Page 116

Reid

Ana is grinning from ear to ear as she dances in the street, her arms in the air and her hair a wild mess.

I’m standing beside a high-top table, my eyes locked on my woman, while I sip on a beer and guard Ana’s piña colada. She gave one a try, and two drinks later, I think it’s safe to say she likes them.

I scan the street and sidewalks before finding Ana again, enjoying how she’s letting loose and dancing with a group of women.

I know where every single person is.

Who’s here for a good time. Who’s on the prowl to get laid. Who’s a threat.

It’s not something I’ll easily be able to switch off.

A young girl’s eyes lock on me, and when she whispers something to her friends, I let out a groan.

Fuck my life.

My eyes snap to Ana, but she has her back to me, so I can’t indicate for her to come to me.

The girl, who’s probably still in college, begins to walk toward me, and I shake my head to discourage her.

When she’s within reaching distance of me, my muscles tighten, and with a frown on my face, I stare her down.

It doesn’t work, and then she pretends to stumble into me, and I realize why. She’s hammered.

“Oops,” she giggles, the sound grating against my ears. “My bad.”

Before her hands can touch my chest, I carefully push her backward. “Go back to your friends.”

“Aww . . .” She scrunches her face, annoying the fuck out of me. “Could you pretend to be interested so my friends think I’m scoring with you?”

“No.”

Ana finally turns around, then her eyes narrow and she makes a beeline for me. I reach for her, and she practically slams into my chest, then grips my jaw and kisses me possessively.

I’m just getting swept up in how fucking good she tastes from the coconut and pineapple left behind by her drinks when she pulls back, looks at the girl. “Oh, hey there. Anything I can help you with?”

“Ahh . . .” The girl’s eyes flick between Ana and me, twin red spots on her cheeks. “I was busy talking to him. Rude much?”

My arm tightens around Ana as she growls, “Leave. Right now.”

The girl doesn’t listen, but then one of her friends grabs her arm and pulls her away. “Can’t you see they’re a couple? Seriously, Tracy. I can’t take you anywhere.”

Tracy rips her arm out of the hold, glares back at Ana, then shoves her friend. “Go hang out somewhere else, you ho.”

“Wow.” Ana shakes her head, then reaches for her drink and downs it. Setting her empty glass down, she lifts onto her tiptoes, plants another kiss on my mouth, and hightails it back to the group of women. They all shriek happily because she staked her claim, and she’s eating it up.

The corner of my mouth lifts in a smile, and warmth spreads through my chest.

I love that Ana came to my rescue and acted all possessive. I swear, there isn’t a single thing she can do wrong in my eyes, and no other woman exists for me.

There’s only my light.

Relaxing again, I drink my beer while I watch her enjoying herself.

Not long after, a song with a heavy beat starts thumping through the air, and the women all scream and jump up and down as if it’s the best song ever.

The noise begins to irritate me, and as if Ana can sense it, she comes back to the table. Taking my hand, she leads me down the sidewalk to wherever she wants to go next.