“Jesus, Lauren. You have one drink and you’re spewing innuendos. That’s my job.” Macie smiled and drained the rest of her beer. “I’m going to get another. Want one?”
“Nah, I’m good. Threes my limit anyway.” Macie turned toward the bar, but Lauren stopped her with a hand on Macie’s elbow. “Seriously, Mace, don’t keep waiting for the right moment. It might just disappear before you know it.”
Macie smirked, but Lauren wasn’t wrong. This fine line Macie walked with Zac got thinner by the minute. She stopped at the bar and raised her bottle, shaking to indicate she wanted another. No, she needed another. It felt like an eternity since she let loose and with a rare Sunday off work, she was determined to have fun and act like any other twenty-two-year-old. She glanced over her shoulder to where Zac stood with a bottle blonde. He smiled at the petite girl who clearly wanted to see what was under his Dockers. She ran her hand along the buttons of his shirt. Macie noted that Zac didn’t bother to step back. Anger surged through her. When the bartender dropped off her bottle, she downed it and signaled for another. All while staring at Zac as he let some bimbo hit on him.
She took the second bottle, grabbed the first guy within reach, and pulled him out to the dance floor. Jealousy wasn’t her game. It wasn’t her usual reaction and trying to make the guy she’d spent the better part of her college years hating jealous, seemed like a stupid play. It didn’t seem like it, it was stupid. Zac wasn’t interested in her. He wanted the digital version of Macie Regan, and he’d probably flip his lid if he knew the truth. She tried to get him to know the real her, and obviously that failed. It was time to cut her losses and move on. A one night stand with a complete stranger was just what the doctor ordered. Macie led the guy into the center of the crush of bodies. She turned to face the randomness her hand found and just about shit a brick.
Alex fucking Leffler.
“This is ... unexpected,” Alex said.
“Shit, I’m sorry. I just wanted to—”
“Make the boyfriend green?” Alex nodded over Macie’s shoulder. Zac glared at them. “It’s working, but I don’t think he’s going to storm onto the floor to rescue you, yet. Wanna make him?”
Macie laughed and leaned in so Alex could hear her. “With you? You’re kidding, right?”
“Just for fun, Macie.” He glanced over her shoulder. “He’s already getting pissed off.”
“I doubt that,” Macie replied, adding an eye roll for good measure. “He’s not exactly who you think he is.”
Alex raised an eyebrow. “Maybe not officially, but he’s into you. I’ll prove it. Dance with me and you’ll see how fast he cuts in.”
“If you’re game?” Macie grinned. “And if you think this means anything other than that, you’re an idiot.”
Alex leaned down so they were eye to eye. “We’ve already established I’m an idiot.”
“Wait, what’re you doing here anyway?” she asked, curious why Alex just happened to be at Hoof.
He shrugged. “My cousin suggested I get out of my comfort zone and meet new people. Apparently, he just wanted a wingman” He pointed to a couple who were dancing like they were intent on the night leading to a bed.
He held out his hand. “Let’s get this party started, shall we?”
Macie’s grin widened as she put her hand in his. Alex smiled and spun her around, pulling her back against his front, and his hot breath found her ear. Macie hated to admit it, but damned if that wasn’t a turn on. Macie raised her arm, putting her hand around Alex’s neck as they moved together from side to side. His hands wrapped around her waist, his chin settled on her shoulder. Macie glanced toward the last place she’d seen Zac, but he wasn’t there. He stood right in front of her, pissed off and hotter than the sun.
“Mind if I cut in?” Zac asked through gritted teeth.
Alex’s hands disappeared from her waist and landed on her shoulders. Macie wasn’t expecting what happened next. Alex spun her around, shoving her into Zac’s arms. “She’s all yours, buddy. Just treat her right. She knows where to find me.”
Macie mouthed “thank you”, and Alex did the creepy winking thing. She hated guys who winked.
Zac’s hands settled on the side of her hips. His lips brushed against her ear as he said, “If you wanted to dance, you could’ve picked a better partner.”
“The partner I wanted was busy with a blonde bimbo.” Macie pressed back against him.
Zac responded by sliding his hands across her stomach. “Plenty of guys with blonde bimbos on their arms, Mace. You need to be more specific.”
The music turned to a faster beat. Macie’s hips moved with Zac’s, following along. His fingers spread across her stomach, flattening her against him until there was nothing but fabric separating their bodies. Her heart hammered in her chest. She snaked her arm around his neck, curling her fingers into his thick blond hair.
His breath drifted over the skin of her neck and she tilted her head.
“There’s a guy over there, for example, with a gorgeous blonde with a huge rack. Is that who your talking about?” Zac asked into her ear.
Macie’s knees weakened as the desire melted her from the inside out. “You know who I meant.”
“No, I don’t.” He spun her around until they were eye-to-eye. “I’m an idiot sometimes. I need things spelled out in black and white.”
Her breath hitched in her throat. No amount of alcohol could’ve prepared her for this moment, and she was well past her normal limit. Words were what he wanted, but she couldn’t say anything. Besides, she’d always lived by the actions-speak-louder rule. Why change? She didn’t smile, didn’t even crack a grin. Her hands slid
