“I was threatened with bodily harm if I didn’t,” I joked.
His hand tightened around my waist, and his eyes bounced between me and Miss January. Remembering that he’d asked me for help, I slid my hand around his waist, and pressed my breasts against his arm. I looked at the girl in front of me, smiling sweetly. “Thank you for keeping him company while he waited for me. I know how much trouble he can get into when I’m not around.”
Chase relaxed when he realized I was helping him out and playing along.
“I might misbehave on purpose if it means you’ll use those cuffs on me later.”
“Keep touching my ass the way are and I might just do that, baby.”
Miss January huffed, finally catching the hint, and stomped away with a swish of her furry bunny tail.
Chase tucked his head into my neck to smother his laugh.
“I think that did it,” he said. “Thanks for the rescue.”
“No problem,” I replied. “It’s what a Wing Woman does.”
We untangled our arms, but he didn’t move away. “You want to be my wing woman tonight?”
I shrugged. “Why not? It’s not a frat party until the football players are getting laid, right?”
My comment caused him to chuckle into his solo cup. “You obviously don’t have a high opinion of football players. Besides, I’m not sure you can handle being my wing woman.”
“You wanna bet?”
He pursed his lips, and thought it over for all of ten seconds. “Okay Monroe. Show me what you got.”
That was why I liked being around him. Our banter was easy. Natural.
“Okay.” I looked around, spotting a redhead on the opposite side of the room who had her eyes trained on Chase. She looked pretty in her Christmas elf costume, and looked very interested in coming over. I spotted the mistletoe around her wrist – it was a cute accessory – and decided to save her some effort.
“Redhead. 12 o’clock. She’s making googly eyes at you.”
Chase perked up, and looked around until he spotted her.
“Grab the mistletoe on her wrist, and hold it over her head. She’ll have no choice but to kiss you.”
It was silly, and possibly juvenile, but I wanted to have fun for once.
“You’re a genius,” replied Chase. “I might have to offer you a permanent position.”
He winked, and I slapped his arm. “Go over there, before she finds someone else to play tonsil hockey with.”
“Please,” he scoffed. “No girl can resist the Ambrose charm.”
I shook my head, and watched him disappear into the throng of people in the middle of the room. I was alone, and I started to feel a little uncomfortable when I felt eyes on me. My skin prickled, making the hair on my arms and the back of my neck stand up. I knew that gaze, and I involuntarily found myself seeking.
I pivoted, trying to make it look subtle, and still sucked in a breath when I found him standing in the corner on the far side of the room. His ice blue eyes raked over my body, and I felt it on every part of my skin that was on display, starting from my face, and ending at my thighs.
Dane was wearing faded jeans with brown chaps and dark leather cowboy boots. He had on a red flannel shirt, the sleeves ripped off, and the buttons undone with nothing but his hard body underneath. He watched me from beneath the rim of his cowboy hat, leaning against the wall with one foot propped up. He looked like a real cowboy, but more importantly, he looked downright sinful. I hadn’t given him much thought since we’d arrived, but I was very much aware of him now.
Jade bounced up next to me, saving me from the humiliation of drooling in public, and dragged my attention away from Dane.
“You having fun yet?” She asked breathlessly. I didn’t want to disappoint her, so I nodded. Taylor Swift’s ‘Shake It Off’ started playing through the speakers, earning groans from the guys and squeals from the girls.
Jade grabbed my hand, and I followed her into the center of the writhing bodies. We started dancing, and before we knew it we were belting out the lyrics. It was ridiculous, but I started enjoying it, especially when Grady and Chase joined us. They were even worse with the singing, but I’d never laughed so hard in my life. We stayed on the floor for four more songs, and I was in need of some water so I told Jade I needed to find a bathroom. I needed to catch my breath, and I couldn’t do that with so many people around me. Finding a vacant bathroom was my safest bet.
“You want me to go with you?” She yelled above the music.
“No, that’s okay. Do you know where the bathrooms are though?”
“Reid said we should use the ones upstairs, they’re cleaner. I think he said fourth door on the right, second floor.”