Something that made my stomach flip, my skin tingle, my instincts scream to pull back.
I frowned, shifting in his grip.
His jaw tightened, his eyes darkening.
“Michelle,” he murmured, voice rougher now.
I swallowed, needing to divert whatever serious thing he was going to say. “We can stay here and dance all night. Get really drunk. Stumble to your hotel room. Then get super naked.”
The tension broke just like that, his mouth curving into a familiar smirk. “You make it sound so romantic.”
I smirked back, but something lingered in my chest. Something unsettled.
“What about cake?” I asked, eager to change the subject.
He blinked, then shook his head, laughing. “How silly of me.”
I let out a breath, relieved when his expression shifted back to playful. I loved sweets and would never pass up free cake. The day I did that would be a sad day, because it would mean I was close to the end. “Come on, Madsen.”
He sighed and followed me to the multi-tiered chocolate strawberry cake, and my mouth watered. “I’m going to, uh, clean up in the bathroom real quick. Can I leave you alone for a moment? Get me a piece?”
“Yes,” I said, fighting a smile. “Sorry you got your hands…dirty.”
“Dangerous woman, you are.”
I grabbed two plates of cake and went to head back to the table when Brigham approached me with an unreadable expression. He looked handsome but tired, and the pressure in my chest tightened when I remembered how Brooks had gone out to watch him. “Brigs, you look nice.”
“You look beautiful, Michelle.” He gave me a sad smile and shuffled his feet back and forth. “Sorry if I was a dick to you last night. It was unnecessary.”
“A dick is a bit strong. I wasn’t your biggest fan, but you can repay me with a coffee sometime.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. I’m not one to hold grudges for too long with my friends.”
His entire body relaxed, and he motioned to the two pieces of cake in my hands. “You and Brooks, huh? What about your baseball rule?”
Fuck it.
“We know each other from a while back. Before the no baseball players rule was written.”
“Interesting.” He studied me, but there wasn’t anything negative or malicious in his expression. It looked tender. “If he hurts you, let me know.”
“He won’t.”
“If he does, you tell me.” He spoke more loudly this time, and something passed between us. It wasn’t sexual by any means. It was…protective. Like I mattered to him. “I tease you and act like an ass most of the time, but I’m loyal to those in my circle.”
“And I’m in your circle?” I asked, hating how pleased it made me. My circle was little and was too much work for most people to try to get into. The fact that he’d said that made my heart squeeze in the same way Fiona’s friendship did.
Safe. Important. Loved.
“Obviously.” He pulled me in for a half-hug. “Thank you for looking out for me. I’ve burned a lot of bridges in my life, and I’m glad ours is still intact.”
“Takes more than you being a drunk ass for that to break.” I looked up at him. “But I worry. You need to chill with the partying when you have all the talent and money in the world. I mean it.”
“You worry too much.” He tugged my hair like a brother would his sister, and a pang of regret flushed through me. Family isn’t always blood.
“I have good reason to.” I broke out of his embrace and caught Brooks’s gaze as he headed back toward us. “My henchmen will report back to me about your behavior, Brigs. So watch yourself.”
