Page 395 of One More Kiss

“Pretty sure I was asking you, the other pretty girl of the evening.”

“Mm-hmm. Sure.” I pull my arm back a bit, but he holds me in place. Not with bruising force, but with a determination that only fans my curiosity. I’ve always been a sucker for an alpha, and the man in front of me clearly fits the bill through and through.

“He won’t be in trouble, and neither will you,” Hawthorne promises me. “But I need the truth if Broken Vows has any hope of touring with Organized Chaos. Understand?”

So that’s what this is about.

Touring with Organized Chaos would be huge for Gibson and the band. Especially when they come from a small town like ours. Which means Hawthorne can make or break Broken Vows’ future. And I’m in the crosshairs.

Greeeaaat.

“As far as I know, she’s never been associated with the band before tonight,” I explain carefully. “However, she does work here and has a major thing for Gibson, but he has a major rule against dating coworkers, so he’s never pursued anything. Then again, I’m pretty sure he has a thing for her, too, especially since he just got on stage and sang in front of a bunch of people, even though I had no idea he could sing. So…yeah. Does that answer your question?” I ramble.

Damn. Those. Baby. Blues.

“Let me take you out tonight,” he decides, obviously entertained by said rambling if his smirk anything to go by.

Feeling whiplashed, I flinch back a few inches. “Wait. What?”

“Unless you were just flirting with me to distract me from a very late performance by your friend?” he challenges. The bastard has me exactly where he wants.

He leans a little closer, his whiskey-laced breath fanning across my cheeks and scattering my thoughts like leaves in a windstorm.

A date?

“You’re serious?” I ask.

“Like the plague.”

“But…why?”

“You’ve intrigued me, Sammie Norris. And I haven’t felt intrigued in a long time. Unless you admit that your flirting was all a rouse and you aren’t interested…”

I lick my lips but don’t pull my arm away from his warm grasp. If anything, I lean closer.

That same arrogant grin shines back at me before he murmurs, “When do you get off work?”

“I, uh, I’m not sure.”

“I need to have a little chat with Gibson. I’ll be back in ten. Don’t go anywhere.”

He lets me go, and I’m left reeling.

And to think I wasn’t going to come to work tonight…

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