Page 32 of Danger

I hold her gaze and immediately regret it. Her eyes aren't one color. Blue on the outside, gold near the center, like somebody couldn't make up their mind and decided to give her both. Whatever sparks in my chest gets buried just as fast. “Deal.”

She shoves her hair back, exhaling. “Okay. I guess—let’s just?—”

"C'mon," I say. "Dance with me."

She looks around the crowded bar. "Right now?"

"You got somewhere else to be?”

I stand and offer her my hand.

She shakes her head, smiling wearily, but takes it anyway.

The second she's in front of me, I slide a hand to her waist and draw her against me.

Her eyes widen. "Awfully close there, cowboy."

"That's kind of the point."

She glances up at me. "I don't think this is gonna work."

"You're makin’ my job harder than it has to be."

"Your job?"

"Makin’ this look convincing."

"Because nobody's gonna believe it."

I lean down, close enough that only she can hear me. "You're overthinkin' it."

She laughs, finally letting loose. “Sorry, not something I've rehearsed before.”

We dance, aware of every glance, every whisper. Aware my brothers are probably wondering what the fuck I’m doing. Across the room, Rylee’s got her arms crossed. Her posse flanks her, all of them watching.

“You okay?” I whisper, realizing Winnie’s grip on my waist has tightened.

“I think so.” She nods, a little too fast. “But I think she’s headed our way.”

There it is. The storm I've been expecting. Rylee stalks across the room.

“What’s happening here?” Rylee questions. “What is this?”

I keep my hands where they are. “We’re dancin’. What’s it look like?”

Winnie goes rigid but doesn’t say anything.

Rylee laughs. The broken kind.

“Oh, come on. Since when do you dance with girls like her?”

My jaw ticks. “Back off, Rylee.”

“No,” Rylee says, eyes dragging over Winnie. “Because I know you. And this? This isn't you.”

“Maybe it is.”

“Or maybe you just want me to be jealous because you're pissed at me.”