Page 3

His deep, rumbling laugh jolts me from my thoughts, resonating with an infectious warmth that fills the air around us.

I feel his hand glide up from my shoulder, the touch both firm and gentle, until it finds its resting place beneath my chin.

With a subtle yet authoritative grip, he tilts my face upward, compelling me to meet his gaze again.

“You smell… desirable…” his voice a low whisper filled with curiosity. His words catch me off guard.

As he leans in closer, I can see the flecks of emotion in his eyes—intense and searching, like he is reading my thoughts. He closes his eyes for a brief moment, inhaling deeply as if trying to savor an essence that only he can perceive.

Is he smelling me? Why is this so fucking hot?

I feel the heat rise on my face as it reddens, and the wetness pools between my thighs. He laughs again, “So innocent. So pure. So—”

“Can I fucking help you?” Spencer’s voice snaps my attention away from this god of a man.

“Er, ugh… No, everything is fine. Bye, Spencer.” I watch his eyes narrow.

The sexy man pulls his hand from my chin and strides toward Spencer.

He towers over him, and Spencer is not short by any means.

The man brusquely jostles Spencer as he strides by, the impact reverberating with a dull thud that echoes in the small hallway.

Spencer staggers slightly, his body swaying from the unexpected force, a moment of surprise flickering across his face as the weight of the man’s shoulder collides with him.

Did I hear that correctly? Did he just growl?

“Who the hell is that douche?” Spencer asks as if I owe him an explanation.

“I have no idea… I just ran into him. Anyway, you don’t have to be so rude. I can handle myself.” I push past him, but he catches my hand and pulls me toward him. My back hits the wall as Spencer tightens his grip on my wrist .

“Ow. Stop! Let me go, Spencer! You’re hurting me.” I try to pry my wrist free from his grasp, but he has me pinned against the wall with his body.

Spencer traces my lips with his finger. I try to turn my head, but he grabs my jaw. “What can this pretty mouth of yours do…”

“Probably hurt your feelings. Now, fuck off!” I quickly say back as I try to push him off me.

I take my previous thoughts back. I most certainly will not be hooking up with Spencer now or ever. I like to be manhandled but something about his touch gives me the ick.

“You’re always joking with Jules about my cock. Perhaps you should feel how big it truly is…”

My eyes go wide as Spencer pushes himself against me. “Stop, Spencer! You’re drunk!” I push his chest, but he doesn’t move much. He grabs my hand and forces it down to his crotch. I use all my strength to try and pull away but no use.

“Just. One. Little. Feel.” He leans down in my face and pushes my shoulders into the wall so I can’t move.

“I said no, you dick!” I lift my knee and hit him right in the nuts, but before his pain registers, Hottie McHotface appears again and grabs Spencer.

He goes flying into a table, spilling the couple’s beer all over himself.

“She said no, you fucking twat! When a woman says no, she means no!” his voice bellows across the bar.

The man I find irresistibly alluring is now radiating an intense fury.

His lips are tightly pressed together, and his fists are balled up in an unmistakable show of anger.

I can see the veins in his thick neck bulging with each furious heartbeat.

As I take in his strong arms, I admire the sheer power of his physique.

My gaze travels down to his torso, where his snug shirt clings to him, contouring his chiseled abs with precision.

I suddenly realize my mouth is agape, completely entranced by his presence.

Just then, he leans down, his expression softening momentarily, and he gently closes my mouth with his fingers.

“Catch your breath, beautiful,” he quips smoothly, a teasing glint in his eyes, which momentarily dissipates the tension around us.

Embarrassment courses throughout my body once again. “I’m… um… I’m Danika.” My name takes a minute to spill off my tongue.

He just stares at me.

Well, this is awkward. Why am I the way that I am?

“Dani.” I close my eyes, letting his voice wash over me like a warm wave. His deep, indicative tone sends a shiver down my spine, awakening every nerve in my body. “I’ll be seeing you, Dani. Get home safe.”

I slowly open my eyes, the world around me coming back into focus, but he’s already vanished into the shadows of the evening. The air feels charged, and I can still sense the lingering warmth where he stood.

“What in the damn hell happened here?! Are you okay?!” Jules runs over to me and puts her arms around my shoulders.

“Yeah. I, I um, I’m fine. There was this man… and Spencer tried to touch me, and I told him no. Then this man…”

“Girl, I know. I saw Spencer fly into the table and assumed he was doing something stupid. Listen, I’m not into men, but holy shit, that guy was hot. Where did he go anyway?”

“I have no idea. I’ve never seen him before and didn’t catch his name… ”

“Pig,” Jules flips off Spencer as he walks past us to head out the front door, clearly drunk and embarrassed.

Good. Asshole.

“Let’s get another drink. Carter said he would drive us both home!” Jules says enthusiastically.

“You know, I’m good. I’m just going to have water and then head out. Want to crash with me tonight?”

“Yeah! I’ll make breakfast in the morning! Since we are off tomorrow, let’s watch scary movies all day and eat junk food on your couch like we used to do in our teens!”

“That sounds perfect. Thanks, Jules.”

Those memories bring a smile to my face. Carter, Jules, and I used to always spend our weekends together, watching scary movies and eating junk food while we had my entire house to ourselves. They practically lived with me.

My father was a mechanic and also did repair services for people all over town.

He often worked erratic hours that left little time for me.

When he was home, which was not very often, it wasn’t for long—more often than not, I would find him slumped over the kitchen table, empty beer bottles scattered around like the remnants of a forgotten battle, or retreating to his room, lost in a drunken stupor.

I never had the chance to get to know my mother; she left shortly after I was born, leaving behind a void that echoed through my childhood.

After my father’s passing a few months ago, I returned to our family home to sort through the remnants of a life filled with neglect and untold stories, with the intention of selling it.

But as I sifted through old photographs and mementos of my childhood with Jules and Carter, I found myself unable to let go or sever the last tie I had to my past.

Instead, with reluctance and desperation, I accepted a job with Jules—an opportunity I had sworn I would never take.

Now, I find myself once again entrapped in this town, surrounded by memories I can’t escape and the weight of my family’s history pressing down on me in that very home I had hoped to leave behind.