“Hellooo, sexy,” she croons in my direction. Shemustbe drunk, because Ella and I are not exactly strangers, and she’s staring at me with hearts in her eyes that areusuallyreserved for Colson.
“I’m so sorry, Mister… uhh…” Annabeth starts to say. As she turns to face me, sheer panic flashes across her face. I watch her cheeks flush crimson as she puts the pieces together and realises who she just bumped into.
“Dallas. Dallas Northlane. Remember?” I ask, tipping the brim of my hat. Iknowshe remembers me.
The entire world fades around us. The lights dim. The music softens. There’s nothing but us. My heart thrums in my chest, the steady rhythm increasing slowly with each breath I take.
“Dallas,” she repeats. Nothing has ever sounded sweeter than my name dripping from her cherry lips. I wonder how those lips taste. How she’d feel pressed against me. I will my dick to stay put, not wanting to deal with the embarrassment of my jeans tenting in themiddle of a fucking bar, in front of my daughter’s music teacherandmy brother. Besides, I can’t be thinking these thoughts. It’s not right. It isn’t fair to me, to her, or to Sam.
Colt emerges from behind Ella with a drink in his hand, a cigarette hanging from his mouth, and a mischievous smirk plastered on his face.
“Am I interrupting something?” he asks, knowing damn well what he’s doing.
My heart skips a beat as Annabeth smiles a wicked smile and says, “Nah, not at all. In fact, do you fine gentlemen wanna join us for a drink?”
Colt agrees, too quickly I might add, and I find myself back in the booth, drink in hand, sitting next to my brother as he and Ella whisper to each other beside me. I know he’s had a thing for her since she moved here, but I didn’t think it was mutual – until now. I mean sure, she’s always flirted with him, but she kinda flirts with everyone. No, wait, that sounds bad. I just mean she owns this place; she’ssupposedto make you feel special, that’s part of the charm of small-town bars. Colt, as usual, was completely oblivious to her advances, but if my brother ever took a second to get his head out of his ass and realise he had a shot with her, it would be tonight.
Annabeth scoots closer to me, her thighs brush up against mine as she leans in and whispers, “Umm… Dallas?”
“Yeah?”
“I reeaally don’t want to witness the face-sucking that I’m pretty sure is about to unravel here… so… umm… do you want to dance?”
I motion to Colt to move, gently taking Annabeth’s hand as I glide us out of the booth and towards the dance floor. She slips pastmy brother, the excessive amount of lights that adorn every surface imaginable illuminate her form. I don't know why, but I allow myself a moment to soak in how breathtaking she looks tonight.
Her vibrant, pink hair is glowing in the neon lights. She looks like a firefly.I make a mental note to think of her as a firefly rather than whatever the fuck I called her in my head before.Pixie-nymph… What the heck does that even mean?
A faint sprinkle of glitter cascades across her skin. She’s wearing a white cut-off shirt that’s tied in a little bow above the waistband of her Wranglers, exposing a few inches of her curved belly. A shiny, gold barbell hangs from her navel and rests against the denim that’s all-but painted to her body. Her jeans are tucked into a pair of well-worn Ariats that have floral stitching lining the leather.
“Well, cowboy, you comin’?” she taunts playfully, wiggling her hips as she walks ahead of me and beckons me to join her.
Oh, I amsofucked.
Ten
Annabeth
Idon’t know what comes over me as I slip my hand into Dallas’s and pull him to me on the dance floor. It must be the bourbon, surely. He’s thefatherof one of mystudents.There’s not a single part of me dancing with him, covered in fucking glitter, and drunk out of my mind that is appropriate.So why does it feel so right?
His calloused palms feel comforting against my skin. His free hand quietly finds my waist, gliding me closer to him. His body presses against mine as we move together in perfect synchronisation, like we instinctivelyknoweach other’s bodies.
“Big night?” he asks, cocking his brow playfully, a sideways smirk etching across his lips. Mmm… his lips. Whiskey lingers on his breath, the faint scent enough to make me feel like tasting it off his tongue.For god sakes, woman. Get a grip!
“Oh, of course,” I say with a dramatic eyeroll. “I just love being dragged out to a bar just so I can watch my best friend stick her tongue down some cowboy’s throat.”
“Thatcowboyso happens to be my little brother, and I don’t think you have anything to worry about there. Those two have been friends for years,” he retorts, his smirk doubling in size as he lets out a low chuckle.
Way to go, Annabeth. Just stick your entire boot in your mouth and fucking insult the man and his brother. Great job.
Before I can redeem myself, the music changes from the mid-tempo country song that was playing, and the familiar intro of ‘Up All Night’ by Kip Moore radiates from the speakers. I release myself from his hold, but he catches my hand and twirls me around until I’m flush against him. His free hand finds its way back to my waist as he murmurs, “Stay.”
My cheeks flush crimson again, and our eyes lock onto each other’s with a polarising stare. Even in the shitty light of the bar, I notice the subtle lines etched in his skin. Smile lines crease his cheeks, drawing my attention back to his lips. The grey hairs nestled beneath the brim of his hat meet the thick beard that laces his jawline, and my god this man is sexy.
“Okay,” I breathe. My heart is thumping so hard in my chest the words barely come out. “I love this song,” I confess.
His face softens and the corners of his mouth creep into a smile. “Me too.”
Without thinking, I lean forward and rest my head against his chest. Our bodies mould together as we quietly sway to the song.What the hell am I doing? Half the town is here and I’m wrapped in the arms of one of my students’ parents.
