I take it, giving a firm but easy shake before turning toward the taller of the two women.
“I’m Candice,” she greets, extending her hand as well.
“Candice,” I repeat with a nod, committing both names to memory. Hollis might be a challenge, but I’m hopeful her friends will be an easier crowd. “It’s nice to officially meet Hollis’s infamous entourage. You all look fantastic, by the way,” I say with a grin as my eyes do a quick, polite sweep for the first time. Since, up until now, Hollis has been the only woman I’d checked out all night.
“Thanks.” Candice beams. “You look great too,” she continues, giving me a quick once over. Though, I’m not sure I agree, since while they came dressed to kill, I’m just standing here in a plain olive green T-shirt, jeans, and boots.
“You really do!” Logan adds, her smile wide and a touch mischievous. “I totally get why Hollis here hasn’t been able to stop talking about you,” she giggles, bumping Hollis’s arm in the process.
Hollis lets out a dramatic gasp and gives her friend a light shove. “Don’t listen to her. She has no idea what she’s talking about,” she says, shooting her friend a glare as her cheeks turn an adorable shade of pink. “If anything, she’s only heard me complain about how annoying you are."
“Oh yeah. Totally,” I say with a straight face, nodding as if I'm somehow buying it.
“And on that note,” Hollis says, spinning toward the bar. “I need a drink.”
“Let me get that for you,” I say, falling into step beside them. No way I’m letting her slip away right after she got here. “Actually, all your drinks are on me tonight.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet!” Logan beams, throwing an excited glance at Hollis who looks far less impressed. Little does she know, I’m not about to let those gorgeous, pursed lips of hers deter me. If anything, it only makes it more fun.
“Sounds like a bribe to me,” Hollis shrugs. “But hey, it’s your funeral. We’re Texans, and we know how to drink,” she warns, a cocky smile gracing her features as she turns toward the bar and bartender. She flags him down before rattling off her order like a woman on a mission.
Maybe I should be worried. The look on her face practically promises she’s going to cause my credit card some pain, but I’m still smiling. If she’s trying this hard to prove a point, it only confirms just how far I’ve gotten under her skin.
I shrug. “Sounds good to me. All I want is for everyone to have a good time tonight.”
After all, I was the one who encouraged her to come out in the first place. Still, I can’t help but hope that perhaps the realreason she gave in was because she wanted to see me just as much as I wanted to see her. Sure, I was having a decent time before she arrived, but now I know without a doubt my night just got a hell of a lot better.
Hollis of course slips right back in with the guys as she sits next to me at the large table the team claimed the second we walked in. They excitedly welcomed not only her, but her friends as well. With the country hits blaring through the speakers, it doesn’t take long before Jaxon, Hudson, and Mateo manage to charm Candice and Logan onto the dance floor.
“So,” I begin, lifting my glass of sparkling water to my lips, "glad you came out?”
I’d let myself indulge at first with a shot of whiskey to celebrate the big win, but I’ve since taken it easy. Someone’s gotta keep an eye on the guys, but most importantly Hollis and her friends. If I’m part of the reason they showed up tonight, it only feels right to make sure they’re safe as they let loose and have some fun.
"The jury' s still out,” she says before taking a leisurely sip from the straw of her most recent bright red and fruity cocktail. From what I’ve witnessed tonight, she isn’t the huge drinker she led me to believe she was. If anything, I’m fairly convinced the only reason she has a drink right now is to prove a point and, of course, add to my still-growing tab.
Her friends also haven’t been shy with my offer and have downed more than their fair share of drinks. It probably explainswhy they’re out on the dance floor busting a move with the team. At least I know with them, the ladies are safe, which makes it much easier to focus my full attention on Hollis.
“Anything I can do to help change that?” I ask, leaning back.
“Honestly?” She looks down as she swirls the straw in the red liquid. “I might have lied a little bit there. I’m actually sort of glad I came out. In fact, I’m pretty sure I needed this,” she admits, her eyes still refusing to meet mine.
“Oh yeah?” I ask, an annoyingly large grin on my face as I lean forward, resting my elbows on the table.
“Yeah,” she sighs and sits back, her gaze drifting toward the dance floor. “I tend to get in my head a little too often, or at least that’s what my friends say. But this is exactly what I needed. It’s been way too long since I allowed myself to let loose and have fun.”
“Well you know what I think could make the night even better and help you let go even more?”
She glances back at me, arching a very sceptical brow. “Do I even want to know?”
“Yes, because it’s probably not what you’re thinking, though I wouldn’t complain if it was,” I offer with a sly shrug. “But no, what I’m actually thinking is you need to get out on that dance floor. You’ve seen my moves, now it’s only fair you show me some of yours.”
She lets out a loud, unimpressed laugh. “No way. Not happening.”
“Oh come on,” I press, leaning in close. “You just said you get stuck in your head too much. So why not? You know your friends would love it. Besides, I’m pretty sure there’s a killer dancer hiding in there, just waiting to bust a move.”
“And what makes you say that?” she asks, her face showing a flicker of annoyance. “Just because my mom is a professional dancer I must be one too?”
“No, that hadn’t crossed my mind at all,” I quickly assure her and sit up straight. “But I’ve seen you at work, and I’ve seen the way your body moves to the music when you think nobody is watching. Even tonight, it’s obvious you’re dying to give in, so come on, Holls. Just let go.”
