“Um, we’re good, thanks,” I say. “I should probably get going.”
At that, the music turns to a slow song. Prudence wraps her arms around Cash, pulling him in. She barely waits until I’m turned around to shove her tongue down his throat. I sidestep so I’m not coated in what I’m imagining to be a waterfall of saliva. Disgusting.
“Shall we?” a voice asks. I turn and bump into Steven, who is apparently ninja-like in his ability to cross a dance floor.
“Um, well,” I say, wanting far away from the scene. But, before I can interrupt, he’s pulling me in close, his hands sliding down to my hips, his forehead pressed against mine. Wow, this got intimate fast, even for me.
Usually, I’d be feeling it. After all, I came here to forget, to have fun, to have a good night. Swaying to this sappy song, though, this close to Steven, a man I barely know, I’m not feeling good or like this is fun. I actually feel kind of sweaty. About two feet from us, Prudence and Cash are practically making love on the dance floor, their bodies all intertwined. Okay, it’s not really that bad. But out of my peripheral, it seems that way.
I pull back from Steven a little bit, and he leans in to kiss my neck. It’s not sexy. He doesn’t find the right spot, not like….
I find myself turning to eye Cash. Prudence has her head on his chest now, the lovemaking dance at least temporarily halted. He catches my eye, Steven still doing God knows what to my neck. He winks at me, and my heart flutters. It’s just a damn wink. It means nothing. He’s just toying with me.
Still, it does something to me. Suddenly, I wish I hadn’t let my pride and stubbornness get in the way. I wish I was Prudence, my head on his firm chest, his big, warm hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me in.
“Want to get out of here?” Steven whispers in my ear.
“Um,” I say, staring into Steven’s eyes now, begging myself to feel something. To forget about Cash, to let that whole scenario go.
But I can’t.
Dammit, I can’t.
“I’m sorry, Steven. I’m not feeling it.”
“Really? You drag me out here, and you’re not feeling it?” Steven’s getting sort of angry now. “Fine,” he says, storming out.
And before I can even mutter a response, he’s gone, heading to the exit. I think about going after him, but I really don’t want to. Now I’m standing alone under the sad, disco-like lights, the sappy song coming to an end. Cash and Prudence are making out, and I’m standing alone, as it should be.
I skulk off the dance floor, heading to claim my martini. I toss it back and head out the door into the night air to wait for an Uber and to think about how sad the state of my life is.
I really should’ve just stayed home with the damn cats.
“Hey, there she is,” his voice echoes from the front office as I wander into the rescue on the following Sunday. I’m wearing sunglasses to hide the bags under my eyes, bags partially caused by the bottle of champagne I polished off last night and partially from tossing and turning wondering why I’ve lost my game. The champagne, just to be clear, was a purely desperate move. It’s been a shitty week of work, of disappointing attempts to get some action, and of thinking over and over about Cash. I got home last night after a sad night out with Harper and wanted to drown my sorrows—but since I only had champagne on hand, it made it even more depressing. Champagne is not the go-to when you’re drinking because you feel like shit. It only makes you feel worse because it feels like you’re celebrating your sadness.
“Hey,” I say, leaving the sunglasses on as I try not to look at his perfectly fitting jeans, the cute shirt he’s wearing. I try not to think about how the huge smile on his face probably has something to do with Prudence. And I try to remind myself that I really don’t care if it does.
“So, looks like you and Steven didn’t really have a great night the other night, huh?”
At this, I shove the sunglasses back on my head. “And why do you care?” My voice comes out a little edgier than I wanted. Janice is sweeping up nearby. She looks at me before hurrying into the other section, giving us our privacy apparently.
He puts his hands up, grinning. “I’m just saying. Seems like you left on a sour note.”
“Well, we did. Not everyone just gives it up to anyone, you know. I wasn’t feeling it.” I head behind the desk, busying my hands with filing, trying to pretend I’m ignoring him. He leans on the counter.
“Well, if it matters, I think Steve-o looked like a weirdo. You may have dodged a bullet there.”
