“You do dance?” A little late now to be asking that, but what the hell. She could step on his feet all night, and he doubted he’d notice. Not with that nice little body close to his and those brown eyes holding him captive.
“Only a little, but I’m athletic and a quick learner.” Her eyes twinkled brighter than stars in the night sky.
“So, let’s give it a try.”
“Can I take off my shoes?”
“Sure, other women have.”
It was a two-step to a country song, and Mac had no problem keeping up with him. She twirled and wiggled that cute little body all around him, anticipating his every move until he was panting after her like a horny old dog. Bruiser was having a damn good time, which surprised him. In fact, it’d been a while since he’d had this much fun off the field or out of the sack and been this relaxed at a party. It’d been even longer since a woman intrigued him. This insane attraction to Mac blindsided him and pretty much knocked his denial on its butt, even though he should’ve seen it coming given his recent obsession with her.
The fast dance ended, and Mac raced for the edge of dance floor, but Bruiser caught her hand and tugged her back into his arms. Bad idea, but he’d been full of bad ideas all evening. He couldn’t explain why, but he had to have that fit little body pressed against his in a slow dance. Okay, hell, he probably could explain why if he really thought about it.
Mac didn’t resist; instead, she leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Despite muscles honed from her hours of physical labor, she felt like a woman—all woman—and he liked that. A lot.
She gazed up at him with a slight smile. Her perfume floated around him, leaving him in a haze as if he’d just drunk a tumbler of fine whiskey on an empty stomach. Her size fit him well. Everything about her fit him, from her soft breasts rubbing against his chest to her fine thighs brushing against his. And her eyes were the type of eyes that made a strong man weak—eyes that haunted a man’s dreams and took hold of a man and never let him go.
He grinned down at her like a damn fool, just happy to be him and enjoying life.
Sliding his hands down her back, he grabbed a handful of ass just to get a rise out of her and break the spell she’d so easily woven. She glared at him and smacked his arm. “Next time, it’ll be a knee to the groin, buster.”
“I think you mean that,” Bruiser said.
“You know I mean that. You sure know how to take advantage of a situation.”
“Hey, I might be pretty, but I’m not stupid. Gorgeous night, great company, sexy little body plastered against me. What more could I want even if I’m concerned for the safety of my manhood?” No truer words were ever spoken.
“I am not plastered against you. You’re holding me there.” Her brown eyes flashed fire. Damn, he liked when she was all indignant and wallowing in denial.
He raised one eyebrow. She half-heartedly tried to pull away, but when he loosened his hold to allow her to extract herself, she didn’t take him up on it.
He maneuvered her to a darker part of the patio, away from most of the dancers. She clung to him. Her incredible lips parted slightly, and she sighed the most provocative sigh he’d ever heard. He doubted she meant for it to be provocative, but pretty much any sound coming from those lips right now turned him on.
Their gazes locked, and Bruiser forgot everything he’d ever learned, including the ability to form simple words. Mac looked as dazed as he felt. He couldn’t look away, even as the alarm sounded in his head to get out and get out fast. He’d always paid heed to that alarm, but not tonight. Not with Mac. To hell with it. He silenced all his inner thoughts except the ones that swore this was a good idea.
Yeah, a very good idea.
His gaze slipped lower, to those luscious lips of hers. Big, full, and absolutely feminine. Bruiser lowered his head. Her warm breath feathered his lips. He wanted to kiss her, and she wanted him to. He knew the signs. Only an inch separated them. So close. So very close. Her pink tongue darted out, and she wet her lips. Heat rolled off him in waves, like a hot sidewalk on a hundred-degree day. Oh, God, his knees almost buckled. He tilted his head, just one more inch. One little inch between his lips and the Promised Land.
Then he remembered Brett.
Brett, his buddy. His fishing partner. The only guy who truly understood him. Loyal to a fault and always there when needed. And Bruiser, the asshole, was about to kiss the hell out of Brett’s love interest.
Friends were more important than a casual fuck. He could get a casual fuck anywhere. Right now, his actions affected two friends—Mac and Brett. He loosened his hold on Mac, allowing her to put a few inches between them. She stared at him, her lips still parted, and blinked several times, as if she couldn’t believe her bad luck. Neither could he. What a fine time for his sense of honor and decency to assert itself.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to overstep my boundaries.”
Mac’s disappointment was written all over her flushed face, which was out of character. She usually had a better poker face than that. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked beyond him. “You’re not, really. It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not. We’re friends, and
