Force of Nature

by Melissa Toppen

  “Keep the change,” I inform the bartender, tucking the remaining bills back into my bra before grabbing the two shot glasses and extending one to Hudson.

  He takes it, one side of his mouth cocked up in a sexy smirk.

  “You always keep your money there?” His eyes dip to my chest as I shove the shot into his hand.

  “Do you see this dress? Where else would I keep it?” I gesture to myself.

  “Oh, I see it alright.” His words instantly make my heart pick up speed and causes tiny droplets of perspiration to form at the base of my neck.

  “To new friends,” I say, choosing to ignore his comment. I wait until his eyes meet mine again before clinking my shot glass against his.

  “To new friends,” he repeats, his gaze holding mine for a moment longer before he tips his head back and pours the shot into his mouth.

  I mirror his action, cringing slightly as I swallow- the tequila burning a trail of fire down my throat.

  Hudson, clearly seeing the grimace on my face, bites back a smile, but before he can say anything, Emma suddenly appears at my side.

  “There you are.” She leans in, reaching over me to retrieve her Cosmo from the bar. “I was wondering where the hell you...” She trails off when her gaze lands on Hudson and she completely redirects. “Well, hello,” she purrs in the way only Emma can.

  “Hello.” Hudson grins.

  “And who are you?” She smiles, her eyes bouncing between the two of us.

  “This is Hudson,” I interject. “Hudson, this is Emma.” I gesture to my friend, noticing his gaze is now focused on the person standing behind Emma – the hipster guy who had his hands all over her ass on the dance floor.

  “Where the hell’s my beer, douche?” It takes me a second to realize he’s talking to Hudson.

  “Sorry, dude, you were over there pretending to dance.”

  “Pretending my ass. Did you see those sick moves?” He twirls his hips causing Hudson to laugh, the sound once again making my whole body ignite.

  “So I take it you two know each other?” I question, gesturing to the hipster who gladly accepts the glass Emma offers him, killing half of her Cosmo in one swift gulp before handing it back to her.

  “Unfortunately, yes.” Hudson shakes his head, humor on his face. “Lennon, Colton. Colton, Lennon,” he introduces us.

  “I see he’s made friends with my friend,” I say to Hudson rather than acknowledging Colton directly.

  “It would appear so,” Hudson agrees, following my line of sight to where Colton now has his arm wrapped around Emma’s slender waist.

  “Come on, babe, let’s show these lame asses what real dancing is.” Colton ignores me and Hudson altogether and waits until Emma finishes off her drink before taking the empty glass and setting it on the bar behind me.

  “Len.” Emma reaches for me.

  “I think I’m gonna hang out here with Hudson for a while. You two go, dance,” I say, giving her a look that I know she’ll understand. One that says ‘leave me alone so I can spend more time with this incredibly hot guy next to me.’

  Emma smiles knowingly and nods once before taking Colton’s hand and letting him pull her back onto the dance floor.

  “You realize your friend has been violating my friend half the night,” I inform Hudson as Emma and Colton disappear into the sea of people and flashing lights.

  “I don’t claim him.” He lifts the beer bottle to his lips and takes a long pull, the action way sexier than it should be.

  “Funny, I don’t think I would either,” I tease.

  “So Emma?”

  “My best friend since I was twelve. Colton?”

  “Since I was born,” he responds without hesitation.

  “And you’re how old?” I arch a brow.

  “Twenty-five. You?”

  “Twenty-two,” I answer before adding, “You’ve known each other that long?”

  “All our lives.”

  “Are you two from around here?”

  “Nashville.” He rests the bottom of his beer bottle right above his knee as he angles himself more toward me, his leg brushing mine as he does.

  “Nashville?” I question, trying to hide the disappointment in my voice.

  It would figure. The first interesting person I’ve met in a long time and he’s not even from around here.

  “Well, Texas originally. Just north of Austin. But I moved to Nashville a couple years ago to pursue music and Colton came with me. I’ve tried to get rid of him but he doesn’t seem to get the hint. I’m still trying to convince him he’s not my manager, though he’s claimed to be since we were teenagers.”

