Page 65 of Hot Ice, Tennessee

I could tell he was a little drunk. His eyes were half-lidded, and his eyes were doing their full-on bedroomthing. He looked me up and down, taking in my whole outfit. I’d forgotten that I was dressed in fancy clothes, and Jesse’s eyes lingered on the top of my shirt where the buttons were undone.

I forced myself to feign normal conversation. “What are you doing out here?”

“Waiting for my cab home.”

I frowned. “You’re leaving already?

“Been here for a while.”

There was something behind his voice, like he was hiding some sort of secret and he had no plans of telling me about it. The way he was looking at me made me feel heated, and the breezy air wasn’t doing jack shit to cool me down anymore.

It was like I was suddenly playing chess against a grandmaster, and I had no clue what he was thinking, or what his next move might be. I felt like my nerves were suddenly plugged into a charged battery.

I nodded. “That’s a shame. I could have used your help tonight.”

He eyed me closely, pausing for a moment. “Thought that was a one-time thing.”

It took me a second to realize what he was referring to. “I don’t mean help with your mouth around my cock. I meant being a wingman for me.”

A wingman.

Because I’m totally trying to be with other people, I promise.

What a fuckin’ lie.

The sound of tires turning on the lot came from behind me and when I turned, I saw what must have been Jesse’s ride. His eyes were still locked on me when I turned back.

“Get in this cab with me instead.”

He was already off the wall, walking around to the other side of the car and getting in the back seat.

I turned and furrowed my brow, opening the other door and leaning over. “You’re drunk,” I told him as I poked my head into the back of the car.

He patted the seat next to him. “Tipsy. But I’d say it anyway. Get in.”

Two thoughts raced through my mind, all at once.

You can’t tell me what to do.

But also…

Yes, sir.

I slid into the back of the car onto the cool leather seat.

“Head over to Minton Ranch,” Jesse said to the driver, and I did a double take.

I held up a hand. “Ah, actually, we can’t,” I said. “Ori and Finn are having a party there. Trust me, you don’t want to be at my house tonight.”

“You’ve got a party at your house right now and you went to the bar?”

“It isn’t a Hot Mess kind of party, let’s just say that.”

I could see the hint of a smile at the corner of Jesse’s mouth. “Fine,” he said. “TNU campus. Frat row.”

My heart did a little twist in my chest.

No fuckingshotJesse was actually about to take me back to his frat house.

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