You turned your full attention back to my uncle Larry, and I was about to release your hand and start plotting my next move when your fingers constricted and your hand pressed more firmly against me, making me sit up straighter.

“… isn’t that right, Max?”

I looked to Uncle Lenny, who was waiting for a response, and felt your hand slide over me again, applying a little more pressure before it lessened and then increased again.

Son of a bitch. I was a stupid son of a bitch.

I swallowed, my heart racing with anticipation and desire. My muscles were taut, and for the life of me I couldn’t recall what in the hell he’d asked me, let alone formulate a response.

“Yes, he’s very glad to be back in California, although he does miss some of the aspects of living in Alaska.” As you supplied the answer for me, your hand stopped and my muscles clenched even tighter with relief and frustration.

I cleared my throat and nodded in agreement. “Yes. I’m definitely happy to be back. Life’s been full of surprises for me lately.” I gripped the glass of ice water in front of me. “Some of them shock the hell out of me.”

My uncle laughed and then stood up. “Well, Ace, it was a pleasure meeting you. I hope I get to see some more of you before you guys head home.”

I tried to focus on the next few words you guys exchanged, but couldn’t. Your hand had moved to my thigh, a safe distance from where I wanted it to be, but it caused a whirlwind of distracting thoughts.

You leaned closer to me, the scent of your perfume and hair adding to the mixture of desire, and whispered, “Where’s your game face, Miller?”

I’m pretty sure you were trying to kill me.

I wanted to groan and move your hand back to my lap. Instead, I did the only thing I could in a crowded room, I leaned forward and crushed my lips to yours.

You were smiling when you pulled back. I wasn’t ready to stop, I’d barely started, but hearing Hank’s familiar voice brought me back to the situation at hand and I released a deep sigh. “I think I’m winning.” Your smile grew, your little dimple becoming more prominent, with you revealing my smile.

“You think?”

All in all, you were a good sport. You could have really made me suffer, but you laughed and handed me my glass of water again. “Maybe you should hold this a little longer.”

I dropped my head and shook it in response. “That’s not going to help me much right now.”

When we arrived at the bar, I felt a little on edge. Perhaps it was because you had changed into that black dress that formed a deep U-shape on your chest and hardly had a back to speak of, leaving my mind and body both feeling anxious. Perhaps it was just being out of our comfort zone. Either way, my eyes kept flicking to the crowd to find you every few minutes as you danced with Sarah and my cousin Christine.

Eventually, one of you was ready to go further out onto the dance floor and I watched as your eyes tracked the bar, scanning over the faces until you saw me. Each time you left me, even if it was just to go to the next room, you used to look at me and give me the same smile you gave me then. It wasn’t the smile I had worked so hard to gain from you, and received on a daily basis, but it was still one of my favorites. It held so much emotion. With that single smile I could see your disappointment in being away from me, the adoration you had for me, and the excitement to return. I stopped receiving that smile after I kicked you out of my house following our fight. God, each time I think of that night—that day—and what happened, I hate myself a little more. Please tell me you don’t think that moment, Ace. The moment that I stopped deserving that smile.

The place was pretty full, making it difficult for me to see much of you, but I’d watched you so many times, I knew without being able to clearly see you how your calves constricted with each step in your heels, and the way your hips slightly swayed.

I had the urge to follow you as I watched several heads turn. Whether you want to hear it or not, Ace, your mother was right. Everyone watches you.

You’ll remember this part. I don’t know at what point you actually saw what happened so I’ll start from the beginning. Hank had come over and slapped me on the back. “So how in the hell did you talk her into dating you?”

I gave him a half smile before draining the remainder of my beer and dropping it to the bar.

“Hey, are you interested in doing some body shots?”

I turned my head, keeping my body forward on the stool. Hank of course laughed and took a long pull from his beer before he shook his head and made his way over to a couple of Billy’s old friends.

A girl with long brown hair had sidled up to the bar beside me, close enough that I couldn’t see what she wore without appearing to checking her out, so I didn’t.

She placed a hand on my bicep and slowly curled her bright red nails around my arm.

“No thanks,” I said, glancing at her hand and then to the bar as another beer replaced the one I had just finished.

“No strings attached.” You probably think … shit, these days I don’t know what in the hell you’re thinking, but at that time, you probably thought I would have been flattered. I wasn’t. Hearing her proposition made me fall for you ten times over again.

“He already has strings attached.”

My lips pulled into a smile as I took a long drink from my beer. Hearing the blatant jealousy in your voice only made me fall harder.

“So what you’re saying is, he’s ready for an upgrade.”

My mouth opened to object to the response the dark haired girl made, but your hand gripped my bicep and I turned to see your chin raised, eyes wide, and lips pursed, but curving upwards. It was a conflicting mix of amusement and anger, and it was ridiculously sexy, slowing my thoughts down, and before I could reply, you did. I don’t remember exactly what you said, but it left me laughing.

“I’m sure your boyfriend will be there, begging me to do what you can’t.” The only reason I recall her words is because after that, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.

“I wouldn’t beg you to lick my shoe,” I stated.

She looked a bit wired, like a bar fight was what she was expecting versus the one night stand she’d proposed, and you looked a little blitzed, which sometimes made you a bit more daring—not as daring as Kendall, but nearly as mouthy.

Still seated, I wrapped my arm around your waist, pulling you closer to me. Your heart was beating so fast and hard, I could feel it against my chest. For the second time that night, I settled a situation with kissing you. Without hesitation, you responded, your body curving closer against mine. My hand settled on the bare skin of your lower back and reveled in the fact that you took it all away. Everything was gone for those few minutes, including the dark haired girl.

I don’t remember what pulled us apart, because neither one of us seemed ready as you leaned your forehead against mine. “Do you need some water, baby?” I asked, as you pulled away and I noticed your eyes were bright.

“That’s alright, I’m good, watch …” You held both of your arms out, and placed one foot in front of the other in a mock sobriety test.

“Yeah, I bet Caulder taught you how to cheat that!” I laughed, but I watched. As your body moved, I swear it spoke to mine. You turned around with a huge smile, and it knocked some of the air out of my chest. That easily you could take my breath away, can you understand what you’re doing to me now?

Then, my breath returned when a girl’s voice spoke over the nearby laugher and conversation. “Hey, do you want to dance?” I looked over to see a girl with dark-blonde hair standing beside me in a tight, sheer dress.

“Are. You. Serious?” Your loud tone surprised the girl and me. I loved it.