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Andi leaned her head on Eliza’s shoulder. “My friends are the best. They buy me men.”
“Men?” Hill teased. “Who are these other men?”
Andi sidled up next to him and hooked her arm in his. “Kidding. I’ll just take the one.” She glanced at the stage where bidding was firing up again. “So, do y’all want to go next door to the party area or do you want to see more of this part?”
“I’m ready for a drink,” Hollyn said, and Jasper nodded.
“Girl, me too,” Eliza agreed. “Come on. Let’s head over and get a jump on all the best finger foods.”
Jasper took Hollyn’s hand, and Eliza walked alongside them, leaving Hill and Andi behind. Andi let them get a few steps ahead before she started walking. She glanced up at him. “You okay?”
“I am now,” he said, meaning it. “Seeing your face in the audience got me through that.”
Her lips curved. “Well, if you were nervous, it didn’t show. You looked super sexy up there. Very broody and mysterious. That’s why all the ladies were fighting over you.”
The compliment warmed him, and he chuckled. “That wasn’t broody and mysterious. That was awkward and slightly terrified. But thank you.” He lifted the hands they had clasped together and kissed her knuckles. “I’m glad I’m all yours tonight.”
“Same.” They maneuvered around the back of the crowd, nearing the blond who’d bid on him. Andi sent her a saccharine smile as they passed.
A rush of affection moved through him. Andi was being playful, but he found he liked that little spark of possessiveness, liked being the guy holding her hand, likedher.
No. More than liked.
Fuck.His breath whooshed out of him.
They were almost to the door that led to the party room, but Andi glanced at him and stopped. He must’ve been wearing his thoughts on his face.
“Hill,” she said, concern entering her voice. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he managed to say.
“You sure?” She put the back of her hand to his cheek. “You look pale.”
He swallowed hard, trying to shove the thoughts that had escaped back into the mental closet he needed to keep them in, and forced a small smile. “I’m fine. I got a little light-headed for a minute. I ate an early lunch and haven’t had anything since.”
Mostly the truth. He was definitely light-headed.
She pressed her lips together and nodded. “Well, let’s get some food in you, okay? Maybe being onstage and fought over by multiple women was too much for an empty stomach.”
“Maybe so.”
Andy hooked her arm in his again and steered him toward the party room. Inside, the room was already filling up with people. Some were in line at the tables of food. Others were getting drinks from the bar, which was where Andi’s friends had gone. Karaoke wasn’t supposed to start until the auction was over, so CJ the DJ, a female firefighter from the other firehouse, was playing “Light My Fire” by the Doors.
Andi looked to the DJ booth and then to Hill. “Interesting song choice.”
He nodded. “Yeah. She did this at a barbecue once. She has a playlist of all fire-related songs. It will be fun watching people try to dance to ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’ by Billy Joel.”
She laughed. “Don’t worry. I’ve got dance moves for every beat.” She playfully swung her arms in a move that looked suspiciously like the Carlton. She looked at his face, her silly smile sagging, and stopped. “I didn’t say they weregoodmoves.”
“It’s not that,” he said with a frown. “It’s just…I won’t be dancing.”
“Oh. Right,” she said, her tone bright but awkward. “I didn’t mean to imply—”
“That’s not something I’ve practiced yet with the prosthesis,” he said, feeling like a rain cloud on her parade. “I’m not going to test that out in front of a crowd. A slow dance, maybe, but nothing fast.”
“It’s fine,” she said, with a wave of her hand. “I doubt there will be much dancing anyway. Karaoke is the main attraction.”
She didn’t look bothered, but the knot in his stomach was growing.
