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My stomach knotted. And it was not all in self-loathing. What the fuck was wrong with me? I was thirty-two years old. I had a teenage daughter. Having these urges for an eighteen-year-old girl was wrong. Yet, I stood there, subtly adjusting my fucking hard-on all the dirty thoughts about her had caused.
I needed to leave.
I scanned the massive ballroom, looking for the quickest route out. My fists clenched at my sides as my jaw locked, the muscles aching from how hard my teeth ground. I moved through the crowd, my booted feet eating the distance as I watched Camilla’s tight end boyfriend crowd the object of my obsession. It was obvious from across the room that she was not amused by him.
My fingers dug into his shoulders when I reached them, pulling him away. He stumbled a few steps, then righted himself. His spine straightened, and his chin lifted in an attempt to do what all men like him did. Intimidate. But I was not a woman or a small man. In fact, I had a couple of inches on the six-foot-four NFL star. “Back off, man. I saw her first,” he growled.
“Excuse me?” My eyes shifted to the girl in question, her dark eyes narrowed as annoyance and irritation vibrated from her. I pulled her behind me when she started for him.
“What are you?” I asked him, stepping another foot into his space. “A child? I could see from across the room she wasn’t interested. Why don’t you go check on your girlfriend?” It was a reminder that he wasn’t single, but truthfully, he didn’t need to be near Cami, either. He was a bully, and I realized Dane’s suspicions were probably true.
His face reddened, lips curling along with his fists.
Bring it on, asshole.
Ruining Angel’s wedding reception was the last thing I wanted, but I hoped he’d understand if the guy decided not to back off.
Thankfully, he did. He turned around and stomped with fury toward the bar, not caring that he almost knocked several people down on the way. Knowing what I did, I hoped Cami dumped his pathetic ass soon.
When I looked at the girl tucked behind me, I was met with crossed arms, a curled mouth, and eyes dancing with mischief. “I could’ve handled him, you know.”
It was wrong… so, so fucking wrong. But I used the opportunity to run my eyes over her. “Five and a half feet and a buck twenty taking on six-foot-four-inches and two hundred forty pounds? I don’t think so, sweetheart.”
Her lips slid up a bit more as she stepped into me. “Five-seven. And in these shoes, five-ten. But none of that matters.” Her fingers crawled over my chest, causing an electrical current to race over my skin. Suddenly, I was a teenage boy, conjuring the most disturbing images to keep the blood from rushing south. “All it takes is one unexpected, well-placed hit to bring a man to his knees.” Her fingers trailed further south until they wrapped around my hard-as-steel cock and squeezed, but it wasn’t threatening. It was all tease.
Panic had me yanking her away with a hiss. “Are you insane?” I stepped back, needing to create distance before more of my body betrayed my words. “I have a daughter almost the same age as you.”
She was undeterred as amusement tinkled from her lips. “Are you saying you’re old enough to be my father?” My head jerked in confirmation. “Hmm. Well, that’s true for many people, but it does explain the stick up your ass. Maybe you should relay the message to…” Her eyes drifted where my erection pressed against the fabric of my pants. “I mean, he doesn’t seem to realize you aren’t interested.”
“Jesus Christ,” I muttered, dragging my hand over my face. “I should’ve gone to my room.”
She laughed again and then harder when I scowled and started to turn away. That electricity zapped again when she grabbed my hand. “I’m sorry.” She pressed her plump lips together, trying to suppress the teasing smile still playing around her lips. “I won’t tease again.” Her fingers dropped, but my eyes stayed fixed on where she touched me for a second longer. When I met her—wait, weren’t her eyes brown?
She smiles again. “Contacts.”
“What?” My brows dipped.
“I’m wearing contacts.”
I shook my head, dragging my hand over my mouth. I was saying shit out loud. Wonderful.
“Thank you for running off that Neanderthal. I could’ve made him go away, but not without causing a disruption to the party. The last thing I want to do is ruin the day for my brother.”
I couldn’t hide my surprise if I wanted to. My brows were at my hairline, and my heart was in my stomach. “Angel is your brother?” I asked, stating the obvious.
“One of three, but yes.” This just went from forbidden to totally off-limits. Angel was one of my bosses. Now, not only was she too young, making me feel like a goddamn pervert, she could cost me my fucking job. This damn attraction needed to be nipped in the bud yesterday. “So, thank you again.” I nodded, speechless from the newest bomb dropped. “Maybe we’ll see each other again soon.”
“Yeah, maybe.” I agreed but prayed we never saw each other again.
I watched as she danced with Ryder and Maddox, both together and alone. She reminded me a bit of them, if I were honest. Everyone was as drawn to her as they were to them, and she had a presence about her that was like a mysterious free fall. Yes, she was beautiful, but it was so much more. The little I knew of her, she was full of fire and life.
And there was something else. She was real. Everything she said was honest. It was obvious she gave no fucks what anyone thought about her or her choice. She was an exotic phenomenon.
When my feet finally moved, they were toward her. She was the sun, and I was drawn into her orbit.
I was lost in her dazzling smile. Captivated by her carefree energy. So much so that I didn’t notice anything else except her tumbling toward the floor. I was too far away to reach her in time. When her head bounced off the hard floor, my stomach plummeted. Panic quickened my steps when she didn’t get up.
I was at her side, lifting her limp body and carrying her away from the commotion. I gently tapped her face while my fingers explored the backside of her head, finding the massive knot that had already appeared. “Come on, little flower. Open your eyes.”
