Page 15 of Wild Ever After
“To you,” he says, lifting the glass and nodding at me.
“To me,” I mutter. Now that’s a cheers I can get behind. The tequila burns. I slam the empty glass down, suck on my lemon, and then steal his. “I think I’m done for the night. Any more and I’m going to have to be carried out of here.”
“We can arrange that.” He smirks. He asks for a couple of waters and another round of shots, then leans a hip against the bar, staring at me in a way that makes me fidget. When the bartender brings the shots, he pushes one toward me and then takes his without waiting.
I watch as his throat works and then let myself scope out his broad chest and muscular arms. Declan is a sexy guy and easy to talk to; plus, he’s a famous hockey player. It brings me back to my earlier thoughts.
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
He fights a grin and shakes his head. “No.”
“Why not?”
The smile breaks free.
“You’re an attractive guy, with money, and mostly-tolerable friends.”
“Those the requirements these days?” Those green flecks in his eyes twinkle with amusement.
“It puts you head and shoulders above ninety-percent of the population, so yes. What gives?”
He doesn’t look like he’s going to give me anything, so I add, “It’s my last night out on the town as a single gal, give me some hot gossip.”
“I don’t really have time for dating right now,” he says, not quite meeting my gaze.
“No.”
“No?”
I glance over at our friends. “That might work on other girls, but I’ve seen it firsthand with Leo and Tyler. If you wanted to make time, you would.”
“I don’t know.” He shifts uncomfortably and then motions with his head to his teammates. “I’m not sure that is in the cards for me.”
“Something wrong with you?” I let my gaze drop to his crotch.
He laughs again. A deep, throaty sound I’ve never heard from him. It’s like taking another shot of alcohol, the way it warms my insides and makes me lightheaded.
“No. I’m good. I guess I just haven’t found that.”
“Something tells me you haven’t looked very hard.”
His phone buzzes, and he pulls it free from his pocket to look at the screen. When he does, his jaw flexes. He shoves it back in his pocket, then gives me his full attention. “Oh, yeah. Got me all figured out, do you?”
I nod. “I’m getting there. Another hour and I’d have the name of the first girl you had sex with, your social security number, and your blood type.”
He laughs again. It’s a great laugh and I love being responsible for it.
I meet his stare head on and lean forward. “You’re a good teammate and friend. You’re handsome, but don’t notice when girls try to get your attention. And the way you look right now—like you want to flee from this conversation—tells me you’re uncomfortable with praise. You’re either not used to getting it, which I would find hard to believe, or you have a hard time believing you’re worthy of it. Which I also would find hard to believe. Actually, I take back what I said. You’re easy to read, but hard to figure out.”
He shifts so his back is against the bar and he stares out at the rest of the space. He flicks his gaze to me and then back around to the people dancing and those sitting at tables. “I think you’re full of shit. I don’t see any girls trying to get my attention.”
Without looking, I say, “Far right corner in the red dress. She glances over every thirty seconds or so. I think she’s trying to decide if you’re my fiancé.”
I count slowly under my breath and true to my words, she looks over in about twenty seconds. I take the tequila shot in front of me as Declan’s stuck in a stare off with his admirer.
“I’ll be damned,” he mutters. I fully expect him to leave me. I’m not great company and he already got the only blow job he’s getting from me tonight. He turns and closes out with the bartender. I stand, ready to go back to my friends. I think they might have one more bar in them before they all want to rush back to the hotel and get freaky with their guys. Dakota and Maverick may not even last that long. I smile as I watch them dance. They’re so in love. So, so in love.
I open my mouth to thank Declan for the drink. He holds out a hand. “Wanna dance?”
