“Yes, really. I have eyes for someone else.”
“Dalton?” Macey teased, but her words were lost on me as I snagged her arm, pulled her to a stop, and kissed her hard, holding her captive against me.
For a moment, I thought she might fight me, but she didn’t. Not even for a second. Instead, she returned my kiss, lips parting to allow my tongue to slip into her mouth, savoring her taste and the feel of her body against my own. A sizzle of satisfaction crawled its way up my spine as our bodies molded together. My hand lingered on her ass briefly before I pulled her into me, pressing her body against my own.
“Gregory!” Dalton yelled from the bottom of the bleachers. “Celebration party at Eagle River Bar happening now. Are you in? Bring your woman!”
I was just about to blow Dalton and the party off, but Macey pulled back gently, still smiling, and her hand went up to touch the lingering kiss on her lips.
“Let’s do it,” she said. “I’d like to meet more of your friends and hang out a bit if that’s okay?”
“Fine,” I said softly. “We can go to the party.”
“Well, let’s go then,” Macey said after a moment, her cheeks crimson. She reached behind her back to grab my hand and lift it from her ass. “We wouldn’t want to miss the celebration party, now would we? What kind of friend would I be?”
“No,” I said, watching her depart. “We wouldn’t want to miss that.”
Chapter 10
Macey
Ihadn’t been sureif the bar with Jayce and his friends really would be a good idea, but we were friends, too, and friends hung out with one another. Friends had fun. Friends celebrated each other’s success.
“Can I get a cranberry vodka, please?” I asked, sliding onto the barstool to smile at a young woman who looked like she’d just stepped off the set of A West Side Story. She looked to be no older than her mid-thirties, and long, ebony black hair cascaded down her back.
“Sure you can, sugar,” the woman said, reaching across the bar to shake my hand. “I’m Alex. Who are you?”
“Macey.”
“I haven’t seen you here before, have I, Macey?” Alex asked as she put together my drink. She slid it across the counter towards me, and I took a sip, relishing the way the boozy concoction hit my bloodstream like a jackhammer.
“No, this is my first time here,” I admitted. “I’m not much of a drinker. I’m just here with....” I trailed off, turning on my stool to gaze out at the bargoers around me. I spotted Jayce at once, standing near the pool table with the pool stick. When he caught me staring, he smiled, leaning over the table to poise the stick. He drew it back, ignoring the taunts of his friends, and then shot it forward. A loud crack reverberated through the room, and I watched Jayce slap hands with Dalton and Kurt.
“Jayce Gregory?” Alex asked, finishing my sentence. I tore my eyes away from Jayce and turned back around to smile sheepishly at Alex.
“Yeah. I mean, just as friends, though. We’re just friends.”
