Page 15 of Charming
“Here, here,” I laugh and swallow the liquor savoring the burn as it slides down my throat and warms my tummy.
She grabs my hand after leaving cash on the bar for our drinks and hauls me onto the beach where several people are dancing. We waste no time moving to the middle of the crowd. Putting our arms above our heads, we begin moving and swaying to the music. Several guys come up and grab hold of our hips and dance with us. Katie and I laugh and entertain them for a bit, before moving away or closer to each other. All the while we laugh, smile, and proceed to do one of our favorite games. We spot someone in the crowd that is dancing and mimic their moves. The other person has to guess who we’re imitating. The game is funny because mimicking someone else, and not moving naturally, makes our moves choppy and silly and we look ridiculous. Giggles continue to overtake us.
The constant laughter makes my bladder scream for release and I point at the bathrooms silently telling Katie where I’m headed. She gives me a nod and elects to stay and dance some more. Hurrying to the bathrooms, I wait for only a couple minutes before I find release, wash my hands and move back to the party. Stopping at the bar, I grab margaritas for Katie and I, but when I return to her, I find that she’s made a friend on the dance floor. And I use the term friend loosely – she’s grinding all up in his business and I’m pretty sure a margarita from me is the last thing she would care about at the moment.
With a smile I make my way back to the bar, set her drink down, and take a seat. Most people are walking along the beach, dancing, or sitting by the multiple fire pits. Many stand around talking. There are plenty of seats available at the bar. The atmosphere is electric. Everyone is relaxed, just wanting to have fun and there is much laughter in the air. It’s impossible to not get caught up in the feeling and I find that a smile curves my lips. Taking a drink of the tart margarita, I close my eyes and enjoy the feeling of the beach breeze in my hair and the sound of laughter in my ears.
“I swear I’m not giving you a cheesy pick up line when I tell you that you’re beautiful.”
Opening my eyes, they widen when I see the husky voice I hear is not only talking to me, but that it belongs to none other than Asher Charming. Smiling before I even realize it, my thoughts leave my mouth, “I’m not sure if I should believe you.”
“Oh, well it’s totally true,” he says while setting his drink on the bar and sitting beside me. An internal part of me wants to scream Asher Charming is freaking sitting next to me, but I reel it in, knowing that he’s a person just like me. One hell of a sexy person though, because hot damn the man is fine. Wearing jeans that are well worn and clearly a favorite, he’s also sporting a white button down shirt that’s been rolled up to his forearms. The white emphasizes his sun kissed skin and makes his blue eyes blaze. “If I were using a pick up line it would have been something like, are you a fruit because honeydew you know how fine you look right now?”
“Oh god. Now I believe you. And do you actually get girls with that line?”
He laughs and my body responds in a way I’ve never felt before. My nipples tighten and I cross my legs and squeeze them together tightly because I’m tingling in places that shouldn’t be tingling from a mere laugh. This is ridiculous.
“No, and I can’t imagine why because come on, it’s a good one.” I laugh again and shake my head in disagreement. “Even though we took a picture together, I guess I never formally introduced myself.”
“Yes, it’s true. You’re rather rude.”
He smiles and gives me a look at his perfect white teeth, “You know, if I were less of a gentleman I could point out that you didn’t introduce yourself either.”
“Good thing you’re a gentleman then.”
“Yes, good thing.” He holds out his hand to me, “Asher Charming, and you are?”
“Gabriella Barrie, my friends call me Ella. So, you can call me Gabriella.”
He laughs, “Beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”
“Okay seriously, you can stop now.” He laughs and his eyes twinkle. I’m downright mesmerized.
“Noted,” he says. “Tell me, what do I have to do to get to Ella status?”
“Hmm, well I guess you can start by buying me a drink.”
“Done,” he says and asks what I’m having before ordering then turns back to me after placing the order with the bartender. “Where is your friend?” he asks looking around. My heart falls and I think that maybe he’s interested in Katie and I don’t like the way that disappointment feels. Pointing toward the dance floor, I stifle a laugh when I see Katie. “She’s dancing with a new friend.” Dancing is being kind. She’s practically having sex in her clothes. Wrinkling my nose, I shake my head at the downright indecent way she’s grinding on some guys leg. There should be a warning label floating above her head or something.
Asher laughs, “Well, she happens to have madefriendswith one of mine.”
“Oh yeah?” I ask raising a brow, “Jealous?” I ask and then want to slap my hand over my mouth in shock that I said that out loud, but I refrain.
“Not even a little bit. Truth is, I actually knew where she was. I’ve been watching the two of you for a while.”
“You have?”
“Yes.”
“Oh,” I reply not sure what else to say.
“I was trying to get the courage to approach you.”
He needed courage to talk to me? Seriously? So I tease him, “And that line was the best you could do after all that thinking?”
He throws his head back and laughs and I enjoy the sound. “Anyway, don’t worry about your friend-”
“Katie.”
