Inside her, a lock broke open, unleashing messy torrents of emotion. Stunned, she looked away, blinking rapidly as her eyes stung and the back of her throat tightened. She felt it across the bridge of her nose. The particles of her being sought him with an intensity she felt from head to toe. She wanted this man and this man only. He was all she needed, all she’d ever needed. She just hadn’t realized it.
Soledad bounced in her seat. “Ooh, I love this song!” She whirled on Fletcher. “Dance with me, mi amor?”
Fletcher took her hand and helped her up. “We’ll be back,” Soledad called before they disappeared amid the raucous patrons.
Nick waited until they were well out of earshot before he said, “I don’t trust a man who wears a suit to a honky-tonk.”
“Maybe he’s trying to make a good impression,” Sassy surmised.
“What kind of starving artist wears a Rolex and Italian shoes?” Nick challenged.
Sassy lifted a shoulder. “Maybe his family funds his ambitions? Mine would have, had I been willing to accept their help.”
“You didn’t see it,” Nick said, “but during that whole conversation, he was looking at you when he should’ve been looking at her.”
She rounded on him. “What?”
“It’s true,” Nick said. “I didn’t like it. Not one bit.”
The cowbell rang again, but she couldn’t look away or join the hooting and hollering as everybody’s favorite drinking anthem cued up and those around them linked arms and began to sway as one. Her chest felt taut and her throat began to close. “Nick.”
“Yeah?”
She fought for a decent breath and couldn’t quite fill her lungs all the way. They hurt, all of a sudden. “Do you have feelings for Soledad?”
His jaw loosened. “Why…why would you ask me that?”
“Oh, God.” She dropped her temple to her palm and shook her head. “How did I miss this? How long has it been going on?”
He grasped her shoulder. “Sassy, I’m not into Soledad.”
“It’s okay,” she said without looking up. “You don’t have to hide it from me.”
“I’m not hiding anything.” He stopped, cursed before continuing. “Not about her.”
“Then why’re you giving Fletcher the third degree?” she asked. “Why did you agree to come tonight? We’ve never double dated before. I know there’s some ulterior reason we’re here with them.”
“It’s this guy,” Nick explained. “I don’t like him.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. The fancy watch. The overpriced cologne. It’s all fake.”
“I think you’re being a little unreasonable,” Sassy opined.
“The guy made you uncomfortable, too. Admit it!”
They were practically yelling at each other. She glanced around, aware of the looks they were drawing from bystanders who were trying to sing along. “I don’t know what to think other than that you’ve been acting strangely. Are we here to check up on Fletcher or are we here because…”
“Because what, Sassy?” he asked.
“Because youwantedto go on a double date with me?” she finished, throwing it out there.
Again, he only looked at her, staring blankly.
She took a steadying breath. “Look. The other night…after you took the muscle relaxer, you…you kissed me.”
He stilled. “No, I didn’t.”
