Page 55 of Baby, It’s Hot Inside

I wave off my friend. “She just talks about me because she knows you and I are friends.”

“I don't think that's it.”

“But you know even if she has developed some misguided crush on me—which I still maintain that she hasn’t—I'm too old and ugly for her. She's too perfect.”

“Nobody's perfect,” Ian says, his jaw clenches as he says it and I know exactly who he’s thinking about. We don’t say her name anymore. Brings up too much pain.

The song ends and Roni and Amber and whoever else they're with make their way over to the bar to get more drinks. Stupid frat boy follows.

“Uh-oh, looks like somebody's making a move,” Ian says. “Maybe you waited too long, old man.”

I watch as that college boy puts his fucking hands on her.

I’m pretty sure I nearly stop breathing as I force myself to sit and do nothing. He’s closer to her age. Despite the fact that he looks like an utter tool, it’s her choice if he gets to touch her.

She laughs and skirts away from him shaking her head in a no and obviously forcing a laugh.

He steps closer again and once more puts a hand on her wrist.

Oh, fuck no.

chapter thirty

Roni

Despite the fact that it’s technically winter here in Texas and is actually below seventy degrees outside, it’s hot inside Ace’s. Probably because I’ve been dancing and shaking my booty. Doing anything and everything I can think of to get a certain someone’s attention.

Nash rarely comes out on Saturday nights. On any normal Saturday night, the best I hoped for when I was getting dressed was the chance to spend a fun night with some girlfriends.

Except, Nash is here. And I can feel his eyes on me. Watching me.

When we’re at work, in his candy shop, The Candy Jar, there are days he barely seems to notice me. I get only the occasional, furtive look from him. He is far too good a man to leer openly at an employee.

But here? Away from the shop? On neutral ground, where he thinks I won’t notice? Here, I can feel his gaze on me.

So, do you blame me for relishing how that feels? For shaking my ass with a little extra sass, since I know I’m the focus of his attention?

How could I not?

I am not, however, enjoying the attention from Pete. He’s a guy that maybe I went to high school with. He says he’s a few years younger than me and that he was only here occasionally. Whatever that means. But he is all up in my business tonight and I am so not interested. For a variety of reasons. Most of which is the fact that I am already in love with someone else.

“He’s been watching you the whole time,” my friend, Amber, says quietly.

I don’t bother looking over my shoulder; I know who she’s talking about. He’s the main reason we’re here on our girls’ night and not back at my house—the one I share with my older sister, Jackie—watching chick flicks and eating ice cream straight out of the tubs. When I overheard Nash making plans to meet his friend, Ian, here, I roped my friend into coming to Ace’s with me, so Nash can see me wiggle my goods and Amber can help me make a plan of attack.

Not too long ago, Amber was in a similar situation. She worked for the man she was in love with. He’s older than her, but clearly felt the same and so tonight she’s here to see if she thinks Nash reciprocates my feelings.

“It’s definitely working,” she says. Then her eyes snag on the guy that joined us on the dance floor and she gives a huff of exasperation. “Maybe a little too well.”

“At the moment he seems occupied,” I say, hoping the blonde that Pete, as he introduced himself by screaming in my ear, invites him to dance or just go home with her.

Amber glances over at the guy and nods. She grabs my hand and pulls me away. “Let’s get some water and cool off.”

“Maybe Nash looked at me, but probably just because he’s being protective. Being in love with my older boss makes me a fool.” I bang my head lightly on the bar. “I’m going to die a virgin.”

“No, you’re not,” Amber says with a chuckle. “You just need to take matters into your own hands. “That’s what I had to do. Sometimes good guys like that need a push.”

“What am I supposed to do? Go to work on Monday, grab the front of his jeans and be like, ‘give me this dick because I’m tired of being a virgin’?”