Page 63 of Take Me Home

“I think these people will kill us if we fuck this up,” he whispered gravely. I held in my laughter, trying not to draw more attention from the seasoned professionals.

“Should we hide in the corner?” I whispered.

“No. If we die, we go out doing what they love. It’s the honorable thing to do,” Jake cracked.

I didn’t know if it was the Fireball shot or the Christmas lights adding a touch of magic, but I felt some of the awkwardness that Jake and I created over dinner melting away. We got a hair too serious talking about the future when he still hadn’t kissed me since Wednesday. It felt good having him back to his playful self, though.

The music started. “It’s been nice knowing you,” I said.

Jake wheezed with laughter and then pushed me along. “Oh shit! Go go go!” A line of couples fell in behind us. We were gumming up the works. Holding hands, we raced to make it to our spot and caught up to the steps. We couldn’t stop laughing, even though our dancing significantly improved throughout the song.

I hadn’t let loose like that in a long time, and it felt really easy to do it with Jake. Fun was something that seemed to come naturally to him, and I needed that. After the song ended, we vacated the dance floor, settling in on bar stools.

“How long til they throw us out?” I asked.

“Not sure. I’m trying not to look anyone in the eye. Once they see you, they can get you,” Jake said, a mischievous spark in those dreamy light brown eyes. I got in a single sip of my beer before a new song started and Becca came for me.

“Darcy! It’s our song!” she shouted, taking my hands and dragging me away from Jake at the bar. In fairness, Cowboy, Take Me Away was our flower-picking jam. “Remember when we sang this in the field?”

“You mean the day we got heat stroke?” I laughed. “Come on, birthday girl. Let’s dance.”

I led her and spun her around on the dance floor for a slow dance/karaoke session, both of us squalling out our best Natalie Maines impressions.

“Have you two, ya know, anything yet?” Becca asked during a music break.

“Nope, just some light touching, talking, and being awkward,” I said. “I don’t know how to get back to where we were the other day.”

“Leave it to me,” Becca said solemnly.

“Oh, no. No way,” I said.

“Trust me! You know I’m the best wingman. Let me do my work. I won’t take no for an answer.”

I peeked back at the bar to see Jake talking to Caleb and Mandy.

“Just worry about having yourself a nice little birthday,” I told her.

“Oh, I am,” Becca said. “Don’t you worry about that.”

The song ended and I slipped out to the bathroom. I used paper towels to mop up my sweat. There was no avoiding it on that kind of a summer night. Still, I didn’t want to be dripping. My makeup was still intact despite the damp evening, and instead of being frizzy, my hair swelled voluminously with the humidity.

Stepping back out to the dance floor, I was immediately drafted into the Boot Scootin’ Boogie, which was significantly more successful than Jake and I doing the Watermelon Crawl.

As I headed back for the bar, Jake was talking to one of Becca’s friends. Right before I made it back to his side, she put her hand on Jake’s chest and stepped closer to him. My gut tumbled down to my cowboy boots. The surge of jealousy I got over someone else touching him told me I for real, for sure, definitely liked him, and I wanted him just for me. I was a woman possessed, ready to stake my claim.

“Hey,” I said, putting a hand on Jake’s arm. He looked relieved and wrapped his arm around my waist.

“You looked great out there, babe,” he said, kissing my temple. He tugged me closer to his side. A thrill pulsed through me at the kiss, him calling me babe, and our close proximity. I realized he was probably trying to get this girl to go away. Time to employ my best “he’s mine” tactics. I looked at Jake with my doe eyes turned all the way up. He visibly melted under my gaze. Was this part of an act, or was he crushing on me that hard?

“Thanks, baby,” I said, turning to the girl. “Who’s this?”

“Oh,” Jake said, clearly playing a game. “This is…I’m sorry. I’ve forgotten your name.”

“Madison,” she spat, her expression turning sour.

“Hi, Madison,” I said sweetly before turning my body fully into Jake’s front. Madison didn’t bother saying anything to excuse herself, stalking away in a huff.

And then, there we were: face to face, my hands on his thighs, standing between his knees, Jake’s hands gripping my waist. His eyes seared into mine. Our closeness was an accelerant to the flames burning between us. Jake’s gaze flashed down to my mouth, a mischievous grin curling over his own. How was it that just standing in front of him and looking at each other was getting me hot? He moved his face closer to mine, turning at the last second to rumble in my ear, “You saved me again.”

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