“Boys, this is Blaire. I got her away from her brother and she now needs a drink.”

              The one with dark hair stood up and held out his hand, “Dalton. It’s nice to meet you Blaire.”

              I slipped my hand in his and shook it. “It’s nice to meet you too Dalton.”

              “What can I get you to drink?” he asked, a smile spreading across his face in an approving way.

              “She wants a lemon drop. It’s her thing,” Bethy said beside me.

              “Hey, Blaire, I’m Nash.” The blond said, holding out his hand and I shook it. “Hello, Nash.”

              “Okay boys, let’s not fight. There are two of us. Cool down, Nash. The innocence pouring off her has you in heat,” Bethy said in an annoyed tone. “Come dance with me and I’ll show you how naughty girls can satisfy that itch.”

              Bethy had Nash’s complete attention now. I covered my mouth to keep from laughing. She was good. Bethy winked at me and led Nash out onto the dance floor.

              “Some friend you got there. She was offering to take us both on. I explained I wasn’t into that kind of thing and she pointed you out. All I could see was that curly blond hair of yours and I was intrigued,” Dalton said handing me a lemon drop.

              “Thank you. And yes, Bethy is a lot of fun. She brought me out tonight. This is my first time at a place like this.”

              Dalton nodded his head in Rush’s direction. A tall leggy blonde was perched on the edge of our table. I watched as his finger ran up the side of her thigh. Sure didn’t take him long.

              “That why your brother came out with you tonight?”

              Dalton’s question reminded me why I was here and I tore my eyes off Rush and the girl’s leg. “Um, uh… something like that.”

              I put the glass to my lips and drank it down quickly.

              “Can we… I mean do you want to dance?” I asked when I put the glass back on the bar.

              Dalton stood up to lead me onto the dance floor. Bethy was already pressing her body against Nash in ways that should be illegal in public. I was not going to dance like that. I hoped Dalton didn’t expect it.

              Dalton took my hands and put them around his neck before sliding his hands around my waist and pulling me closer to him. This was nice. Kind of.  The music was slow and sexy. Not exactly something I wanted to dance to with a stranger.

              “You live around here? I’ve never seen you in here before,” Dalton said lowering his head to my ear so I could hear him.

              I shook my head. “I live about forty minutes away and I just moved there. I’m from Alabama.”

              He grinned. “That explains the southern twang in your voice. I knew it was thicker than any of the locals in this area.”

              Dalton’s hand slipped further down my waist until his fingers were brushing against the top curve of my bottom. This concerned me a little.

              “Are you in college?” he asked, his hand sliding an inch lower.

              I shook my head, “No. I… uh… work.”

              I searched the crowd for Bethy and didn’t see her anywhere. Where had she gone? As much as I hated to I looked over toward the booth to see if Rush was still there. The blonde was now in the booth with him. His eyes and it looked like maybe his lips were on her.

              Dalton’s hand slipped lower until it was cupping my butt completely. “Damn girl, your body is incredible,” he murmured in my ear. Red alert. I needed help.

              Wait. Since when had I needed help? I hadn’t relied on anyone in years. I didn’t need to start acting helpless now. I put both hands on Dalton’s chest and pushed him back. “I need some air and I don’t much like strange men groping my ass.” I informed him and spun around to head for the exit. I did not want to go back to the booth and watch Rush make out with some girl and I sure didn’t want to find another dance partner just yet. I needed fresh air.

              Stepping outside into the darkness I took a deep breath and leaned up against the side of the building. Maybe I wasn’t cut out for this kind of thing? Or maybe it was too much too soon.  Either way I needed a breather and a new dance partner. Dalton wasn’t gonna work out.

Chapter Fourteen

              “Blaire?” Rush’s concerned tone surprised me and I snapped my eyes open and strained in the darkness to see him walking over toward me.

              “Yes,” I replied.

              “I couldn’t find you. Why are you out here? This isn’t safe.”

              I’d had it with his big brother role. I could handle things myself. He needed to back off. “I’m fine. Go back inside and continue your make-out session in our booth.” The bitterness in my voice was obvious. It couldn’t be helped.

              “Why are you out here?” he repeated, slowly taking another step toward me.

              “Because I want to be,” I replied just as slowly, glaring up at him.

              “The party is inside. Isn’t that what you wanted? A honky-tonk with men and drinks? You’re missing it out here.”

              “Back off, Rush.”

              Rush took one more step toward me leaving all but an inch between us. “No. I want to know what happened.”

              Something in me snapped and I put both hands on his chest and shoved as hard as I could. He barely stumbled back. “You want to know what happened? YOU happened Rush. That’s what happened.” I stormed around him and stalked toward the dark parking lot.

              One strong hand wrapped around my arm stopping me and I jerked hard trying to set myself free but it was no use.  Rush had a firm hold on me and he wasn’t letting go.

              “What does that mean, Blaire?” he asked, pulling me back up against his chest.

              I squirmed against him fighting back the urge to scream. I hated the way the smell of him made my heart race and my body throb. I needed him to stay at a distance. Not rub his warm delicious body all over me.

              “Let. Me. Go.” I snapped.

              “Not until you tell me what your problem is,” he replied angrily.

              I twisted in his arms but he didn’t budge an inch. This was ridiculous. He didn’t want to hear what I had to say. That realization made me want to say it. Knowing that what I was going to say would bother him. Mess up his whole friendship idea.

              “I don’t like seeing you touch other women. And when other men grope my ass I hate it. I want it to be you touching me there. Wanting to touch me there. But you don’t and I have to deal with it. Now, let me go!” I jerked free and ran for his Range Rover. I could hide out there until he was ready to take me home.

              Tears stung my eyes and I ran harder. When I reached his vehicle I walked around to the side and leaned back against it closing my eyes. I had just told Rush I wanted him to grope my ass. How stupid could I be? He’d given me my own room. Offered to let me stay there until my dad got home so I could save money and I’d just given him every reason to kick me out.

              The locks on the Range Rover clicked and I opened my eyes to see Rush stalking toward me. He was going to take me home and kick me out. He stopped beside me and jerked open the back door. He was putting me in the back. How humiliating.

              “Get in or I’ll put you in,” he growled.

              I scrambled into the backseat before he could throw me in. But he didn’t slam the door behind me. Instead, he climbed in after me.

              “What are you doing?” I asked, just before he pressed me against the seat and covered my mouth with his. I opened to him with one probe from his tongue. The flick of metal in my mouth was exciting. Tonight his minty taste wasn’t mixed with something else. I could taste him for hours and never get bored.