Gripping the back of my neck, I step forward. The movement grabs her attention, and before I can utter a word, she’s hightailing it out of the room.
Shit.
“Hey,” I shout, jogging to keep up with her. “Harriet, wait.”
She ignores me and darts behind a corner. I take a sharp left and stop short at the concerned voices. Peeking around the wall, I find her surrounded.
“Where the heck were you?” a redhead asks, brows furrowed.
“Are you okay?” another woman says, voice comforting and warm. “We thought someone kidnapped you.”
“Always for the theatrics, this one,” the third woman tuts, her purple hair bouncing as she shakes her head. “Maybe our girl found a handsome stranger to canoodle with in the shadows.”
“I’m fine. Quit your squawking, mother hens. I got locked in a supply closet, and there waszerocanoodling.” Harrietsighs and smooths out her skirt—which is when I notice her outfit.
Really notice it.
The ties around her waist accentuate her hourglass figure, and the black skirt floats in the wind, stopping midthigh. It’s hardly revealing, but the glimpse of smooth skin has my jaw grinding. I lower my gaze, which was the wrong move. The black, leather, knee-high boots will have me calling my dentist on Monday morning. A molar might’ve cracked. Images of those long legs wrapped around my waist, sans dress and in only the boots, flood my brain.
I’m so lost in the sordid daydream, I don’t notice four pairs of eyes aimed my way.
“Can we help you?” the intimidating one asks.
My gaze cuts to Harriet. “I, uh, wanted to make sure she got out safely and found her friends.” I’m not one to get embarrassed, but under the scrutinizing gaze of these four women, heat claws at my skin. “We were stuck in there together.”
Three heads turn to Harriet, waiting for her to confirm my story. I wait with bated breath, bizarrely intrigued by her opinion of me.
“Wow, Harry, I was kidding about the handsome stranger part. Way to go.” The woman with purple hair knocks her with an elbow. “Unless he was a creep. Blink once if I need to knee him in the nuts.”
My balls recoil.
Some deluded part of me still hopes she’ll take me up on the offer of a drink. I’ve got to be at least ten years older, and she likely has a boyfriend—or husband. With her hands linked, there’s no confirming her relationship status.
I’m not looking to fill the position. My proposition is casual, but there was a spark between us, the most I’ve feltwith anyone in a long time. The realization that being locked in a supply closet with a complete stranger is what it takes to restore some life into me is depressing.
Harriet has some compassion and places a reassuring hand on her friend’s arm.No ring.“Down, girl. He was…fine. Call off the cavalry.”
Convinced, they relax.
This is clearly her polite way of rejecting me—understandable, and my cue to leave.
Dipping my head, I skirt around their huddle, eyes on Harriet. “Well, I’ll leave you to it. Happy birthday. Thanks for the company.”
I double my pace once my back is turned and head toward the exit, not having the energy to go in search of the bachelor party. I’ll drop my brother a text once I’m at the motel.
Twilight paints the sky as the last of the afternoon bleeds into the evening. I weave my way in and out of the merry bodies. I’m not sure why I thought tonight of all nights was a good idea to pursue anyone, especially her.
She made the right decision. I’m not ready, and even if she gave me a chance, I’d go fuck it up a third time by putting my foot in my mouth.
I let a family cross the path first when someone tugs on my wrist. Turning, I find a pair of blue eyes staring at me.
“You’re rude,” Harriet announces.
I’m stunned by her sudden appearance, and all I can do is brace for her accurate observations of me. Nothing I haven’t heard before.
“Also blunt and a bit of a jerk.” She tilts her head. “But you’re also kinda sweet, in a moody, enigmatic way.”
I clear my throat. “Thank you?”
