Page 58 of Waiting for Acceptance (Nashville Nights #5)

FITZ

I’ve never seen Lauren laugh as much as I have tonight, and to be honest, I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed myself like this either.

Her friends are hilarious, everyone gets along and can be themselves around each other, which seems like an anomaly with this many people.

They’re probably the most genuine group of friends I’ve ever been around.

The girls hit the dance floor, but I hang back with the guys while we finish our drinks before joining them.

“Hey.” Tank grabs my attention.

“Yeah?”

“I heard what Lauren was telling the girls about what you did at her parent’s house last night. Good for you.”

“Yeah, well, no one’s talking about my girl like that if I have something to say about it. Not even her parents. I was inclined to go back in there and break her dad’s nose once she started crying in the driveway.”

“I fucking would have,” he mumbles before taking a drink of his water.

“I believe that with every fiber of my being.” He laughs and then his face turns into a scowl.

“Well, looks like you might get your chance to break someone’s nose after all.” He nods to where a guy is checking out Lauren, getting way too fucking close to her while they dance.

“Lucky me.” I set my beer on the counter and head toward the guy, surprised to find Tank right behind me.

When the guy tries to take Lauren’s hand to start partner dancing, she pulls away and I can tell by the shake of her head she’s telling him no.

He grabs for her again and Tank and I share a look before we make it to them.

“Oh, come on, we’re just dancing, what’s the problem?” The guy laughs, trying to cover his sleazy intentions with fabricated innocence.

“The problem is she said no and you’re still here.”

He scoffs and shakes his head. “You know how girls can be, sometimes they just need to be persuaded.”

“Look, buddy, unless you want that beak of yours broken, I suggest you leave my friend and his girl alone.” I almost choke at Tank’s remark. The guy gives us a nasty look, then goes to walk away.

“Whatever, there’s hotter pieces of ass here anyways.

” He bumps into Lauren on his way past, and I hear the girls gasping, and cursing, pulling her towards them.

Within a second I have my hand on his shoulder, turning him around before my fist goes flying into his face.

Another guy comes out of nowhere, trying to pull me back, but Tank grabs him and throws an elbow in his face, sending him stumbling backward.

Tucker and Max show up next, pushing the other guys off the dance floor while we deal with the guy who started this mess.

“Get the fuck out of here, before you no longer have the ability to do it without assistance.” Tank points him towards the door and the guy stumbles out. I turn around and find Lauren staring at me, and walk over to her.

“You okay, baby?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” She smiles at me. “Think you can still manage to dance with me with that busted hand?” I look down to see the skin torn on my knuckle.

“I think I can manage.” I grab her hand and she pulls me onto the dance floor, but the look on her face when I take the lead is absolutely priceless. We dance until we’re both sweating, and the amount of times I’ve made her laugh tonight is probably record-breaking at this point.

“Ok, I need a drink!” she yells over the music.

“Just one more,” I tell her, earning a glare from her, but she doesn’t argue. I turn to wait for the bartender and hear Ruby come up from behind me.

“Um, okay. So this night has been wild. Not only did I just see Zander and Tana making out in the hallway, but Jackson is here with one of the new teachers—according to Leah—and guess who else I just saw?” Ruby says, her eyes widening when I turn around to face the conversation she was starting with Lauren.

“Who?” Lauren asks impatiently.

“Uh…” I raise a brow at Ruby but she makes no effort to answer.

“What a small world.” This Australian motherfucker and his accent.

“Hugh? Oh my god, what are you doing here?”

“I’m in town on business and I heard so many locals talking about this place, I had to come check it out for myself. It’s very loud.”

“That it is,” she agrees.

“I was surprised I never heard from you. My reason for being in and out of town is because…” A group of people behind me get frustratingly loud and I can’t hear him anymore.

Lauren must not be able to either because she turns her ear towards him and he steps closer to her—much closer than I’d like for him to be.

I’m trying to remain civil, but I did already punch a guy for getting too close to her tonight, who’s to say I wouldn’t do it again.

Her mouth pops open and she gasps and the look on his face after sets me off.

I reach out and grab her arm and, very calmly, pull her into my chest. She’s tucked safely under my arm as I throw back the scotch I ordered when Ruby came up, and she wraps her hands around my forearm instantly.

“Well, I wish I could help you, but me and this guy have been pretty busy traveling lately. Plus, I don’t do a lot of commercial sites, but I have plenty of great recommendations I could give you if you’d like.”

“That would be lovely. You can text or email them to me. You still have my number, yes?” I look down at Lauren but she just nods.

“I do, I’ll send them to you.”

“Well, I am going to find somewhere less crowded and with fewer peanuts on the ground. It was great seeing you all again.” Hugh waves and heads towards the door.

“This guy?” I tease, and she turns around, looking up at me. I adjust my hat and her eyes watch the movement before finding mine again.

“What? It’s like a term of endearment!”

“ This guy is a term of endearment?”

She rolls her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. “Well, I could have called you Lucifer.”

I grab her cheeks with one hand, pulling her lips to mine, sliding my tongue into her mouth as I kiss her right in the middle of this bar. “One of these days you’re gonna learn your lesson about rolling those damn eyes at me, baby.”

She catches her breath and looks at me, eyes wild with desire. “What if I don’t want to learn it?” She pulls her bottom lip in with her teeth and I clench my jaw.

“Brat.”

The most devilish smile appears on her face. “Asshole.” Then a more serious look washes over her features. “You heard me tell him I wouldn’t work with him, right?” She’s actually worried about me being upset, and I don’t mind how much I enjoy that.

“Yeah, I heard.” I smile, wrapping my hands around her waist. “I trust you, Trouble. I just…don’t like looking at his face.” She laughs and her hands come up to my cheeks.

“If it makes you feel any better, I like your face a lot more.” I narrow my eyes at her.

“Just my face?” I tease.

“And your hands.” Her hands caress the backs of mine.

“And your lips.” She leans up and kisses me.

“The way you talk to me.” She smiles, standing on her toes to reach my ear.

“The way you fuck me,” she whispers, and goosebumps race down my arms.

“I like you more, Fitz. Every single thing about you, I like.” I bend down and pick her up, squeezing her body to mine as I breathe in the faint smell of coconut on her skin.

“Wanna get out of here?” She nods in agreement and we say our goodbyes and head home.