  “You’re a musician?” I question, trying my damndest to keep it cool. I’m a total sucker for musicians. I just met this man and it’s like he already knows my weaknesses. “Do you sing or play instruments?”

  “Both. Well, I sing and play guitar.”

  If I could fan myself and not look like a total psycho I totally would. Not only is he super hot but he also sings and plays the guitar. Dear lord, help me now.

  “That’s awesome. What kind of music do you play?”

  “A mix of country and rock.”

  “So far so good.” I nod in approval. “Do you play in bars and stuff or are you one of those street performers?”

  “Been to Nashville before, have ya?”

  “A couple of times. My sister loves Nashville.”

  “There’s a lot to love.” He takes another pull of beer, sliding his finger around the rim of the bottle when he rests it back against his knee.

  “So what brings you to Destin?” I clear my throat, trying to seem cool when I feel like the biggest dork.

  I swear I’m hanging on to every word he says like it’s the most interesting thing I’ve ever heard. Mainly because it kind of is. Not that what he’s saying is some kind of epic statement, but it’s more just listening to him talk. That I think I could do all day long.

  “Vacation. We’ve been coming here every March since we were kids.” He gestures off somewhere in the vicinity of our friends. “Colton’s family and mine are extremely close. Our moms have been best friends since they were in grade school, so our families did everything together growing up, including vacations. Colton’s dad passed a few years back. I think continuing to come here is his way of keeping his memory alive.”

  “I get that,” I sympathize, not even able to fathom not having my dad around.

  “It’s been tough on him but he’s getting by. Mainly by driving my ass crazy.” He laughs to himself. “What about you? You local?”

  “Born and raised.” I nod, taking a sip of my Cosmo.

  “I would have given anything to live by the beach growing up.”

  “If I had a dime for everyone that has said that to me over the years I’d be rich.”

  “I guess you kind of take it for granted. The weather, the beach. When it’s around every day it probably loses a bit of its luster.”

  “When I was younger maybe, but not so much now. I don’t know, it’s different I guess. For all the times I’ve said I couldn’t wait to get out of here I don’t really ever see myself leaving either. I think I’d miss it too much.”

  “And what is it that you do? For a living I mean,” he tacks on when I don’t answer right away.

  “Actually, Emma and I are seniors in college.”

  “Students.”

  “For another three months anyway.”

  “That’s amazing. What are you majoring in?”

  “Design.” I shrug. “Emma’s dad buys and sells a ton of real estate and he’s agreed to cut me and Emma in once we graduate. Let us design his renovation projects. His only stipulation is that we, well really she, went to college first.”

  “That’s pretty cool of him.”

  “I thought so.” I shrug. “So how long are you and Colton in town for?”

  “We’re heading back tomorrow morning. This is our last night in Florida.”

  “Well
that doesn’t leave us much time then, does it?” I grin mischievously.

  “Time for what?” He cocks a brow, his eyes dancing with humor.

  I knock back the rest of my Cosmo and push to my feet, reaching for his hand. “Come on.”

  “Where are we going?” He stands, taking my outstretched hand in his.

  “You’ll see.” I wink before turning, pulling him through the crowd of people onto the dance floor.

  “Um, I don’t dance,” Hudson informs me when I stop in the center of the dancing masses and turn toward him.

  “Well it’s about time you start.” I smile, reaching up to wrap my hands around the back of his neck. “Besides, you owe me.”

  “Do I now?” He wastes no time pulling me close, dropping his face within inches of mine.

  “I did buy you a beer after all,” I remind him, slowly starting to move my hips, the front of my body sliding against his.

  “I didn’t realize it came with strings,” he quips, his smile fully intact.

  “I’ll make it worth your while,” I promise, pushing up on my tip toes to close the small distance between us.

  “Is that so?” His voice is low and sexy, his breath hot on my lips.

  “Do you trust me?” I whisper, my eyes locked on his.

  “I’m not sure yet.”

  “Well get sure.” I smile, reaching down to grab his hand before taking a full step back.

  He eyes the sudden space between us and a slow smile pulls up the corners of his mouth.

  With one hard tug, he pulls me back against his body, and just like that, he starts to move.

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