I’d misheard him. It was the only explanation.
“Hm, what?”
“Sarah, can I kiss you?” he asked again, teasing my mouth with his thumb that felt like a bolt of lightning electrifying all my nerves at once. It overwhelmed me and my super-cool response was to stare at him, open-mouthed, a little dumbstruck.
“Me?” I managed to say after an obscene amount of time.
“Yes. Most definitely you.” He answered so easily, like my question was the simplest question I could ask him. “Your red lips have been driving me crazy all goddamn night.”
“But I groped you,” I blurted out, hating myself immediately after. It had the reverse effect on him, though. He lowered his gaze to my mouth and raised one eyebrow, indicating that he was waiting for my answer. “Kess,” I said, like an idiot. “Yes, kiss me. That’s what I tried to say, but it combined into one word and—”
He brought his lips to mine and it was the softest, tenderest kiss I had ever experienced in my entire life. There was no hurry, just touch—the sound of the band playing faded into the background and everything about the moment was seared into my mind. The warmth of his mouth, the rough way his facial hair tickled the edges of the kiss, how his hand moved from my face to my neck, andoh, shit. He nibbled on my bottom lip and a wave of lust so powerful hit me that I grabbed his hair and pulled him closer.
“Mm, Blue Bell,” he muttered between kissing me.Mm…That one syllable was more intimate and sexy than anything I had heard. It felt like he meant it.Mm.I wanted to keep that word and tattoo it on my heart.
Mm.I made himmm.
He pulled back, breaking our embrace, and had a wild look in his hazel eyes. I recognized it, since my insides were like wildfire. If I’d thought he was sexy before, it increased when he reached over and wiped under my mouth. “I smudged your lipstick. Sorry, Blue.”
“Worth it.” I stood, knocking my hip into the table, causing him to reach out and place a hand on my side. It almost made me whimper.Almost.“I’ll run to the restroom and fix it.”
“You’re not running because of our kiss, right?”
His hesitation and weird lack of confidence pleased me, and I reached out with a newfound boldness and ruffled his hair. “No. I imagine my mouth looks like clown make-up. If we’re going to be photographed, I can’t look like Bozo’s wife, Bozana.”
“That’s not a real name.”
“I know! I made it up! Now, let me fix my lips due to your kissing.” I pointed at him and ran off toward the entrance where I saw a narrow hallway leading toward the ladies’ rooms. My limbs shook from the impact of what had just happened, but the sight of my mouth made me gasp. The red was everywhere.
“Dammit.” Megan had convinced me that red matte lipstick was something I could pull off, and it had given me a layer of confidence. However, it was not ideal for kissing and I was hoping we would be doing more of that. My pulse raced at the thought of doingmorewith Brigham and I wetted a paper towel to pat my neck. The Phoenix heat was brutal, but the venue was cool enough that I shouldn’t be this overheated.
His lips. They’re the culprit.
I cleaned off the smudged lipstick and gave myself a once-over in the mirror. Maybe it was the permanent blush on my face, but I liked how I looked. Someone entered and I masked my goofy expression. I couldn’t have some stranger thinking I was a stone-cold weirdo talking to myself. I nodded at her and tried to leave, but she stopped at the door, holding one arm out onto the frame so I would have to duck under it to leave. “Do you mind?” I asked, feeling awkward as hell.
“You’re here with Brigham Monaghan.”
“Yes. That is his name.” My body went on high alert. The woman’s words were piercing and her tone didn’t sit right with me.
“You aren’t exactly his type. What’s your play? Getting inside scoop to sell to the press, or are you settling some bet?” She looked me up and down and winced when she saw my face. “Sorry, sweetie. No offense, you just aren’t the usual glam super-model he brings to these things.”
I swallowed to help my dry mouth. “Do you have a point to this conversation, or are you here to try to make me feel bad?”
She frowned and handed me a card. “If you’re willing to talk, call me. I wasn’t trying to play the mean-girl act. Sorry it came across that way. You’re cute and I love your blue hair. I follow the Los Soles guys, and let’s face it, Brigham is the talk of the town and you show up here…with him. Kissing. No one knows who you are and gossip spreads like wildfire.”
I stared at the simple cream business card.Kayla Brandy. Sports writer.“You’re a journalist?”
“You’re not in the game,” she said, laughing and giving me a genuine smile. “It’s refreshing to see someone not use theJword without a sneer or sarcasm. Maybe I get why you’re here. Anyway, I’m on the clock every second and I forget to be human sometimes. Enjoy your night.” With that, she moved her arm and motioned for me to pass.
What a weird situation.She wasn’t trying to insult me, but did, but she also was kind at the end? I shook my head and made my way back to the table, where two other men sat next to Brigham. Both were large and handsome. They had to be famous weightlifters or something.That’s a sport, right?
“Blue Bell, hey,” Brigham said, standing and putting a hand on the small of my back. “There are two of my teammates and friends. Gideon and Bummy.”
“Oh, that is the most interesting and odd name,” I said, unfiltered, as I shook Bummy’s hand. He chuckled and my face flushed.
“My name is Brooks, but that’s been my nickname since junior high.”
“Ah, that’s better. My name is Sarah Bell Blue, so you can imagine the absurd nicknames I’ve endured in my lifetime.” I sat back down next to Brigham and noted his warm expression as he studied my face. The business card was still in my left hand and I set it on the table.
