Page 6 of One More Shot
‘Tomatoes are like, ninety per cent water,’ he scoffs. ‘Impossible to hate.’
‘They’re disgusting. Especially when they’re in sandwiches.’
He laughs. ‘Noted. Keep tomatoes away from you. Anything else I should know?’
I bite my lip. What about ‘I’ve never had an orgasm and I’m hoping you’re going to be the one to change that’? No. Can’t say that. It’ll scare him off before we’ve even really got things started. Instead, I settle for looking up at him through my eyelashes and strategically biting my bottom lip. ‘I live about a fifteen-minute Uber ride from here.’
Something flashes in Dane’s eyes. ‘Good to know.’
We dance like that for a little longer, sharing mundane pieces of information that we’ll both most likely have forgotten by tomorrow morning.
I learn that he has his own construction business that he runs with a friend. His favourite colour is blue. He likes to cook and he likes watching quiz shows in his spare time. Doesn’t matter the show or the format, he’ll get into it somehow. I end up sharing that I’m the eldest of three children,myfavourite colour is yellow, my favourite food is the soup my grandmother used to make me when I was sick as a child, and I have to wear socks to bed because my feet are always cold.
By the time I eventually spot Sasha sliding out from behind the DJ deck, her gaze inquisitive as she scans the crowd for me, Dane and I have been wrapped in each other’s arms for at least an hour.
‘I’ve just seen my friend,’ I say, reluctantly unwinding my arms from his neck. ‘I’m gonna go and let her know I’m good.’
I move to step away, but he trails his hands up my side, along my arms, and then skims a hand over my jaw.
‘Dane—’
Then his lips are over mine and he’s swallowing the rest of my question. As first kisses go, it’s not half bad. It’s great, actually. His lips are soft and surprisingly gentle and I can’t help but lean into him as he brings his hand up to cup my jaw, like I’m the most precious thing in the world to him and not some girl he just met in the middle of a sweaty and too crowded dance floor.
He pulls away, hand still on my jaw, and gives me a smile that is somehow a strange mix of both shy and smug. ‘Just giving you a reason to come back.’
The probability of menotcoming back to find him was probably less than five per cent, but that kiss just sealed the deal. ‘I’ll be five minutes,’ I promise before I drift back into the crowd.
When I get to Sasha, she’s grinning from ear to ear, clearly having seen the two of us on the dance floor. ‘Who’s the hottie?’
I give her the rundown on everything that’s happened since I first left the dance floor and by the time I’m finished, she’s practically vibrating with excitement.
‘Iknewit’d be him,’ she says, glancing over my shoulder to get another peek at him. ‘When we walked in, I said there was a guy with locs checking you out, didn’t I? It was him! You think he’s got what it takes?’
‘I hope so.’
Dane chooses that moment to look over in our direction. He meets Sasha’s gaze and to his credit, doesn’t look away. Sasha surveys him for a long moment before giving him a small nod and turning back to me.
‘I like him. He’s got balls.’
Anticipation shoots through me and I bite down on my lip to try to temper the eager smile I can feel on my face. ‘He’s got the Sasha Seal of Approval?’
‘Hell yeah.’ She starts gently shoving me back in Dane’s direction. ‘Let me know when you get back home and when he leaves.’ Her grin widens, and she shoots me an overdramatic wink. ‘Ifhe leaves. And I’m heading back to Wes’s after this, so we’ll only be ten minutes down the road if you need us.’
Dane quirks a brow as I approach him again. ‘I’m guessing your friend gave me the okay?’
Sasha has all the subtlety of a brick to the face and I don’t need to turn around to know she’s still got eyes onus. ‘She did.’ It’s my turn to raise a brow. ‘Is that a problem?’ Over the years, I’ve learned that some guys can get funny about the measures women have to take to stay safe on a night out and if he’s one of them – ridiculously handsome or not – then I’m calling it quits right now.
‘Nah. You do what you’ve got to do. And besides—’ He reaches for my hand and I let him pull me into his chest. ‘I’m assuming her approval can only mean good things forus.’
He tilts my chin up and steals another kiss, one I’m more than happy to give. It’s been a while since I’ve been with someone like Dane. Someone who doesn’t second-guess themselves and just oozes confidence the way he does. I like it.
‘You said your place is only fifteen minutes away,’ he murmurs against my lips when he eventually pulls back. ‘Is that offer still on the table?’
I nod eagerly, probably too eagerly, but I don’t care at this point. I want him. I want him so badly my entire body has begun to tingle with anticipation.
‘Good.’ His lips are still barely grazing my own and I feel, rather than see, his smile. ‘Lead the way.’
Chapter TwoELIOTT
