His words make my stomach flip again. God. I don’t think I’ll get used to that.
“Yeah?” I ask, my typical confident exterior wavering slightly.
“I mean, why else would I have kissed you during the game?” he asks.
I nod. “You did have a lot of options.”
His eyes hold mine as he reaches over and brushes a piece of hair out of my face. “It wasn’t a hard decision.”
I hate that I’m blushing right now, but I can also tell there’s no stopping it. I’m probably as red as a fucking tomato, and given how bright the light behind that camera is, all of America will be able to agree.
I’m about to speak when there’s a soft throat clear from beside us, and we both look to see Savannah there. Her tits are thrust even further out than they were before, if that’s even possible, and she gives Noah a sweet smile.
“Sorry, can I borrow you for a bit?”
“Sure,” he says before turning to me with what looks like a hint of disappointment in his eyes. “I’ll see you soon?”
I nod as he stands and Savannah takes full advantage of looping her arm through the crook of his elbow. He turns back to me and does a small eye roll away from the camera, but it makes me laugh, and I definitely don’t try to hold that in.
Pushing to my feet, I look around the backyard to see mosteveryone is paired up chatting. I also see a pitcher of something fruity and fresh at the outdoor bar and decide to grab a drink.
I know in the rules they said hard alcohol wouldn’t be available freely on-site, so this must be a special-occasion thing or maybe a mocktail.
When I reach the bar, I pour myself a glass and take a sip. Yep, definitely a mocktail. That’s unfortunate. I wouldn’t say no to a drink to take the edge off right now.
“Driest fucking bar I’ve ever seen,” a deep voice rumbles from beside me.
I startle slightly before turning to see Landon.
“Yeah, more than a little disappointed about that,” I agree.
He makes a grumbling sound as he lifts a water to his mouth.
“I’m Courtney.”
Landon’s eyes flick to me before looking back out at the rest of the backyard. “I know.”
“You do? I just figured since you were an ass and basically walked past me earlier, you probably didn’t catch my name,” I say before I can stop myself.
Whoops. That was bitchier than I intended.
Landon’s eyebrows lift in surprise as he turns to me, but that’s the only indication he heard me. His face is practically blank, expressionless, and for some reason it really gets under my skin.
“What? Did you run out of words for the day? Or is this part of a whole mysterious-bad-boy schtick to charm the pants off all the ladies?”
His eyes rake over me carefully, methodically. It doesn’t feel sexual, more calculated. “Trust me, I don’t need a schtick.”
I scoff. Is he good-looking? Absolutely. But I’m huge on personality, and so far, his is the most off-putting in the entire place. And I feel like that says a lot because I can already tell some of these guys are grade-A douchebags.
“Whatever helps you sleep at night, dude,” I say, shaking my head.
He pushes away from the bar and takes a few steps towards me. I attempt to move away, but the bar hits my ass, and suddenly I’m caged in as he lowers his face to mine. My heart rate picks up for a moment as I search his face, trying to find… I don’t fucking know, anything.
“So, are you saying that if I bent you over this bar right here and now, you wouldn’t be begging for more?” he asks, his fingers grazing my hip in the barest of touches.
My breathing is now ragged, and I try to form a rational thought as I slowly shake my head. “N-o.”
I clear my throat, forcing myself to stand a little taller. “No,” I say with a lot more confidence.
