“Yep, aside from him. I mean, he was a douche bag, but the bite in your voice tells me there’s more.”
When her brother Ace first started playing pro ball, Ariana went out with a few players on the team. After about the sixth disaster, she swore off football players altogether. “Experience,” she finally said.
Interest lit his eyes. “Care to elaborate?”
“Not really,” she said loudly, then felt like she was yelling when the music suddenly stopped.
They turned their attention to the guy on stage holding the microphone. “Folks, we’ve got a fun evening lined up, it’s karaoke night!” He pumped a fist in the air as the crowd cheered.
Ariana’s heart dropped. Oh, no!
The emcee looked down at the sheet of paper in his hand. “To start, we have a duet by Ariana and Justin.”
Captain Thor looked at her. “Is everything okay?”
“Not really.” She groaned. “I’m Ariana.”
His eyes widened, then he burst out laughing, a deep throaty laugh that rumbled in his chest. “And the jerk you laid out is Justin.”
She smiled thinly. “Yep.” She let out a heavy sigh. “This night just keeps getting better and better.”
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the emcee said, “give it up for Ariana and Justin. They’ll be doing an oldie but goodie, Eye of the Tiger.”
A roar of clapping circled through the room.
Ariana’s heart hammered against her ribcage. She glanced at the exit door. It wasn’t too late to make a run for it. No one knew she was Ariana. Well, except for Captain Thor. She really didn’t care what the people in the club thought about her. But for some strange reason, she cared what he thought. Before her mind processed what she was doing, she was on her feet and making her way to the stage. She’d done karaoke enough times to know she could hold her own. Even so, her hand shook slightly when she took the microphone. “I’m Ariana,” she said, pointing to her chest. She plastered on a cheerful smile. “Unfortunately, Justin had to leave, so it’ll just be me tonight.”
Boos rumbled through the audience.
The emcee held up a hand. “Hey, y’all. Show the lady some respect. It takes a lot of guts to come up here and perform in front of a bunch of yahoos. Give it up for Ariana!” He brought his hands together in vigorous claps that started the audience clapping.
Ariana was glad the stage lights were shining in her eyes, preventing her from seeing Captain Thor’s expression. He probably thought she was loco. The lyrics popped up on the screen. She gripped the microphone, trying to get in the proper frame of mind to perform.
“Wait a minute! What’s this?” the emcee said. “It looks like Justin’s here after all.”
Ariana’s heart lurched. What? She was going to lay Justin out flat, right here on stage. In the next second, a burst of sheer exhilaration ran through her when Captain Thor stepped up beside her. “Hey,” she said, unable to stop a grin from spilling over her lips. “What’re you doing?”
He winked. “Rescuing you.”
She felt light enough to float. A giggle escaped her throat. “Do you karaoke?”
The emcee handed him a microphone as he looked at the screen. “I guess we’re about to find out.”
“Ariana and Justin,” the emcee announced.
“The name’s Rennen.”
“Rennen.” Ariana committed the name to memory. It fit him.
Continue Reading on Amazon.
Also by Jennifer Youngblood
Check out Jennifer’s Amazon Page HERE
The Persistent Groom (Texas Titan Romances)
The Ghost Groom (Texas Titan Romances)
The Perfect Catch (Last Play Series)
I Know You’ll Find Me (Dangerous Affections)
Hawaii Billionaire Series
Love Him or Lose Him
Love on the Rocks
Love on the Rebound
Love at the Ocean Breeze
Love Changes Everything
Loving the Movie Star
Love Under Fire (A Companion book to the Hawaii Billionaire Series)
Kisses and Commitment Series
How to See With Your Heart
Angel Matchmaker Series
Kisses Over Candlelight
The Cowboy and the Billionaire’s Daughter
Romantic Thrillers
False Identity
Promise Me Love
Burned
Contemporary Romance
Beastly Charm
Fairytale Retellings (The Grimm Laws Series)
Banish My Heart (This book is FREE)
The Magic in Me
Under Your Spell
A Love So True
Southern Romance
Livin’ in High Cotton
Recipe for Love
The Second Chance Series
Forgive Me (Book 1)
Love Me (Book 2)
Short Stories
The Southern Fried Fix
Seeking Mr. Perfect (The Jane Austen Pact) Page 19
