Page 25 of I'll Carry You
Her gaze flitted toward the bar once again. Jason wasn’t there anymore, but the brunette was. Jen cocked her head to the side and scanned the bar, then the dance floor.
Jason wasn’t anywhere to be seen.
This is stupid.
She shouldn’t be here with him in the first place. And she’d turned a perfectly nice offer for drinks into this, once again screwing things up.
Jen looked for a clear spot on the bar to leave her wine. With one final swallow, she marched to the bar and set her glass down. Going back over to the coatrack, she searched for her coat. But Jason’s coat was still there. She turned to see Jason excusing his way past the crowded bar toward her. His eyes met hers, and he offered a warm, questioning look. “Are you leaving?” He leaned down toward her so she could hear him.
She straightened. “I just . . .” She shook her head. Trying to talk over the music was almost impossible. Should she admit defeat now? That he was right—she wasn’t cut out for finding someone random to hook up with?
The song ended, and the bar patrons clapped. As the music transitioned to a slow crooner, Jason curled his fingers against hers ever so lightly. He stepped closer. “Want to dance?”
There it was: that feeling of intoxication when he touched her, a flutter of nerves in her stomach. Grateful that he didn’t mention their bet, she nodded. “All right.”
His hand grazed the small of her back, his strong fingertips splaying against that sensitive area right above her waistline and settling there, gently. As he pulled her closer to him, her heart hammered wildly in her chest. If she was honest with herself, the bet had been dumb. Because she wasn’t a one-night stand kind of girl. Especially not to prove a point.
And her attraction to Jason was distracting her.
As they swayed to the music, Jason’s thumb trailed over her skin, right at the hem of her shirt. “I thought you’d already found someone to take home,” she admitted, hoping the stab of irrational jealousy she’d felt wouldn’t come through. She tilted her head toward the brunette at the bar.
Jason's cheek brushed her own, his hand tightening. “No, I asked her where the ATM was. You were giving up that easily, huh?”
She swallowed, her mouth dry. His featherlight touch on her back was making goose bumps rise on her skin. Not that he wasjusta stranger. She worked at the cabins and saw strangers all the time, especially at this time of year. And ever since Peter Yardley had turned into a celebrity, Redding Cabins were booked solid. Laura was even talking about expanding. Strangers were a part of her life.
No, there was something aboutJason.And if she was going to be bold, she should do it with him. “Actually . . .” Her lips grazed his jawline. “It so happens I was already having a drink with the guy who caught my attention.”
His hand stilled, his body close enough to hers that she felt the taut muscles of his stomach stiffen as he slowed them to a stop. “I’m not a good option for you, Jen. You’d get hurt.”
“Then why are you dancing with me?” She tipped a smile at him, drawing her face back so she could scan his eyes as she led him back into the dance.
His expression was guarded, his movements less fluid. “Because a beautiful woman like you shouldn’t be on the sidelines of the dance floor, especially when I cost you your date tonight.”
She laughed, not buying it. Whatever chip he had on his shoulder that made him occasionally ruthless and insensitive, he’d also shown a different side. She pushed her hips closer to his and felt her confidence level climb. Even if he didn’t want to admit it, his arousal was clear. She tugged at his earlobe with her lips ever so gently, feeling sexier than she had for years. “So if I told you I wanted you to take me home, you’d say no?”
She recognized a few couples on the dance floor eyeing her and gave them a satisfied smile.Let them talk.
Jason groaned, sucking in a shallow breath. “And you think you don’t have what it takes.” His palms clamped her hips as they swayed. “How much have you had to drink tonight?”
“Three glasses of wine. Over two hours, though.” Her eyes locked with his. Did he think she was going to regret the decision later? “I’m not drunk, Jason. Besides, I’m only talking about one night. And then you can forget me, right?”
She’d had enough to drink to make some bad decisions. But she welcomed the decrease in her inhibitions tonight. It was fun, and she was so tired of being “undatable Jen” and playing by the rules.
He released her and stepped back, scanning her face. After a moment, he gave a taut nod, his face unreadable. “Right. If you’re clear that’s all this would be.”
As though he wants to prove I’m forgettable.She shrugged. “That’s all it would be.”
He pulled out his phone. “I have to call a ride.” A few taps of buttons and he was pushing his phone back into his pocket. “Two minutes. Ready?”
She grabbed her coat and followed him out the door, because why not? Colby was safe with her mom, and she wanted to feel like a sexy woman, not just a mom.And I shaved my legs.
ChapterNine
Wasit possibly the dumbest thing he’d done yet? Yes. But she didn’t look like pretty Jen tonight. Tonight, she was jaw-droppingly sexy. And some idiot had let her go—looking like that.
Jason had to get her out of his system.
But more importantly, hecouldforget her. He’d be stupid to deny he was attracted to her. And right now, that attraction was ruining his ability to think clearly. If he slept with her, he’d move on. Just like he did with every other woman.