Whatever his reasons for helping, the guy did a pretty good job of clearing off Lisa’s would-be suitor, and she giggled with relief once he was gone. “I’m free!” she said to him with a big grin on her face. “Thanks.”
He gave her a mocking bow. “My pleasure,” he replied, his eyes fixed on me but otherwise not hinting that he’d ever met me before. “I’m Dylan.”
“Lisa,” she introduced herself. “And this is Lucy, and Katie, and Gemma.”
“Nice to meet you all,” Dylan said, smiling around at our group. Was I imagining things or did his eyes linger on me for a moment too long? “What are you up to this evening?”
I rolled my eyes, anticipating his next words. From one creep on to the next, of course. Why couldn’t a group of girls just go out to have a little fun without guys ruining things? “We’re just trying to have a good girls’ night out, no dudes invited,” I cut in.
Dylan looked amused as he shrugged half-heartedly. “Sure. I was asking because I’m good friends with the owner and if it was actually your birthday—” he nodded his head at Angelica, who was wearing a satin birthday sash over her crimson red dress “—and because of that creeper, I could probably ask him to give you a free round of shots or something. But that’s okay…”
He turned to leave, but Katie caught his arm, apologizing on my behalf. The other girls were giggling, and I sighed. I wanted to tell them that he was just some asshole boxing guy who fought against my brother, but I knew they wouldn’t understand what it meant. It would only make him more attractive in their eyes.
I had to admit it, though, he actually was attractive. A decent fighter to, if the other night had been any indication. It had been fun watching him destroy his opponent. Not that he had been any match for him. There was a part of me that was excited to see how things would go for him as the month when on and the competition became tougher. Not that I’d be there to watch him, of course, but if he fought in the lead up to my brother’s fights, then I just might happen to catch him in action a time or two.
As he turned towards the bar and chatted with the guy behind it, I found myself admiring his firm backside and the broad muscles of his shoulders. For a second, I imagined what it would feel like to have him pin me down against the bed, his body hot against mine.
I shook my head, knowing that the only reason I was even halfway considering it was because I’d been drinking. I wasn’t drunk, but maybe it was time for me to head back home.
A shot glass was thrust into my hand and I frowned down at it. The last thing I needed was to do a shot right now. Instead, I should be drinking water and hailing a ride home. Be sensible. Only, my eyes met Dylan’s as I started to protest. He had an unmistakable look of challenge in his eyes, like he was daring me to turn down the shot and leave.
I paused for a moment, considering my options. I wasn’t about to be pressured into doing anything that I didn’t want to do. At the same time, I knew that I would have just downed the shot if it was anyone else who had bought it for me. I wasn’t that drunk, and it wasn’t that late. All of a sudden the night looked a little more interesting…
There was no reason to protest just because he had been the one to buy the shot. It didn’t give me any obligation to go home with him at the end of the night either. I met his gaze as I did the shot along with everyone else.
His eyes stayed on me as I chatted with my friends. I was surprised to feel myself blushing and didn’t understand why. The girls headed toward the dance floor again, but I hesitated. His towering presence was suddenly next to me. “Hey,” he said. “Lucy, was it?”
“Hey,” I said warily, suddenly wishing that I had begged off and gone home. Except that the closer he was, the more attractive he got. I needed to get away as soon as possible.
“Look, I’m sorry about the other night,” Dylan said, to my surprise. The last thing I would have expected was for him to open with an apology.
“I’ve totally forgotten about the other night,” I said breezily before narrowing my eyes at him. “But what are you doing here tonight, anyway?”
“I wasn’t coming after you, if that’s what you’re asking,” Dylan said, his tone amused. “I mean, I noticed you, that’s for sure. There’s a reason that I stepped in when I saw that your friend was in trouble. I wasn’t lying when I said that I’m friends with the owner, though.”
“I’ve never seen you here before,” I challenged. “I’ve always lived in Boston, so I would have seen you. Not that I’m in here every night, but often enough.”
“Sure,” Dylan said easily. “But I’ve known Nick for years, before he came here. My cousins live up in Belford, Maine. Nick’s hometown. I used to stay with them during the summers.”
I gave him a searching look, wondering if he was serious or not. But there was nothing in his expression that indicated deceit. I frowned, considering his words. I didn’t know Nick well enough to know where he was originally from,