I glare at him. “Oh, and your preppy little Prudence looked so much better.”
“She was interesting. I mean, I won’t lie, her voice, super annoying. But, she’s got this really cool thing she can do with her—”
“Enough,” I shout, hands up. He just laughs.
“Why are you so edgy?”
“I’m not edgy. I just don’t need to hear about your sexcapades with Prudence.”
“So now you’re conservative about sex? After you fucked me and ran?” he asks, his eyes still teasing.
“Oh my God, keep your voice down. The whole shelter doesn’t need to hear about that.” I glance around to see where Janice is.
He laughs. “You’re crazy. But listen, if you were jealous and wanted to explore a sexcapade, as you call it, with me the other night, you should’ve said something. I’d have sent Prudence off with Steven.”
“Okay, first, you’re a dick. And two, I was not jealous of you. Give me a break.” I roll my eyes and head over to the copy machine to make a few copies from yesterday’s adoptions before I head back to the cat room.
This guy is unreal. So arrogant. What the hell was I thinking? Clearly he’s full of himself, way too full of himself.
But before I can push the green button on the copier, I feel breathing on my neck, hands on my waist. I think about jerking away, but then there’s a soft kiss planted on my neck. And, unlike Steven the other night, he knows exactly the spot.
I bite my lip as he nibbles my ear, leaning in to whisper. “Well, I’ll tell you a secret. When I was dancing with Prudence, I kept hoping you’d come over and ask me to dance. I kept hoping you’d ask me to be with you. Because I would’ve said yes, Sage. I want to say yes. You make me crazy.”
My heart is beating so wildly, I’m certain he can hear it. I take a deep breath, relishing in the feel of his strong body against mine.
And then a barking dog brings me to my senses. I shrug him off me. “Well, this would never work. You know that. Besides, I’m not interested in a relationship.”
I feel the ice queen coming back. I shove aside the beating heart, the warmth he brought to my veins. I try to exit the room, heading to the cat room before he makes me lose my mind. He spins me around in his arms, though, and forces me to look at him.
“You know, I get it. I do. Because I really don’t believe in anything but sex. But you have to admit it, Sage Everling, when we’re around each other, sparks fly. And it’s more than just sexual sparks. There’s just… something there. I think maybe we’ve each met our match, and I don’t know, it kind of excites me. Maybe we should set aside our rules and play this thing out, just one more time. See what happens.”
I look up into those dark, brooding eyes, and I think about saying yes. I think about what it would be like to climb back into bed with him. I think about Monday night, in Steven’s arms, how much I wanted to be in Cash’s.
I sigh. “I don’t think so. Look, I won’t lie. You intrigue me. More than I’d like to admit. But you’re also dangerous. I don’t like to be beat at my own game.”
“So you admit I could beat you,” he says, smirking.
“Dream on. But I just think the two of us together would be like playing with fire. It would never work. We don’t want it to work.”
He leans in now so close I think he’s going to kiss me. “I’ve never been one to shy away from fire.”
We lock eyes, a long moment passing between us. “Me neither. But
for right now, I don’t think we can take the risk.” I brush past him into the cat room, my heart still beating wildly as I parade into the area, knowing he’s staring at me go.
I’m not afraid of fire… but I’m sure as hell afraid of the fire Cash Creed has stirred in me. And for the first time in my life, I have no clue what I’m doing.
Sixteen
Cash
“Oh my God, I can’t believe you picked that one,” Jodie squeals as I wink at her, slapping the highly inappropriate card on the table.
“Oh please, after the one you just picked about blow jobs? Come on, you can’t pretend to be all innocent now,” I reply, shaking my head as Avery laughs so hard I think she might burst.
“Another point for me,” Reed says, grabbing at the card, smiling in delight as he pats the stack in front of him. “Guys, this game is so easy. You just have to know how to read people. I know what makes Cash laugh.”
“Oh, do you?” Lysander asks, teasing. “What have you two been up to when I’m not around?”
