Holding Out for a Hero

by Codi Gary

  Excited barks erupted from the tiny fluff ball, and Milo lifted a huge yellow paw in greeting as the Pom attacked and ran away, encouraging the pup to give chase with several high-pitched yips.

  Milo took off, and she heard her dad shouting about noise and chaos from the living room.

  “Well, come in and say hi to your father. What time is your dance?” her mom asked.

  “It starts at eight. Nicki hired a limo to drop us off and pick us up.”

  “Is it just the two of you going then? A limo is awfully expensive for just two people.”

  Hannah had thought so, too, but then she’d found out that they were part of a larger group sharing the limo. “Actually, there are about seven of us sharing it, so it won’t be so bad.”

  Her mother frowned, her gaze lit with obvious concern. “Just be sure not to drink too much. Even in a group of friends, it’s not safe to be impaired. I was watching ID network last night—”

  “No, no ID network. Please! Please!”

  Her mother huffed, but her lips twitched at the corners. “Fine, don’t listen to your mother.”

  “Believe me, Mom, I’m familiar with rape culture. Never accept a drink from anyone, except the bartender. Never walk alone after dark, and always be aware of my surroundings. Plus, I took a self-defense class and I learned—”

  “Oh, I’ve been wanting to take one of those! How was it?”

  Good until the rejection and friend speech.

  “Really good. I’ll have to show you a few things sometime.”

  “Are you two hens going to just stay in the hallway clucking, or are you going to say hi to your old man?” her dad hollered.

  Hannah laughed as she followed the sound of her dad’s booming voice. She found him sitting in his favorite chair, his large frame folded over. Her father was six foot six with glasses, and she could still remember riding on those shoulders as a child and feeling as if she was on top of the world.

  “Hey, Daddy.” She bent over and gave him a kiss. “Did you miss me?”

  “Always, Princess.” His bushy brows lowered over his eyes, and he grunted. “I did not miss the chaos little Milo brings, however.”

  As if on cue, Miggins raced into the living room and bounded onto her father’s lap, barking furiously at Milo, who tried to jump up, too, and ended up falling onto his back, his paws up in the air. Seeing an opening, Miggins pounced onto Milo’s exposed stomach, nipping and retreating as Milo wiggled on his back and lazily tried to bite the other dog.

  “See? Troublemaker.” Her dad bent over and picked Milo up, holding the puppy’s forehead to his. “Who’s a bad puppy?”

  Listening to her father’s booming voice become a high-pitched baby voice sent Hannah into hysterical giggles. “You love him.”

  “Nope. He is an ugly little monster.”

  Hannah didn’t believe him for a minute. “Well, I’ll pick up the little monster in the morning, since the ball isn’t over until late.”

  “Ball, ha. You just be careful, Cinderella. I don’t know if your mother told you, but last night on ID network—”

  “She doesn’t want to hear about it, Gil,” her mom said.

  Her father grunted. “Fine.” He patted her hand softly. “Be a good girl, Hannah Banana.”

  “Always, Dad.”

  As Hannah left, her thoughts returned to her last night with Blake, and she wondered what the hell it all meant. The hand holding, the coffee, the kiss on the cheek.

  Her hands gripped the steering wheel angrily. It wasn’t fair. He’d told her he wasn’t ready, just wanted to be friends, but everything Tuesday night had been very un-friend-like. Whatever game he was playing, she didn’t like it, and it was going to stop.

  She’d tell him that, too, as soon as she saw him at the ball tonight.

  Chapter Nineteen

  BLAKE STOOD BY the bar, watching as the ball attendees trickled in, telling himself he wasn’t looking for Hannah in the crowd of women. Although they’d exchanged texts and phone calls after their date, he hadn’t had a chance to text or call today with all the hoops Eve had them jumping through, and he just hoped she hadn’t assumed the worst. He was also hoping they wouldn’t need to have a talk, but if they did, he had a speech prepared.

  How fucking romantic.

  “And here they come,” Martinez said beside him. The crowd of women in the ballroom was growing thicker by the second, like a cluster of colorful butterflies.

