Page 30 of Playing for Keeps
She wrinkles her nose, and damn, if it isn’t the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.“No. You’re kind of a pain, Brookes.”
I laugh then, because I can’t help myself, I rest my hands lightly on her hips and turn her to face me. Her eyes widen, and her breath catches just a little. It’s subtle, but I notice.
“Are you saying I’m high-maintenance, Miss James?”
She tilts her chin up, her eyes locked with mine. “You could call it that. Five cars, Wyatt? Really? Bit much, don’t you think?”
Her tone is playful, and I fight back a grin, loving this flirty banter between us. “Are you judging my car collection? You seemed to approve when you were picking my Ferrari as your favorite.”
She laughs. “That was before I got tasked with finding a place big enough to store all your toys.”
Before I can come up with a comeback, a voice cuts in.
“Hey, gorgeous. What can I get you?”
I glance up to see Alex behind the bar, his eyes raking over Ivy like he’s never seen her before. I usually don’t mind the guy, but right now, I want to punch the smirk off his face.
Ivy turns to face him, but my hands stay right where they are, resting on her hips.
“Hey, Alex,” she says with that easy tone she gives everyone. “Good to see you.”
“Is it?” I mutter under my breath, not bothering to hide the edge in my voice. I hold Alex’s gaze as he sizes her up, the jealousy flaring hotter in my chest. He flirts with everyone, I know that, but I don’t want him looking at her like that.
She places the drink order, and when Alex slides them across the bar, I finally let my hands fall from her waist and reach around to grab my beer. As expected, he waves her off when she goes to pay. I have no idea how Seb turns a profit with the amount of drinks that get given away around here.
“Come on, let’s find the others,” I whisper in her ear, more than ready to put some space between her and Alex and the way he keeps eyeing her.
I grab one of the vodka sodas in my free hand, following Ivy as she weaves through the crowd. We reach the booth where everyone’s already gathered, and after a round of hellos, I slide in beside her, my leg brushing against hers as we squeeze into the tight space.
“How was the auction, Wyatt?” Ash asks from across the table.
I glance at Ivy beside me and smile. “Not bad. Ivy showed up just in time to rescue me from an overly eager bidder.”
Ash laughs. “I still can’t believe someone was willing to pay thousands of dollars to have dinner with you.”
“Hey!” I fire back, teasing. “You think I’m not worth it?”
“Hardly,” she scoffs.
Ivy laughs, and I turn to her with a grin. “Oh, you agree, then?”
She holds up her hands, still laughing. “I’m staying out of it. All I know is it looks likeIpaid fifteen thousand to have dinner with you!”
“Bargain if you ask me,” I joke.
Ash groans. “Of course you’d say that. I’m sure Ivy would have had dinner with you for free if you’d just asked. Right, Ivy?”
I glance at Ivy. Her cheeks are flushed pink.
“Maybe,” she says quietly, her eyes anywhere but on me.
I force a grin to cover the way my heart skips. “Good to know for next time,” I say, my voice coming out a little rougher than I intended.
She lifts her drink with a smile, taking a slow sip of the clear liquid. Her bare leg stays pressed against mine, and when she leans forward to join in the conversation with Ash, Taylor, and Paisley, it slides lightly against my thigh. The contact sends a jolt through me, and I grab my beer, needing something to keep my hands busy because all I want to do is reach for her. The heat rolling off her is impossible to ignore, and it’s driving me crazy.
Conversation flows easily over the next hour, with Seb making sure no one's glass stays empty for long. The girls are definitely starting to feel the alcohol, their laughter a little louder, and their voices raised. So, it’s no surprise when Ash suddenly gets to her feet, declaring it’s time to dance.
Seb, Nash, and Ben all chime in with half-serious warnings for them to stay close, but my attention is already fixed on Ivy. I watch as Taylor grabs her hand, tugging her toward themakeshift dance floor a short distance from our booth. She follows with a laugh, and my eyes trail her every step.
