“Right on. We should grab some drinks afterward.” Before Garrett can respond, Alejandro turns his attention back to me. I shift in my seat, not wanting it, not used to it. “And I was hoping to buy you a drink right now, Jennie.”
“Oh…” Uncomfortable heat prickles my neck. “I don’t drink.”
“Water counts just fine.”
“Yeah, Jennie,” Cara pipes up. “Water counts just fine.”
I flash her a warning look, and she folds her lips into her mouth. Olivia’s watching me with an indecipherable expression, gaze flickering to Garrett, who feels like ice beside me. I don’t want him to feel like ice; I like when he’s warm like sunshine.
I clear my throat, steel my spine, and smile up at Alejandro. “Thank you for the offer, but I’m not interested.”
“Not interested in general, or not interested in me?”
My eyes coast the bar for something to say to shut this down quickly. I catch sight of the boys returning with drinks, my brother leading the way with what looks like an extremely ostentatious helping of blue and pink cotton candy sitting atop a glass of champagne, and I can guess that’s the only reason he ordered it. “Truth be told, I’m not really looking to expand my pool of professional athletes. I’ve already got an overprotective one on retainer as my big brother.”
“Ollie, look! This drink came with cotton candy!” Carter shoves said cotton candy in her face, then rips a piece off and eats it. His eyes widen when he sees Alejandro. “Oh hey! Perez!”
Alejandro looks from Carter to me. “Jesus, you two are nearly identical. How did I miss that?”
Carter sits with a chuckle. “Yeah, Jennie gets her strikingly good looks from me.”
I may not want Alejandro’s attention, but when he pulls up a chair next to Carter and everyone becomes quick friends, a strange sense of disappointment washes over me, mixed with déjà vu.
I had his attention, and now Carter does, and that’s just the way life goes when your brother is the captain of an NHL team.
Forcing my drink to my lips, I take a sip, the fingers of my free hand playing with my soggy napkin in my lap. A big hand covers mine, pulling the napkin free and setting it on the table. A second later, Garrett tucks his pinky carefully around mine, and something inside me settles.
I’ve got the only attention I want.
Forty-five minutes, several dirty texts, one dance with Adam, two with Cara, and a virgin cotton candy drink later, I’m hiding out in the bathroom. It’s becoming impossible not to look at Garrett, and his pinky hooked around mine below the table isn’t enough anymore. I’m hot and hungry, dying to get out of here and go home, where we can finally say a proper hello.
I pat my neck with a cool, damp cloth and sigh before heading out into the dark hallway.
Strong fingers wrap around my wrist, tugging me into a hidden alcove. My pulse thunders, a fiery heat spreading through my lower belly as my back is pressed to a hard, broad chest. A warm hand dips below the hem of my shirt, gliding over my torso. Soft lips touch my exposed shoulder.
“You have goose bumps,” Garrett whispers.
“Because you scared the crap out of me, you dink.” The words end in a moan when his mouth opens on my neck. When his name slips out of my mouth on a whimper, his hand covers it.
“Shh, sunshine. Make any more noise and I won’t be able to get what I came over here for, and I gotta tell ya, I can’t wait another minute.” He captures my jaw in his hand, turning my face to his, showing me the hungry darkness that glints in his eyes.
And then his mouth takes mine.
It’s everything I want it to be: starved, possessive, wet, hot. God, it’s so hot. But more than that, it’s…wistful. Yearning. Reverent.
He missed me. Maybe as much as I missed him.
As if to prove my point, he pulls back, resting his forehead against mine with a gentle sigh. “I miss you.” Present tense, not past.
I thread our fingers together. “I’m right here.”
“I know, but I’ve been busy with hockey, and you with dance and smelly Simon. I’m just grumpy ’cause I feel like I’m on time-out.”
“Well then, you must’ve been a bad boy.”
“So bad,” he murmurs, mouth taking mine again with a low growl. He pushes me against the wall and casts a glance over his shoulder before his fingers dance up my front, wrapping lightly around my throat. “I’m gonna take you home and fuck your soaking wet pussy with Indiana Bones. Then I’m gonna lick you clean and make you come all over again, this time on my tongue.”
Oh, Jesus.
“Got it?”
I swallow, nodding, and a deep ache settles between my legs as Garrett trails his nose down my neck, then back up to my ear.
“Use your words, sunshine. I know you have them.”
My tongue drags across my lips, desperate to taste him again. “Yes.”
“Good girl.” He presses himself against me, letting me feel the weight of his own need. “Now, let’s go back to the table and you can pretend like you hate me still.”
“You like when I pretend to hate you.”
“Yeah.” He pops a quick kiss to my cheek, then stuffs his hand down his pants to adjust that glorious lump, hissing. “It turns me on when you’re sassy to me.”
I giggle, but it doesn’t last.
In fact, it dies quickly when my eyes meet those wide hazel ones watching us.
Jaxon stands before us, gaze pinballing between Garrett and me, jaw getting closer and closer to the ground. He grins suddenly, but it’s one of those terrified, awkward ones, all bright, clenched teeth.
“Uh…” He clears his throat and claps his fist into his opposite hand. “So, um, I heard that…”
“Oh no.” I cover my trembling mouth with my hands. “No.” Tears fill my eyes, ready to spill. “Carter’s going to kill me.”
“Oh. Oh fuck. No.” Jaxon waves his hands erratically. “Fuck, no, please don’t cry. I won’t—I won’t tell him. I promise. Please don’t cry.” He looks to Garrett for help before squeezing both my shoulders. “Hey, it’s okay. Your secret’s safe with me, Jennie, really. And, uh…” His gaze falls to Garrett’s crotch. “I won’t tell everyone you named your junk after Indiana Jones. I haven’t heard that one before. It’s…new.”
I sniffle, wiping at my eyes. “Thanks, Jaxon. You’re a good friend.”
We watch him leave, and when he disappears, Garrett raises his fist.
“Good call on the tears.”
I bump my fist off his. “Gets ’em every time.”
CHAPTER 27
DISNEYLAND VS. INDIANA BONES
JENNIE
“What did I say?”
My back hits the wall with a thud, Garrett’s hazy eyes tracking mine. They’re more blue than green tonight, dark and a little daunting, like an angry sea, turning my breath shallow, setting my body ablaze.
I let my tongue glide slowly across my bottom lip, enjoying the way Garrett’s pulse drums in his neck as he watches. “That you missed me.”
He growls, taking another step toward me. “No.”
“You did,” I argue, pushing him a little bit further. I want to see how far I can take him without making him snap. Or maybe I do want him to snap. Either way it’s going to be fun. “It was rather sweet, Garrett.” I stroke my fingers down the side of his face and kiss his jaw, smiling against the light layer of scruff when his chest rumbles. “You’re just a soft, gooey cinnamon roll.”