  “I’m surprised your girlfriend made you come tonight.”

  Martinez shrugged. “She trusts me, and besides, she knew that Sparks and Best would bitch and moan if I didn’t come. She put the three of us on drink duty.”

  “Drink duty?” Eve had told him to pick a woman and make her feel special, and he already had her picked out.

  “We’re walking around with trays of specialty drinks. Didn’t she give you a job?”

  “Yeah, to cater to one of the guests’ every whim.” Blake downed his Jack and Coke. “I guess only the guys with girlfriends got the cool gig.”

  “Or she thought we’d try to escape if we didn’t have something to do.”

  Blake didn’t believe that for a second. Eve, Dani, and Violet, Sparks’s girlfriend, had probably come up with the drink work detail so they wouldn’t have to watch their boyfriends dancing with other women. They were all here tonight—Violet helping with serving food, and Dani taking tickets at the door. Devious.

  “What’s up, playas?” Bryce asked, popping up beside them.

  Blake’s eyes bugged out of his head in surprise. He hadn’t even known Bryce owned a dress, let alone something so . . . so . . .

  “What the hell are you wearing?” Martinez asked, reading Blake’s mind.

  The blue dress was tight, and Blake found himself staring up at the ceiling so she wouldn’t think he was checking her out.

  “I’m wearing a sombrero. What the fuck does it look like, asswipe?”

  Blake grinned, relaxing. “There’s the Bryce we know.”

  “Whatever, you both are dicks. Have you seen Slater?” she asked, craning her neck.

  “Bryce, if something’s going on between you and Slater, Sparks isn’t going to like it,” Martinez said, frowning.

  “Sparks doesn’t need to know.” A satisfied smile spread across her glossy lips. “There he is. Later, boys.”

  Martinez shook his head. “Should we say something? They work together, and shit can get awkward fast.”

  “I’ve experienced annoying Bryce and friend Bryce . . . I don’t think I want to meet pissed-off Bryce.”

  “You’re right.” Martinez picked up a tray of glasses with raspberries and mint leaves inside. “Duty calls.”

  “Have fun.” Blake ordered another Jack and Coke from the bartender and continued watching the door. The ballroom was starting to fill up, and the DJ was playing a Madonna song. Women had begun making their way toward the four bar stations around the room, and he moved as a herd crowded around him.

  Blake watched as the men who had been drafted to entertain started mingling, smiling and chatting with the women. There were two photo areas set up with props that people could pay five dollars to get their pictures taken in. Guests had received two drink tickets and ten complimentary raffle tickets for several large prizes and could purchase more raffle tickets at the door. The gift bags they received upon leaving were filled with “a single woman’s dream,” as Eve put it. All in all, Blake had to admit she had done an amazing job of creating an awesome event that would appeal to many women.

  “You!” Eve stalked toward him and pointed to the dance floor. “Go make some girl’s dream come true and dance with her.”

  Blake sighed loudly and set his drink down on the nearest table. “You realize this is incredibly sexist and you’re objectifying me?”

  “Yes, but it is for a good cause.” When Blake crossed his arms and gave her what he hoped was his stubborn look, Eve threw up her hands. “I give up. You want to take off, fine, we’v
e got plenty of guys to handle the crowd. I just thought maybe you might like to meet someone or, at the very least, not wallow alone in your apartment.”

  Blake scowled at her. “We are not close enough for you to give me life tips.”

  Eve huffed, tossing her black hair over her shoulder. “Well, someone has to, because your friends won’t. Everyone is worried about you but won’t say anything because they don’t want to push. If you haven’t noticed, I’m pretty pushy, and I’m not going to coddle you. You need to decide whether you are going to let one tragedy shape your life or if you’re going to move on and try to be happy again. But stop making everyone around you miserable.”

  Then, she spun on incredibly high heels and walked away from him.

  Blake stood there for a minute or two, shock, anger, and confusion warring inside him. He was making his friends miserable? He hadn’t even realized he was doing it, but looking back, he could see it. They were all moving on from the things that had landed them in group, and each one had found happiness, while he . . .

