Page 71 of Rekindle My Heart

She waved to someone a few tables away. Ryan guessed it was Liz and the other ladies. Amy took one step in their direction before Trey pulled her in for a sloppy kiss. Heat rolled over those two.

Ryan’s brow winged up. Someone would be burning up the sheets later. But looking at the way Larson was teetering on her heels, they’d be feeling it in the morning.

Harrison set down the beer and a round of shots. Ryan picked up a glass and reclined into a chair in the corner.

Liz slipped into Jim’s lap. The two beamed with love. It was really sickening how perfect these two were together.

Jealousy slithered through Ryan’s veins, and he had no idea why. He truly felt joy for his friends, but tonight something inside his chest clenched.

Loosening the muscles in his face, he smiled and raised his beer. “A toast to the happy couple.”

“Here, here.” Glasses clinked and voices rose.

Sarge dropped down next to him. “Glad to see you’re doing alright. It was a bad accident.”

Ryan stared at the cue ball as it rolled into the corner pocket on the pool table next to them. “Yeah, but it wasn’t an accident.”

“What do you mean?”

He looked around, shot Sergeant Johnson a look, then made a gun with his finger and thumb and pantomimed a shot.

Sarge cocked his head. “Are you sure?”

Ryan nodded. “I must be getting close to something. Just not sure how they knew where I would be.”

“Huh.” He picked up his drink. “Were you followed?”

“Don’t know.”

“Could be random?” Sarge asked as he slammed back his shot.

“Maybe.” Ryan couldn’t say, but whether it was or not, it didn’t feel like a random shooting.

Tanner slipped in. A round of “hellos” shouted around the table. “Sorry I’m late.”

“Sit. You got a lot of drinking to catch up on.” CJ handed him a shot.

The hair on Ryan’s arm twitched. Erica. He didn’t even turn his head—he knew.

With each passing second that she was in his proximity, his anticipation climbed. His gaze bounced from the glass to the guys, then back.

He shouldn’t. Ryan played with the glass and closed his eyes. Her presence electrified his senses.

Fuck it. The guys can take an Uber.

In one smooth move, he swallowed the amber liquid, biting back the sting as he let the burn soothe his nerves. He readied himself one more second, then glanced over his shoulder.

Bam! The magnetic pull hit him with full force.

She appeared in the hallway, under the restroom sign, adjusting her skirt. The light backlit the curve of her hips, just the hint of her silhouette under the fabric making his mouth go dry.

Her eyes lifted. Their gazes locked. Direct hit.

Her steps faltered.

Yeah, he felt it too. The surprise. The want. The pull of attraction.

She recovered and continued to the table. Her heels touched the wooden floor in time to the beat. In his head, he could hear them click as she walked.