Page 54 of Worth the Want
“Finish that sentence, and you won’t be able to breathe without pain for the next month,” I threaten.
He holds his hands up. “I’m just saying, if it’s not me, it’ll be someone else.” I mull over his words and am contemplating the alternative when I see Darrin Ward head toward her on the dance floor. Darrin without a doubt will be a handsy motherfucker. I’m up and out of my chair in an instant, whistles and cheers from the peanut gallery following me.
I grab one of Indie’s hands, spinning her into me. She gasps and giggles at the motion. I twirl her around again, pulling her close to sway for a couple steps before twirling her out again. Her laughter is like a drug to me. Her body pressed in tight to mine; hands sliding up my forearms, leaving behind a trail of goose bumps.
“Where did you learn to dance like this?” she asks, breathless.
I lean in close to her ear before answering. “Would you believe me if I said TV?”
She laughs, it’s husky and tempting. “No, I wouldn’t. You’re good.”
“Well, a man has to have a few secrets. I can’t go giving it away all at once,” I tease.
“Mm. Secrets aren’t any fun though. I should know,” she mutters.
I pull back to look at her face, hoping to get a read on her mood, but all I find is a tipsy smile and eyes full of warmth.
“You’re so handsome,” she whispers, then those soulful, brown eyes go wide, like she’s just realized what she’s said.
I chuckle and spin us around a little more until Indie tells me she needs a glass of water through her giggling.
An hour later and Winnie and Rhett are dancing while he serenades her out on the floor, Colt is on his third table of women, and Marigold and Indie are talking about a podcast thatdropped a new episodethis morning. Whatever the hell that means.
“We need to call Ivy. She’ll have the best theory,” Mare slurs.
“She’s a muderino!?” Indiana asks, her hands flying up in excitement.
“The biggest! She’s who got me into them!”
“Okay, let’s call her!” She pulls out her phone. I’m about to call it a night when Indiana reaches across the table, grabbing my arm.
“Knox, do you know Ivy’s number?” she asks me, her big, brown eyes glazed with alcohol and a dopey smile on her lips.
“I do, but I don’t think she would appreciate your call as much after midnight as she would tomorrow,” I tell her.
She giggles, causing her grip on my forearm to tighten. “You sound s-so serious.” She hiccups. Mare starts laughing with her, and Winnie joins as she and Rhett make it back to our table.
“What’s so funny?” Rhett asks.
“Me, apparently. I think it’s time for us to clear out. Last call was twenty minutes ago. Can everyone get home safe?”
“Grant’s picking me up,” Mare says.
“We’re walking,” Rhett answers, kissing Win’s temple.
I look over at the table Colt was at and find him missing.
“Colt slipped out a few minutes ago,” Winnie tells me,then turns to my neighbor. “Indie, do you want to stay at our place tonight?”
“Um, I don’t want to impose,” she murmurs. A sleepy look covers her face. Between that and the flush on her cheekbones that runs down her neck to her chest, it’s obvious she’s incapable of getting herself home on her own.
“Come on, Indie. I’ll give you a ride home,” I tell her.
“Um, I don’t want to bother?—”
“It’s not a bother,” I say. So much about this womanbothersme, giving her a ride home isn’t one of them. “Do you have your jacket, your purse?” I ask her.
“Uh…yeah, I…I didn’t bring a jacket. It was warm earlier,” she explains. I catch what she says, but with every word, they start running a little more together. She grabs the thin strap of a small, black leather bag and slings it over her shoulder. “Thank you for inviting me out,” she tells Winnie and Mare. They both get up and smother her tiny frame with their bodies. I reach forward to steady them before they knock one another over.
