Page 3 of One Lucky Hero (Men in Uniform 1)

They showed their IDs at the beer garden and entered a large enclosed area with several beer vendors stationed around the perimeter. Tyler led the way to one of the bars and bought them each a beer. Violet took hers but didn’t down it the way Tracy did. She didn’t drink often and was afraid that if she drank too fast, she might not be walking out of here later.

“So, Tyler, what band are you here to see?” Violet figured it was probably one of the rock bands. They didn’t look like the type to enjoy rap music or pop, but at a concert like this, where they had about eight artists from all different genres, it was hard to guess.

“Jimmy Eat World. How about you two?”

“Meghan Trainor,” Violet and Tracy said together, laughing. The mind meld was back, apparently.

“You know, ’cause it’s all about that bass.” Tracy shook her ass as she danced around before taking a long pull from her plastic cup.

“I can appreciate that,” Tyler said, his gaze glued to Tracy’s ass.

Violet quickly disregarded her good intentions and drank her beer, narrowly avoiding rolling her eyes. If she had to listen to any more Cheese Whiz from Tyler, she was going to need a good buzz. She grimaced as the beer swirled around her taste buds. It was definitely not her drink of choice, especially when it wasn’t even cold.

“Ugh, warm beer grosses me out.” Violet spoke to no one in particular, she just couldn’t help herself.

“If you don’t like the taste of beer, then why drink it?” Dean asked suddenly.

Wow, some genuine interest. Shocking.

Violet glanced at Tyler, who was engrossed in conversation with Tracy. “Because it was free, and it would be rude to waste it.”

She could have sworn his mouth twitched as if he was about to smile, but then it stopped. Maybe it was a muscle spasm.

“Are you always the epitome of good manners?”

Still a little stung by his previous rudeness, she said, “Indeed I am. Even when people don’t show me the same courtesy.”

This time, his cheeks flushed for sure. Vindicated, she downed the rest of her beer in a well-timed gulp.

That’s right. Feel the shame, Mr. Jerk Face.

“If you’re talking about me, I apologize,” he said. “If I’m being brutally honest, I’m just not interested in women right now. I just wanted to get out of my apartment.”

“Oh, well, if you’re looking to experiment, I have a friend named Ian who would drool over you.” Violet knew that wasn’t what he meant but loved the way

his eyes widened in panic.

“I didn’t mean that. I’m not gay. I just meant that I’m not looking to date anyone.”

“I know. I was just messing with you,” she said.

His face darkened to an almost unhealthy shade of red. “I don’t have a problem with people being gay, I’m just not.”

“You know when you explain yourself, you only make things worse, right?” Man, did she love making him flustered. Especially since it wiped that stony look off his face.

His eyes narrowed and glittered. “You don’t know me well enough to screw with me. I might be dangerous.”

For a half a second, his words kick-started Violet’s heart rate. He was right about that, and he definitely had the guns to twist her head off with one jerk.

“Are you?” she asked.

He leaned over her slowly, and she stiffened, her body screaming to step back.

“No, I’m not.”

His soft words sank in, and she let out a huge breathless laugh. “That’s not something you should joke about.”

“Hey, you were messing with me first.”