A thought was forming in the back of my mind. An incredibly dangerous thought.
What if I didn’t have to follow Kelsey?
What if I traveled with her?
I heard Kelsey huff beside me. “Well, this has been interesting. I better get back—”
No. She couldn’t leave.
“To the dementor out on the dance floor? Really?” I might have protested a bit too quickly there, and she must have known it.
She took a few steps, her hips swinging and smiled. “You got a better offer?”
Did I?
One part of me screamed, “Hell, yes,” while the other was busy urging me to pull away. I leaned toward her, but my fists stayed clenched on the bar top behind me, locking me in place.
Starting something with her would end badly no matter how I planned to proceed. I couldn’t follow her anymore for fear of being recognized. And I couldn’t travel with her because not a single guy she’d met so far had made it to day two with her.
So, no. I had nothing I could (or should) offer to her.
I slumped back against the bar, silent.
She followed my retreat, stepping up toward me and laying a hand on my chest. My muscles flexed involuntarily, and I had a very hard time remembering the argument I’d laid out only seconds ago in my head.
What if I could manage a second day with her? And a third? Maybe even more?
While I was struggling to maintain my control, she pulled the cup of water between us, wrapping her full lips around the straw. She took a long drink, and my blood migrated south.
I cleared my throat, not to say anything but because I needed something to do to keep from dragging her lips to mine.
She said, “Let me know if you change your mind.”
I was changing my mind every 2.3 seconds.
And while I struggled with my thoughts, she sashayed back to the dance floor, back to the Hungarian guys I could have stolen her away from.
9
I WATCHED KELSEY dance with another local guy from the group she’d come with, and she was a force to be reckoned with. I didn’t know how anybody said no to her. She closed her eyes as she danced, and she was magnetic as always—drawing more than just my stare.
I turned, tearing my eyes away, and realized where I’d been left. Alone. The bartender came up, mixing a drink, but looking at me in question.
I opened my mouth.
I thought about ordering a beer. Would a beer really be so harmless? As long as I stayed away from the strong stuff . . .
No.
Goddamn it. No.
I shook my head at the bartender. “I’m good. Thanks.”
And then I shot out of there, needing to put as much distance as possible between me and the bar.
I chose a spot in the first room, where I entered the building. It was a little more low key, and I figured I could just station myself there for the rest of the night. I was close to the exit if I needed some air, but it was also a prime spot to wait for Kelsey.
With distance from the bar and from her, I was able to think a little bit more clearly. Though that didn’t make what I should do any more evident.
I hadn’t left myself with many choices.
I was still thinking about them when Kelsey came barreling by a few minutes later. Bracing a hand on the wall as she walked, she looked upset, so I followed. Ahead of me, she stumbled out onto the street, sucking in air like she’d just run a marathon. Then she doubled over and was sick on the street.
Fantastic.
That was one way to help me stay away from her.
Except . . . damn it.
I stepped up and pulled the hair back from her face. It was the least I could do. When she looked back at me, though, she gave me a look that said I was the last person she wanted to see.
“You okay?” I asked.
“I’m fine.”
She pushed away from me, her hair slipping through my fingers as she tottered out into the street.
“Where are you going?”
She didn’t look back at me as she answered, “Away. Just away.”
She walked down the middle of the street, her hands out at her sides like she was prepared to catch herself if she fell. Follow at a distance? Or stick with her?
Like there was really a choice there.
“Hold on,” I said, jogging to catch up.
As I overtook her, coming to a stop in front of her, she perched her hands on her hips. “Seriously?”
I pulled my lips into a thin line, understanding her incredulity. I couldn’t believe I was doing this myself, but something about the image of her walking away from me had snapped something inside. I’d had enough of watching her from a distance.
“I’m not letting you walk around by yourself.”
Never mind that I couldn’t.
She crossed her arms over her chest, and her surprise melted into agitation.
“I told you, I’m fine.”
I didn’t believe her. Hadn’t for a while now.
“Bad things happen every day to people who are fine.”
And didn’t I know it. You don’t go into the military expecting to escape unscathed. Hell, a part of me had always thought I’d be one of the ones to never come home. The reality had been much worse.
“Listen, I get the whole protective thing,” she said. “It’s what guys like you do. And don’t get me wrong, it’s kinda hot.” That should not have made my blood rush faster. “But I don’t need a babysitter.” I barely contained my laugh. “So put the knight-in-shining-armor fantasies on hold for the night.”