Ace is exactly where you’d expect him to be; in the center of it all, leaning against the counter, sleeves rolled up, mixing drinks for everyone.
“I’m just saying,” he announces to no one in particular, “these shows are elite because you get to bake and meet fun, beautiful women. It’s like… orchestrated flirting.”
“Orchestrated flirting isn’t a thing,” RaeAnn says, sipping her wine.
Ace grins at her. “Everything’s a thing if you believe in it hard enough.”
She rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling, too.
Even Mr. Grump is mingling with the group. Our eyes meet across the room, and I beam his way with a quick thumbs-up. His icy gaze stays locked on mine as he tips his red Solo cup back and drains it. His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows, and shiver dances up my spine under the weight of his attention.
The man is terrifying in a beautiful way, and even though he’s done very little to encourage me, I find myself drawn to him.
I can’t seem to stay away.
“Taylor!” RaeAnn drawls, already tipsy, wrapping her arms around my waist in a tight squeeze. “I’m so happy you’re here. Let’s get another drink.”
“Maybe you should pace yourself, Rae. We have a showstopper tomorrow, remember?”
The effort is futile—the chance for good decisions is already so far behind us it’s basically a speck in the rearview.
“Come on, Taylor! Live a little, one of us is going home tomorrow!” Jasper cups his hand around his mouth as he calls out to me across the room.
“Yeah, Taylor, live a little,” Alex smirks as he approaches, a new drink in hand, echoing my own words from this morning back at me. “It’s not too late for you to try it, too.”
His expression is a mix of challenge and something I can’t place. But the challenge is the only part I need to see.
Oh, it is on. It’s on like Donkey Kong.
Giving the large, sarcastic grouch towering in front of me my sweetest smile, I snatch the cup from his hand and chug the drink.
Alex’s eyes go wide.
Andoh my God, it burns the entire way down. I sputter, doubling forward as I try to catch my breath.
“Holy cannoli,” I wheeze. “What was in that? Lighter fluid?”
That’s when it happens. A full, deep, rumbling sound explodes out of Alex. It’s rich and melodic and hits me somewhere low in the belly. My eyes snap up just as he drags a hand over his face, trying to ride out the laugh.
I freeze as I take him in.
His smile is absolutely unreal. The lines of his face soften, his blue eyes sparkling in the light, and I immediately know I will be chasing another one of his laughs for the rest of this competition.
A slow smile spreads across my face, a giggle bubbling up as I share this brief, unexpected moment with him.
“Jesus, that was straight bourbon. And it was mine.” His voice still carries the edge of a laugh.
“Sorry, I thought you were bringing me a drink. I’ll refill it for you and find something a little less, uh…abrasive.”
He shakes his head, another quiet laugh slipping out. “Let’s do it together. Can’t risk wasting good bourbon on one of your special, grace-filled moments.”
“Shut up,” I laugh, swatting his arm, but I don’t stop him when his hand settles at the small of my back, guiding me into the kitchen.
Joe slips in through the side door and steps up beside me, lowering his voice. “We need you upstairs in the confessional.”
“Right now?” I ask, glancing around at everyone still caught up in the moment.
The easy look on Alex’s face disappears as he sizes Joe up. When Joe guides me away, I hear an exasperated, unmistakably irritated, “Of course.”
