Page 52 of Face Off

Ryan’s mouth opened slightly. “You said that?”

“He apologized.”

“Immediately,” Aura added. “Charm called us afterward because she needed witnesses to the personal growth.”

“I was proud.”

“You screamed for seven minutes,” Bliss said.

“I had adrenaline.”

Ryan looked at me with an expression that carried surprise, reluctant admiration, and something warmer he wasn’t ready to name.

“That might be the hottest thing I’ve ever heard,” he said.

The words slipped out before he seemed to consider them.

Everyone heard.

Ryan looked toward his beer. I took a drink of vodka to hide the way my smile tried to become something embarrassing.

“That feels insulting after everything you’ve seen me do,” I said.

His attention returned to me. “It’s a competitive list.”

“How competitive?”

“Don’t ask questions you aren’t ready to hear answered in front of your friends.”

Briggs made a pained sound. “Please don’t let sexual tension become the theme of cocktail hour. I’m already struggling.”

“You introduced us,” I reminded him.

“I regret my contribution to history.”

Rider lifted his beer. “You regret very little.”

“I’m trying something new.”

The bartender returned with another round before anyone ordered one. Beer appeared for Ryan, Easton, Cade, Rider, and Briggs. Aura received another cocktail, Bliss accepted champagne, and a fresh Tito’s settled in front of me.

I looked at the bartender. “I didn’t order this.”

He smiled. “The gentleman beside you did.”

I turned toward Ryan.

“You were almost empty,” he said.

“You’re monitoring my drink?”

“I have eyes.”

“That defense didn’t work for the bartender when he winked at me.”

“I didn’t say shit about him.”

“Your hand tried to strangle the beer bottle.”