“I sure fucking hope so. This place is for people who can drink all night and still function the next day. After thirty, that ship sails.”
Maybe watching him get his dick pierced wouldn’t be as bad as this.
“You sound like Ross fromFriendswhen he, Chandler, and Joey realize they’re old after trying to hang out with their buddy from college.”
“I haven’tjustrealized it, Elliot…I fucking know it. I’m almost thirty-three and have a five-year-old. Peace and quiet is a luxury that I don’t take for granted.”
Elliot slaps me on the back before leading me over to the bar. I know I’m going to need at least one drink to take the edge off if I’m going to survive until the bull riding contest at the end of the night.
“Quit bitching and remember why we’re here.”
“I’m here so I don’t have to watch you shove a needle through your dick willingly.”
He chuckles. “Understood, but in case I haven’t said so, I really do appreciate you being here.” The smirk on his lips disappears as he watches a leggy brunette stroll past us and sighs. “I need to fucking move on, Rho.”
“I know.” I catch the bartender’s eye and order us both a drink. “So, what do you need me to do? It’s not like you’ve forgotten how to pick up women. You were practically a professional before Tori.”
His eyes drop to the floor and his brows pinch together. “That’s what I thought too, but something has shifted.”
“What do you mean?”
Before Elliot can reply, a scream rings out behind us. Without a second thought, I rush toward the sound, reaching for a weapon I’m not carrying. As I weave through the crowd, I prepare myself for the usual bar bullshit.
Nothing surprises me more than finding a blonde face-down on the hardwood…laughing.
People around her are just staring, and I don’t blame them. Her denim shorts barely cover her ass, and her entire back is exposed between two very thin strings holding her silver top together.
Since she’s laughing, I’m assuming she’s not seriously hurt.
Too bad she didn’t land on her back because her ass definitely would have cushioned her fall.
Fucking hell.
I bend toward her just as her head pops up. Light green eyes meet mine—so green they don’t look real.
Clearing my throat, I find my voice. “Ma’am? Are you all right?”
Her giggle is soft and feminine, but it’s the spread of her lips in a mile-wide smile that catches my attention now. “That depends,” she replies, her voice raspy in a way that makes my dick twitch. “Are you asking about my pride or my body?”
I hold out my hand to her. “How about both?”
Still laughing, she takes my hand and I help her stand, but she loses her balance and collides with my chest.
Andfuck.
The press of her warm curves against me causes an electric current to race through my limbs, reminding me of how long it’s been since a woman has been this close to me.
Her hands land on my shoulders, and she looks up at me through thick, dark lashes. Her gaze holds mine until I have to force myself to look away.
“I think my pride will be just fine, but my body might have a bruise or two.” She lifts the side of her flimsy excuse for a top and rubs a red spot on her skin right at the bottom of her ribcage. I catch a glimpse of the curve of her breast before I drag my attention back to her face.
I can safely say this woman isn’t wearing a bra.
“Do you know what happened?” I ask.
“I tripped on something. Someone’s foot, probably. This place is packed.”
I dart my gaze around the room. “Yeah, that’s what I said to my friend after he convinced me to come here against my will.”