Levi gets up for another round of beers. We’re all crammed into Jodie and Levi’s townhouse for a night of cards and drinking. I laugh as Jesse flips the next fill-in-the-blank card, and I examine my hand.
“Oh, please. He’s too busy pining over the Everling girl to do anything with anyone,” Jodie teases.
“So how are things in that department? Details, details,” Reed says as he puts a white card facedown in the pile in front of Jesse, offering a wink as he does.
“How does this always become the topic?” I ask, shaking my head.
“Because we’re all eternally hooked. We can’t appreciate the chase anymore, so we have to do it through you,” Lysander replies pointedly.
“Yeah, if you didn’t want us prodding you about your sex life, you should’ve found a group of wily singles,” Avery replies.
I sigh. “Well, things are going… pretty okay. I think I’m winning her over.”
There is a collective pause. “Wait, you mean you might be in a real relationship?” Levi asks, mocking a heart attack.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” I reply, pretending to study my cards. “It’s just, well, I think there might be something else here. And I think I might be on the verge of convincing her to give it a try. She’s a tough one to crack.”
“And you’re not?” Reed asks, smirking.
“Do you think she could be the one?” Avery asks softly, and I look up at her. I bite my lip, wondering how much to divulge.
“You all know I don’t roll like that.”
“But maybe with this one, you do,” Jodie adds matter-of-factly.
I pause, taking a deep breath. I can’t deny there’s something special there. Sure, she’s hot as hell and the sex was out of this world. But as I told Sage yesterday, it’s more than that. There’s something. There’s certainly something that makes me wonder if maybe we could be playing for keeps instead of playing for one night or two.
“You know, there is a party over at the Marooned Pirate tomorrow night. I bet Sage will be there. Sounds like a good time and all,” Reed adds.
“Oh, stop. You just want an excuse to go to the party tomorrow,” Lysander chides.
“When did I ever need an excuse?” Reed asks before lifting his beer and taking a sip. “But seriously, scope it out. Tell her how you really feel. We’ll all come for support to cheer you on.”
I eye the whole table, shaking my head. “And you think that’s how I win over Sage Everling? A cheering squad?”
“Well, we’re not just any cheering squad, to be fair. I mean, look at us,” Levi says, tipping his hat in the gesture he knows annoys me.
“I don’t know. She’s probably going to be there with someone. I don’t want to scare her off either. I’ve been coming on strong lately.”
“And strong seems to be her vice, if you ask me,” Avery replies. “Come on. Stop being a wuss and just go for it.”
“To going for it,” Reed says, raising his bottle. The whole crew joins in, clicking bottles as I sigh.
Even though I don’t say it out loud, maybe they’re right. Maybe I need to just go for it, see where this thing leads. Maybe all Sage needs, all she wants is for me to take the reins and take charge.
Seventeen
Cash
“You do know she might not be here?” I ask as we get out of the limo Reed rented—he insisted we had to arrive at the party in style because it was such a big night. I still think he’s just aiming for an Evermore bag. The man doesn’t give up.
“She’ll be here. I feel it in my bones. Plus, I didn’t put on this Evermore tie for nothing,” Reed replies, leading us all into the Marooned Pirate like a sad posse.
“Please, can we all just act natural? I don’t want her feeling like we’re preying on her,” I say, a little nervous now that bringing the crew was a terrible idea. In truth, though, I didn’t bring them—they drug me here, insisting it’ll all be good.
“When do we ever not act natural?” Levi asks, messing up my hair.
“Is that a serious question?” I ask, smirking. I do love their enthusiasm, and, in reality, I know that this is just an excuse for them all to come out and party hard.
Still, I can’t help but feel like a nerdy, awkward boy walking into senior prom alone. This girl’s got me off my game. I keep thinking about what could go wrong or about how I’m going to make this work. What if she’s adamant about not giving this a chance? What if she’s not here, or what if she is—with someone else? And why do I care so much? Jesus, I either need to make it work with Sage, or I seriously need to get laid. This adrenaline is too much.
