies finally appeared when she caught sight of a tall blond making his way across the dance floor.

*

Alex could definitelyappreciate the gorgeous woman shimmying in front of him as the music pumped through the bar. Melanie, his date for the evening, was stunning. Perfectly polished and expensively dressed, she was everything Bo had recommended. And she’d placed herself directly in his line of sight at the tavern two nights prior, a welcome distraction from the woman he was forbidding himself to think about.

As Melanie turned around and backed up against him, her hips swaying against his, he dutifully placed his hands on her waist. The club was the last place he had wanted to end up that night. Spending his time off in the same environment he spent his working hours wasn’t his idea of a break, but she had been adamant they head to the Washout after their dinner.

And he was nothing if not an accommodating date.

He glanced toward the bar, frowning as he recognized Max leaning against the counter, his attention on a busty blonde waitress. His eyes instinctively scanned the room for Max’s partner, squinting in the low light for any sign of an auburn ponytail.

“Want to grab one more drink?”

His attention snapped back to his date, her heavily lined blue eyes looking up at him with suspicion. “Lead the way,” he said, intertwining his fingers with hers to make up for his moment of distraction.

Melanie slithered in front of him, holding her hand out behind her as she ordered for both of them. He pulled a twenty out of his wallet and gave it to her, keeping his head turned slightly to avoid being recognized by Max.

Not that it mattered.

Drinks in hand, Melanie leaned against the counter and smiled up at him. “How about we head back to my place for a movie after this?” she suggested, wrapping her painted lips around her straw.

“Sounds good,” he replied, knowing damn well where a movie would lead and finding himself surprisingly ambivalent to the idea.

“Good.” She smirked. “Watch my drink. I’ll be right back.”

He stepped aside to let her pass and halfheartedly admired her ass as she walked away.

“What kind of cologne do you wear that makes this so easy for you?”

Cocking a brow, he turned toward Max. “What?”

Max nodded toward Melanie’s retreating form. “I’ve been wheeling a waitress for the better part of the past two hours, and I’m pretty sure I’m going home empty again.” He pointed his drink toward a table of women. “Every chick in that group is ogling you and would replace Miss Hotpants in a heartbeat. Now spill.”

He took a swig of his beer. “Animal magnetism?”

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