Page 1

Chapter 1

Teegan

“Daughtry, are you about to do a shot?” I hold in my laughter, but I’m sure it’s showing in my eyes. At the same time, I do my best to will my fingers to remain on my hip rather than straighten out the perfectly centered wrinkle in his brow between his warm brown eyes that stare right into the depths of me every time. (Yes, every damn time!) That, or my fingers might undo that top button of his work shirt he’s still wearing. Hell, I might do both unless I can restrain myself.

“Nope.” He settles the shot glass back on the island while everyone else looks on. Everyone at this point just refers to his brothers and some of their girlfriends. The rest of the guests are talking amongst themselves. There’s some big sports events on—which is so not my thing—but I needed to preoccupy my thoughts from my ex. Despite my repeated refusals, he keeps texting me to finagle a way to see me. I’d change my number, but Lit Creek is such a small town that he’d just show up at the school where I work, and I do not need that kind of drama.

“Well,” I say, grabbing the shot right out from his manly fingers. “Can’t let a perfectly good shot go to waste now, can I?” And just because I know it’ll irk him and his right eyebrow will twitch, I lock eyes with him for the entire shot. Which, well, is only a second. But still, I stare. And then I laugh because of his adorable twitch. But it’s like it’s connected to my spine, and a small shiver laces up through me. It’s noticeable though, and I can feel my tits jiggle under my tank top.

For the briefest second, I think Daughtry’s eyes drop to my quivering breasts, but I’m obviously imagining that. The man resents my free-spirited nature—AKA braless ways.

“You’re not driving tonight, are you?”

“Loosen up, Daughtry. It was one shot.” And then my fingers must be tired of listening to my brain for so long, and they go to undo that top button. He doesn’t move. Doesn’t block me. Just lets my fingers brush along his throat. When I boldly undo the second one, I feel the tickle of his chest hair and should retreat. Instead, just for kicks, I rub my fingers against his bare skin.

His hand comes up to encircle my wrist, and he leans in and lowers his voice so only I can hear him.

“One shot with you always leads to two.”

“What—”

“Teegan!” Dakota calls my name and gives me a big bear hug, like she knows I need it. “Come on, let’s dance.”

The guys must be watching the game—match?—downstairs, because up here it’s all talking and loud music.

From my other side, Holly agrees with Dakota’s plan and puts her arm around my waist. “Yes. We need to dance.”

Dancing with my girls would be the perfect distraction from Daughtry if I didn’t feel his eyes on me all the way to the spot we pick.

“Daughtry’s so intense,” I say loudly to the girls. I just need to express myself and get it off my chest.

They give each other a look before replying. “He’s watching you, you know?”

“I know,” I smirk at them before running my hands up through my hair and then tossing him a look over my shoulder. He’s unfazed. Just sipping his drink, which I’m ninety-nine point nine percent sure is water.

“Maybe he’s into you?” Dakota suggests just before Holly nudges her.

I snort. Thankfully I don’t have a drink in my hand. “He thinks I’m chaos. There’s no way he’s into me.”

“Sometimes opposites attract.” Dakota shrugs.

I echo her shrug. “Even if Mr. Safe was into me, he couldn’t handle all this.” I run my hands up my ribs and do a little shake. I peek to see if he’s still watching me. Sure enough, he’s taking another sip from his drink, ignoring the girl at his side making an obvious attempt to touch him as she reaches for the bottle of alcohol behind him. Inexplicably, I expel an inward sigh of relief to catch him still studying me.

The girl is making another move on him, so I march right up to him and say, “Pour me another shot, Daughtry.” It’s not cute. It’s not coy. It’s a demand.

His lip quirks up at the side as if he’s about to deal it back to me when I cant my head to the side. That’s when he notices the other girl for the first time, who’s looking a bit stunned, like she’s not sure how she just burnt her fingers using a blowdryer.

“Ya. Sure.” He responds to me and then gives the other girl a respectable nod. She should take the hint, but she doesn’t. So maybe that’s why I do what I do next.

I step in front of Daughtry so that I’m trapped between his body and the island, my back to his chest. Instantly, I can feel his heat like I’m in a sauna. At least that chick is gone now though.

“Pour,” I say, steadying my hands on the island. One of his arms comes around me, brushing my skin along the way.

“Is this shot number two?” He drawls the number to emphasize his earlier point.

“Two comes after one, Mr. CFO.”

“Didn’t I—”