  Well, he was still holding on.

  A flash of caramel hair in the crowd caught his eye, and he took a step toward it, trying to see if it was Hannah.

  “Well, hello, handsome.”

  Blake looked down at a forty-something woman in a black dress, her red lips smiling at him seductively.

  “Hello, ma’am. How are you this evening?”

  “It’s Kimberly, darling, and I’d be better if you dance with me.”

  Blake wouldn’t catch another glimpse of Hannah unless he got closer, and he’d have to enter the dance floor to do so.

  “May I have this dance, Kimberly?”

  The woman appeared relieved, and he warmed toward her, realizing how nervous she’d actually been approaching him. He led her onto the dance floor, maneuvering them into the crowd so he could get a better look.

  And his stomach dropped out when he got a look at Hannah.

  Her hair was shimmering in the lights, pulled back from her face but erupting into a mass of curls down her back. Her glasses were missing, and her face was tastefully made-up. The purple dress hugged her curves as lovingly as a glove, and that neckline . . .

  Blake’s mouth went dry at the view.

  His awe was derailed, however, as he watched a young guy in dress blues come up behind her and slide a proprietary arm around her waist. He whispered something in Hannah’s ear, and Blake could see her cheeks turn pink in the low, flashing lights.

  His jaw tightened as his gut churned. For the first time in their acquaintance, Blake didn’t find that blush charming. It filled him with bitter jealousy.

  “Do you know that girl?” Kimberly asked, bringing his attention back to the woman he was supposed to be dancing with.

  Blake realized he’d dropped his arms from her waist and had been ready to cross the dance floor and yank the little turd away from Hannah. Kimberly was watching him with curiosity, and he cleared his throat, trying to speak past the dusty feel in his mouth. “Yes, she’s a friend of mine.”

  She turned toward Hannah again, studying her before she said, “She’s very pretty for being so heavy.”

  Blake had been about to pull her back and continue dancing, but he stopped, staring aghast at the woman’s audacity. “She’s not heavy.”

  Blake had no idea what expression was on his face, but she paled. “I didn’t mean anything by it—”

  Luckily the song ended and Blake didn’t have to listen to her excuse for the thoughtless comment.

  “Have a wonderful night, Kimberly. Thank you for the dance.”

  He walked back to his place at the edge of the dance floor, his vantage point finally cleared enough that he could see Hannah and the young Marine dancing. He fumed, playing over their date in his mind. He’d held her hand, for fuck’s sake! Didn’t girls know what that meant?

  I told her I didn’t want to start anything with her. Maybe she thought it was just two friends running errands.

  She threw her head back, laughing, and he could hear the husky sound in his head.

  Maybe she hadn’t seen him or needed rescuing.

  The Marine dipped her and spun her around, that beautiful smile he loved glued to her lips.

  Or maybe she got tired of waiting on me.

  HANNAH LAUGHED AT herself as she did the moves for “YMCA” with Nicki, her dance partner, Eric, and Caleb. When Caleb had first come up behind her and slipped his arm around her waist, her heart had lodged in her throat. She’d imagined turning and finding Blake behind her, but when he’d whispered, “I’m Caleb, and you’re beautiful,” she’d been both excited and disappointed.

  Now, however, she had been dancing for an hour with him and thoroughly enjoying herself. Caleb was a twenty-five-year-old Marine with blue eyes and brown hair cut close to his head. He was sweet and funny, and she was having a great time.

  Still, she couldn’t stop her gaze from wandering occasionally, hoping to catch a glimpse of Blake.

  She was still angry with him, but she’d secretly hoped that he’d be waiting for her tonight, ready to sweep her out on the dance floor and tell her he only wanted to be with her.

  When the song ended, Caleb took her hand and leaned in. “You wanna get a drink?”

  “Yes, please.” She turned to Nicki and asked, “Want to get a drink with us?”

  “Nah, I’m good,” Nicki said, wrapping her arms around Eric’s shoulders.

