Page 2 of Keep Me Close

The second rule?

I don’t touch women who are off-limits.

And Cheyenne?

She’s both.

She’s the kind of woman a man loses everything over.

I shake my head. “Maybe next time.”

Her smile falters just enough to notice. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” I say, forcing a polite smile. “Sorry. Guess I’m having an off night.”

I help her to her feet before she can argue or make a scene. With one last confused look, she disappears into the crowd. A waitress saunters by loaded down with a tray of shots, and I grab one without thinking before knocking it back. The burn hits fast but doesn’t help.

Chey’s face is still there, clear as day.

With a shake of his head, Cooper glances at me. “I can’t believe you just did that.”

Jax leans forward, elbows perched on his knees. “Hey, cut him a little slack. Maybe our guy isn’t into the ladies. We don’t judge here.”

I snort. “Please.”

Jax continues watching me. “I just want you to know this is a safe space.”

“You’re about as safe as a minefield,” I say dryly.

He grins. “That’s not a denial.”

“Not that it’s any of your business,” I mutter, “but I like women. I’m just not interested in that particular one.”

Jax glances at Cooper, who’s suddenly invested in his phone. “What are you looking at over there?”

Our teammate flashes the screen at us. “Apparently, your brother’s wife is going on tour. Damn, she’s hot. Think you could get me a pic with an autograph?”

I roll my eyes. “Absolutely not. God only knows what you’d do with it.”

He grins, completely unbothered by the comment. “Fine. What about her sister? Cheyenne, right?” His brows lift. “She’s a serious knockout.”

When he turns the phone toward us again, my stomach drops. It’s not a conscious decision to snatch the device out of his hand.

Air clogs my lungs as I stare.

Long auburn hair. Green eyes that don’t miss a damn thing. Confident smile. Curves that could bring any man to his knees. The very same woman who’s been living rent-free in my head since we were introduced.

The knockoff from earlier doesn’t even compare.

“Think my agent could reach out to hers?” Cooper asks. “Maybe set something up?”

I shove the phone back at his chest. “You do that and I’ll personally make sure you never skate again.”

Cooper laughs and Jax nearly chokes on his drink. I rise as restless energy crawls under my skin. Maybe I do need a woman tonight. Someone loud enough to drown out my thoughts.

Even as the idea circles through my head, I know it won’t work.

It never does.