“Did that happen much, you being unhappy?”
“Sure, but it doesn’t now.”
“I’m sorry someone made you feel that way, Macy.” He touched her shoulder, making her look at him, and he saw the sadness in her face. “Was it all bad?”
“Don’t pay any attention to my ramblings.” She tried to distract him. “I’ve had two glasses of wine.”
“Tell me anyway.”
They danced a few steps and then she spoke. Her voice was soft, forcing him to lean closer to hear.
“It was a train wreck.”
She didn’t need to say anything else, those words covered it.
“I'm sorry.” And he was, because he hadn't known this woman long, but he didn’t like to think of her hurting.
“It's okay, I'm way better now, and soon I'm going to be the person I want to be.”
She was a long way from drunk, but the few glasses she'd had had loosened her tongue.
“Okay, so we can slow dance or wait for a faster one,” Brad said as the music changed. He wanted her to tell him she was done, because holding her would only increase the tension building inside him.
Macy looked uncertain, and then she gave him a serious look and stepped closer.
“I'm game if you are.”
“It would certainly give your friends a new conversation topic.”
“There is that, plus I get to dance with a hot guy who will make sure I don’t make a complete fool of myself.”
“There’s that, the last part anyway.”
Brad took her small hand in his, and placed his other on her spine. She stepped closer and her lovely body brushed against his, ratcheting up his tension another notch.
“You think I'm hot, even surrounded by these guys.” Brad looked at Jake McBride, Ethan, and a few others. They all had a presence, something about them that made a person take a second look.
He fought the urge to touch her cheek as she studied him. Her skin looked like satin, smooth and soft.
“Oh you can hold your own, believe me. Especially with that bad boy, biker, scruffy look you have going on.”
“Willow just said that.”
Brad looked at the couple who had drawn level with him and Macy. The man had spoken. There was a definite edge to the look he gave Brad.
“I did, and it's true, Brad. Could I draw you sometime, you look almost warrior-like.”
Willow was a bit taller than Macy, with a sweet smile and lovely eyes that he couldn’t quite describe in this light, but he didn't think he wanted to get closer to check them out, or her man may bite.
“Ah, sure, if I'm here.”
“Brad, meet Buster Griffin and Willow Harper. They run the Hoot café, and Willow is an artist,” Macy said.
Willow smiled, Buster gave him a look, and then they danced away.
“Are her eyes lavender?”
“They are, and amazing.” Macy’s mouth was inches from his, and he couldn't stop looking at the soft pink pout.