  Hannah let Caleb lead her out of the crowd toward one of the bars, taking careful steps so her ankle didn’t roll in her new heels. She’d practiced in the shoes all week, even dancing in them around her apartment, but she still wasn’t completely used to wedges.

  “What will you have?” Caleb asked as they stood in line.

  “A water and one of those pink drinks with the heart-shaped watermelon slice.” She’d had one earlier, and it had been to die for. She reached for her little clutch and her second drink ticket, but he waved her off.

  “It’s my treat.”

  “Thank you.”

  Caleb smiled warmly at her and wrapped his arm around her waist in a too-familiar way that made Hannah a little uncomfortable, especially since she could feel his hand resting on the top of her bottom through the dress. He wasn’t acting gross about it, so maybe he didn’t think anything of it.

  As casually as she could, she reached around and moved Caleb’s hand up a bit.

  “Sorry, did I cross a line?”

  He looked worried, and she wanted to reassure him. “It’s fine, your hand just traveled a little below the equator.”

  It was their turn to order, and when Caleb didn’t tip their bartender, she reached into her clutch and gave him a couple of bucks.

  Caleb gave her a disgruntled look. “I told you it was on me.”

  “It’s okay, I’ve got the tip.”

  He seemed irritated for a moment and shrugged. She picked up her drink and followed him over to a table.

  “So, what do you do, Hannah?” he asked.

  “I work as a waitress in the morning and teach kindergarten in the afternoon.”

  “That’s hot. I wish I’d had a teacher that looked like you when I was in school.”

  Hannah shifted her feet and frowned a little. She didn’t like Caleb’s overly familiar touch or his suggestive comments.

  “Even if you’d had an attractive teacher, it would have been inappropriate.”

  “Not if I was legal.”

  “Still . . . ”

  His arm snaked out around her waist once more, and he leaned down as if he was going to kiss her. “I’d love to play naughty student and dirty teacher with you.”

  As his lips descended on hers, she put her hands up and pushed against his chest. “Let me go.”

  “What’s the matter? I thought you liked me.” His lips fell on her cheek when she turned her face away, and she smelled the alcohol on his breath.

  “I just met you!”

  “So? What better way to get to know
me than to—argh!”

  Hannah had dropped one of her hands and grabbed his dick through his uniform, crushing it, just like Blake had told her to do. Caleb released her and fell back a few steps, cupping his groin as he curled onto himself.

  “What the fuck? You stupid bit—”

  Caleb was gripped around his neck from behind, and Hannah trembled when she saw Blake standing behind him, his expression thunderous.

  “You’re going to walk away now, or I’m going to throw your ass out and you’ll crawl home. Your choice.”

  Blake released Caleb, who still couldn’t quite stand up straight. He glared at Hannah and rasped, “I’m gone.”

  Hannah realized people around them were staring, and she bit her lip, trying not to burst into tears.

  Without warning, Blake took her hand and led her out of the hotel ballroom. They weaved through the couples until they reached a door at the far end. He opened it, pushing her gently inside, and shut the door after them. Hannah took a few steps back, fighting the tears that had been gathering.

  Once he locked the door, Blake walked up to her and smoothed his thumb across her cheek. “Come on, Hannah, don’t cry. You’ll mess up your makeup if you cry.”

  She gave a watery laugh at his joke. “I’m so stupid.”

  “No, I was watching every move that guy made, and he was a jerk. You were right to twist and pull his dick.” Hannah could see the twinkle in his hazel eyes through the layer of tears. “I was so proud of my pupil.”

  His words gave her pause, and she caught his hands against her cheek. “You were watching him? Or me?”

  His hands opened up under hers, framing her face gently.

  “You.”

  Before Hannah could respond, his mouth covered hers, sending shock waves through her body that liquefied every nerve. She’d tried reliving the one kiss they’d shared, but it was never as good as the real thing.

  Reality was better. So much better.

  His mouth slanted over hers, his tongue pressing at the seam of her lips until she opened for him. The kiss deepened, and Blake held onto her hands as he pulled them down and wrapped his arms around her waist. Hannah’s heart fluttered like a caged bird as Blake pressed the front of their bodies together from chest to groin.