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“Hi,” she responds, looking at me over the plastic cup she’s drinking out of. “Griffin. This is my friend, Jess.”
I shake her hand. “Hey, Jess.”
“Nice to meet you.” She smiles, then flicking her gaze between Emma and me, she replies, “Let’s keep it that way.”
I chuckle. Maybe Emma doesn’t need me after all. It appears watch-dog Jess is on duty as well.
“I’m going to be right over there.” Jess nods toward the rest of the group, then moves to join them.
“Are you headed home?” Emma’s eyes land on the water bottle in my hands. “The other guys said you never go out after the show.”
“They’re right.” I nod, then uncap my water bottle to take a drink.
“Oh.” The disappointment in her voice is evident. “That’s too bad.”
She takes a drink from her cup, then raises it to me. “Do you want a drink?”
“No, thanks.” I peer into her plastic cup, noting the heavy vodka smell. “Did you have fun at the show?”
“Yeah. This really hot guy pulled me up on stage and stripped for me.” Her lips twitch with amusement before she leans in closer to whisper, “For a moment, I thought you were going to kiss me.”
She’s right there. Our faces even closer now than they were onstage. I could lean down and kiss her right now. Claim her in front of everyone. Her eyes flutter closed, like she’s anticipating it. My heart rate accelerates at the sight of her perfect lips parted and eager to be captured.
“It wouldn’t have been professional of me to kiss you onstage.”
The second the words leave my mouth I know that I’ve ruined the moment.
Fuck.
While Emma’s trying to be fun and flirty, I’m reciting the rule book at her.
Emma’s eyes pop open and she pulls back. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“I—”
Dallas cuts into our conversation before I can rectify my misstep and tell her I’m dying to kiss her.
“Time to move, people.” He signals toward the door.
“Where are we going?” Emma asks. “Am I dressed okay?” While she leans down to examine her dress, I catch Dallas staring at her breasts.
“You look smokin’ hot,” he says.
The desire to carve out both his eyes with a fork is strong.
“Don’t worry, gorgeous. It’s gonna be a fun night.” Dallas smirks at me, his brows lifting in challenge. My hand goes around Emma’s waist, protectively pulling her toward me. If she’s surprised by the action after my awkward response to her flirting, she doesn’t show it. Instead, she leans into me further, placing her hand on my chest.
My body immediately responds to her touch. Beneath her palm, my skin heats with awareness and my heart rate kicks up a notch. The rush of being near Emma is like nothing I’ve felt before. I’m already addicted.
“Are you sure you want to go out? You’ve had a long day.” I’m alluding to what Emma told me on the roof. The stress of her fashion show that she’d been working on for months. The heartache of hearing her ex had gotten engaged so shortly after they broke up. She seems to be having fun, but I don’t want her to do anything tonight that she’s going to regret.
“Don’t listen to this wet blanket over here. He’s never up for fun. You should stick with me.” Dallas chuckles, moving in closer.
I practically growl at Dallas, but when Emma’s hand snakes its way up to my neck, I relax and turn my attention back to her.
“I think we’ll have fun.” Emma’s eyes twinkle. Her cheeks are rosy, her lips pink and full. Everything about Emma screams at me to take notice, but I need to keep my guard up, too. She’s everything I could ever want, but I’ve never gotten anything I’ve wanted.
I have one goal tonight. To keep Dallas’s dick away from Emma. Unfortunately, the gleam in his eyes tells me he knows it and he’s going to make me work for it.
