“You’re up,” Remi says and leans her arm against thetable. The motion highlights the raised veins in her muscular forearm that’s been sculpted from hours in the rock climbing gym. Yet my thoughts drift back to Casey. How soft her skin was under my touch. The warmth of her body against mine. The way her corded muscles flexed when she had her way with me.
“Dakota?” Remi says andshit.I hop off the stool and grab my red-tipped darts. I’m on my second Angry Orchard and am feeling loose and warm, and my thoughts are getting a little reckless. I shouldn’t be thinking about Casey, not when she clearly doesn’t feel the same for me.
And here’s Remi. A sweet and attractive woman who’s actually interested in me. Remi’s been extra flirty tonight and finding more and more reasons to touch me, but it’s all been fairly innocent. A hand to my elbow. Her fingertips to my wrist. Nothing that makes me feel pressured. But still, my stomach twists up uncomfortably.
“Damn!” Remi cheers and throws her hand up for a high five.
I blink, confused, before realizing I threw a bullseye. “Oh, my god!” I punch the air. “Holy shit, that’s the first time I did that!”
“Seriously?” Remi beams. “That deserves better than a high five then.”
She leans in to kiss me. I freeze but don’t stop her. Her lips are soft—not as soft or full as Casey’s—but still nice.
“Let’s see if I can keep up.” She winks and lines up her shot.
I chug the rest of my cider.
Remi throws a bullseye, and I cheer. Her grin is wide and proud as she approaches me where I’m sitting on the barstool. My legs are open just enough that she slides in between them. This time, I’m not as stiff as shekisses me.
“Do you want another round?” Remi asks after breaking off the kiss. “Or do you want to get?—”
“Casey?”
Remi frowns, and I squint. Holy shit, yeah, Casey’s squeezing through a crowd of people surrounding the bar. I brighten at the unexpected sight of her and call her name louder. With a wide grin, I hold my hand up and wave a little.
Casey’s head swivels around before spotting me. Her eyes widen, and she says something to the guy next to her before pushing her way toward us.
“What’re you doing here?” I ask once Casey is in earshot.
Remi pulls back to turn toward Casey, but her body is still between my legs. I resist the urge to shove her off me.
“Our client finally gave the go-ahead!” Casey beams. “So I finally had some free time to hang out with Josh.”
Josh?Who the fuck is Josh? I glance back at the man she was with by the bar. He has short blonde hair, a chiseled jaw, and he’s in a long-sleeve navy button-down and slacks. I turn back to Casey and take her outfit in. She styled her long blonde hair with beach waves, a full face of makeup, a sleek black dress that fits snug against her curves and a plunging neckline that accentuates her cleavage. And oh, my god. Is she on a date?
I swallow. “That’s awesome your client approved. Congratulations.”
My voice lacks all enthusiasm, but Casey doesn’t seem to notice. She turns to Remi. “Sorry to interrupt, Ruby.”
“Oh, it’s Remi,” my date corrects.
Casey face palms. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”
I frown. Casey knows Remi’s name. What was that about?
“All good,” Remi says. “I take it you’re Casey, the best friend?”
Oh shit, yeah, I should have introduced them by now.
“I am,” Casey says.
“Great to meet you. Dakota talks about you all the time.”
Case glances at me, and heat floods my cheeks.
“Nice to meet you, too,” Casey says. “And, hey, why don’t I grab you two love birds your next round?”
“No, that’s okay,” Remi says.
