Sage was lightning in a bottle.
A shooting star you break your neck trying to catch.
And I wasn’t letting her slip through my fingers.
Not like that.
Not fast.
Not cheap.
I tilted my head.
Smiled slow.
Wicked.
“I have an idea,” I said, winking.
Her laugh slipped out — soft and breathy and dangerous.
“Oh yeah?”
She tipped her head back when she laughed, blonde hair catching the moonlight like spun gold.
That dress…
Jesus.
It hugged her in ways that made my brain short-circuit.
I dragged my eyes away before I did something stupid.
Not tonight.
Tonight I wanted the story.
Not the mistake.
I squeezed her hand.
“Come on.”
We went back inside first.
Grabbed one more round with the crew.
Introductions.
Tony gave me a look like finally.
Mark tried not to stare.
Chris shook her hand like she was royalty.
Beth studied her quietly — protective, always.
Sage noticed.
