My stomach swoops, but I keep my expression neutral. “Wow. That’s quite possibly the worst line I’ve ever heard.”
“Is that a challenge?”
“Shameless flirt,” I mutter under my breath.
In a surprising move, he dips me back. I waver, gripping his shirt. But Jaxon is confident and sure, and he holds me steady in his capable hands.
“Are you trying to kill me?” I ask as I regain my composure.
His tone turns serious for a moment as his emerald eyes meet mine. “I would never hurt you. Trust me, Callie.”
Trust.What a novel concept.I swallow the lump in my throat, ignoring the strong impulse to flee. Jaxon doesn’t say anything else, and I’m spared the effort of explaining my reticence.
The song ends, and we make our way back to the bar.
A tall, broad-chested man with long hair pulled back in a ponytail smiles as we approach. “Jaxy, who’s your date?”
“Shouldn’t you be tending to the horses?”
“Nah. Took the night off. Wilder’s got it covered.” He turns to me and grins, his dark eyes crinkling at the corners. He’s handsome in a gruff, bearded giant kind of way. “I’m Griffin. The older, more handsome brother.”
He extends his hand, but Jax slaps it away. “Get your own date.”
My heart races at the dark, possessive tone in his voice. Ignoring the sensation, I shove myself between them and offer him my hand. “I’m Callie.”
Griffin’s palm engulfs mine, and I don’t feel the same spark of electricity I get when Jaxon touches me. “Nice to meet you, Callie. What are you drinking?”
“Dill pickle martini.”
“That shit’ll put you out for three to five business days if you're not careful,” Griffin says.
I sigh wistfully. “A girl can dream.”
He barks out a laugh and flags down the bartender. “Dill pickle martini for the lovely lady, whiskey neat for me, and whatever my brother is drinking.”
Griffin slaps down some cash and assumes a casual stance against the bar. “So, how did you two meet?”
Mo slides into the spot beside me. “Dipshit threw himself at her in the middle of the library. It was pathetic. Total simp behavior.”
The bartender slides me my drink, and I reach for it, needing something to distract me from the subtle smirk from my so-called best friend.
Jaxon pushes his glasses up with his middle finger with an insincere smile.
I splutter into my drink, causing the alcohol to splash against my face.
“You’ve got a little something…” Jax swipes his thumb along my bottom lip and chin. “That’s better. Try getting it in your mouth next time.”
My heart pounds incessantly against my ribcage. I’m not used to being touched. It’s been years since I’ve even been kissed. I sacrificed romantic relationships for peace of mind, and now I’m a twenty-six-year-old virgin with a clitoral stimulator and a lapsed subscription to Pleasure Peak.
The fleeting thought conjures images of a masked cowboy with tattoos and a way with words, staring at a blank screen of text as I ask him to talk me through my orgasm. My face flames at the indecent memory. It’s been months since Ilogged in and let myself get lost in him, but it’s probably for the best. I have to focus on putting out my dumpster fire of a life.
"Earth to Callie," Mo singsongs.
I take a sip of my drink as everything swims back into focus. “I’m sorry. What?”
Mo plucks the glass from my hand and places it on the bar. “Watch our drinks, would you fellas?”
“Wait—”
