Page 4 of Hot Mess
“That’s it.” He shrugs like he isn't trying to work an angle. "Just a simple bet."
"Well, what do I get if you can’t?”
The corner of his mouth ticks up in amusement. “What do you want?”
It's surprising to me that when given the option of any number of things I could ask for, the image of him pressing me against the wall and pumping into me as if his life depended on it comes immediately to mind.
His eyes crinkle with amusement. “I think I might like whatever it is you’re thinking of right now.”
“What?” I straighten, feeling the heat in my cheeks burn in embarrassment.
Did I just say what I was thinking out loud?
“Don’t worry.” He leans in close. “I won’t be losing this bet.”
His cockiness is both a challenge to me and sexy as hell. I don't see the other people around us when he's looking at me the way he is right now.
He leans his elbow onto the bar and gives the slightest nod to the bartender. The laughter on my lips, thinking that he’s completely full of shit, dies a moment later when the bartender appears in front of us.
“What can I get you?" he asks, looking between us.
“The lady—” he stops for me to give him my name.
“Jessie.”
“Jessie will have—”
“Six tequila shots. Leave two here and—” I jump up onto the bar top and point towards the table, where Beth is standing. She’s the only one visible in this crowd from the bridal party. “Send the other four to that table over there with the tall blonde with long hair.”
I slip off the bar as the bartender begins pouring the shots, placing two in front of us and two lime wedges on a plate.
“I don’t drink tequila,” the guy says.
“Good.” I take a shot down in one and bite into the lime, flashing him a big smile and saying, “These are both for me.”
“You know you look sexy with a lime wedge for teeth,” he teases.
“Come on.” I push the shot over to him, willing to share. “Take it. All the cool kids are doing it.”
“In case you didn’t notice—” He looks around. “I’m not like the boys around here staring at your ass and praying you’ll lose interest with the old guy.”
He’s hardly old, but he is right about them checking out my ass. I’ve felt the prying gazes since I first leaned against the bar to wave down the bartender. But I like that he’s also noticed. I didn’t miss the slight tick in his jaw when he said it like he was trying to sound nonchalant but was possessive of me too.
“You know my name,” I say. “I want to know yours.”
“You don’t have to make me drink a shot for me to tell you.”
I scrunch my face up playfully. "Yeah, but you will if you want me to keep talking with you and not go back to my friends."
His gaze shifts over in the direction I pointed out to the bartender earlier. He sniffs like he’s psyching himself up for something he really doesn’t want to do but is going to do it anyway. I can't hold back the smile on my face when he takes the shot, then jams the lime wedge into his mouth and bites down.
“My name is Dylan,” he says around the lime wedge, trying to hold back his distaste. “And I hope you appreciate just how hard that was for me to do.”
DYLAN
I used to love tequila—shots, sours, and sunrises. Until one night, I indulged a little too much and didn't like the outcome. I haven't touched the stuff since, but there was no way I was going to let Jessie walk away. She's already the most interesting woman I've ever met in my life, not to mention the sexiest.
“Hold that thought,” she says, holding up her hand and backing away.