We saunter up to the bar, the seven of us taking up an entire side. Lysander starts ordering drinks, knowing our usuals, as I scan the bar. It’s packed in here, with two-dollar margaritas and a hot local band flooding the place with more than just the regulars. However, as I scan the dance floor, my heart stops.
In a tiny black dress barely long enough to cover anything, she’s dancing in the middle of the floor. But she is, of course, not alone. A tall, lanky guy in a button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up is all over her, preying on her. He’s basically laying claim to her, which is discernible from even back here.
“Shit,” I mutter, and Jodie leans over my shoulder to see what I’m saying.
“You knew this might happen, right? So don’t sweat it. You also know she’s not serious about him, right? He’s a rebound. She’s just telling herself her old ways are still okay. It’s fine, Cash. Go tell her how you feel.”
“I already have. Jodie, this is ridiculous. She’s made it clear what she’s all about. I need to let it go.”
“And you’ve also made it clear you can’t do that. And from what you’ve told me, she can’t either. Now come on. Buck up, bronco. Get your A-game on and get the hell out there. Go show her what she’s missing.”
Reed slaps a shot in my hand, and the crew cheers me on. I down the shot. Lysander hands me another, as does Levi. Three shots down, a slap on the back from my brother, and I know what I have to do.
Eighteen
Sage
“Let me show you my moves. You’re going to dig them,” Carl whispers in my ear. Instead of giving me chills, it gives me the creeps. Still, I down my fifth margarita—at two dollars, who can pass them up?—and follow him to the floor.
Coming here was a mistake. I knew it from the moment I agreed to let Carl Jacobson, the man behind me in line for coffee yesterday, take me to the Marooned Pirate Summer Bash. Still, he’s a business owner himself, confident, and looking for fun. Even though my gut told me to stay home and focus on work, my heart told me to get back out there and let Carl push this crazy Cash Creed business out of my mind.
Because since Sunday, since the breathless moment at the shelter, I can’t get the damn Texan off my mind. I’m making pancakes, thinking about the feel of his hands on my body. I’m sitting with Monticello, imagining him in those tight jeans, thinking about how sweet he is
with all of the dogs at the shelter. I’m hearing his laugh, thinking about his witty comebacks, and wishing he was here looking at me like he does. I’m thinking about all of the things we have in common, and all the things I don’t yet know about him but want to.
Shit, I’m toast.
So maybe that’s why I said yes to the lanky, tall business exec yesterday—and to the multiple margaritas. Maybe that’s why I’ve been able to ignore the fact that Carl pronounces way too many words wrong and spits when he talks. I’ve ignored the fact that he laughs way too loudly at his own cheesy puns—there are a lot of them, to be clear—and how he insists that he could help me make Evermore even more profitable.
Gag me.
But five margaritas in, and I’m being drug to the dance floor, knowing this date is going nowhere… even more than normal. As in, it’s not even heading toward a one-night stand. I should just politely leave, head home to my sofa and the cats, and mourn the status of my sad, lone heart. Still, I know deep down there’s a reason I haven’t just yet. And, as Carl gyrates his hips in a weirdly unsatisfying way, I glance to my right and see the exact reason out of my peripheral.
Cash Creed. He’s here.
The flutter in my chest is undeniable. The flame in my heart is unquenchable. He’s here, and suddenly Carl melts away. I ignore his pelvic thrusts that are way too weird and close for comfort, my eyes landing on the man in the sexy suit jacket and tight jeans who is strutting my way.
Dammit, I’m a goner… but studying him as he comes closer, I tell myself it could be worse. So much worse. And I tell myself that maybe, just maybe, Sage Everling is ready to take the risk.
“Hey, there,” he says when he gets close to me.
“Excuse me,” I say to Carl, who seemingly doesn’t care that I’m gone, feeling way too into his dancing groove to stop. He keeps up the wonky moves even when I’ve stepped several feet away from him, close enough to Cash to smell his cologne.
Lone Hearts (Lines in the Sand Book 6) Page 10
