“Hands off, Butterscotch,” Nick growled.
“That kiss was hot,” Jillian said. “But I think you just impregnated every girl on the dance floor.”
Trixie laughed, but Nick’s jaw clenched. Did he regret his grand gesture already?
“I need a drink,” he said gruffly, and with his arm wrapped possessively around Trixie—which she loved—he strode toward the bar.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine.” He ordered drinks and pulled her tight against him, his stormy eyes locked on hers.
Her heart lodged in her throat. “Nick, are you sure you want this?”
“Yes,” he said firmly. “I just need a minute before facing the peanut gallery.”
“I’ll go wait at the table.” She tried to step out of his arms, but he tightened his hold, his eyes serious.
“I want a minute with you, Trix, not alone.”
“You do?” Happiness fluttered inside her.
“Yeah, I do.”
He kissed her smiling lips and continued kissing her until the bartender interrupted them. They took their drinks and headed back to the table with Nick’s arm securely around her waist, as if he thought she might slip away. Didn’t he know there was no place she’d rather be?
Jon had joined Jillian and Jax, and there was a bottle of tequila and five shot glasses in the middle of the table.
“So, we’re doing this?” Jax waved a finger at them.
“Are we Facebook official?” Jillian teased.
Nick glowered at her, and Trixie just went on grinning as Nick pulled out a chair for her. That was new, too, and she wasn’t the only one who noticed. The others shared an impressed glance. When he sat beside her, he moved his chair closer and draped an arm around her.
Jillian said, “Geez, Nick. I’m pretty sure everyone saw you piss on your territory on the dance floor.”
Jax and Jon chuckled. Jon filled the shot glasses and said, “I feel sorry for any man who’s dumb enough to try to take your girl.”
“Me too,” Jax said. “But I do need to clarify a few things. Are you two going steady? Does she have your letter jacket?”
Everyone but Nick laughed. He uttered a curse.
“I’m thinking fall wedding, off-the-shoulder dress, with a detachable train,” Jax said.
“Oh, yes!” Jillian exclaimed. “I’ll make the bridesmaid gowns.”
Nick grabbed a shot glass and downed the tequila. “How long are we doing this?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Jillian said innocently.
“You guys are going to send him running for the hills,” Trixie said.
“How about a toast.” Jon refilled Nick’s glass, and they all grabbed one and held them up. “To Trixie’s new business and to the couple who isn’t like that.”
Nick cracked a smile at that one, clinked glasses with them, and they drank their shots.
Trixie leaned toward Nick and said, “You know you brought this on yourself by making a big deal on the dance floor.”
He pulled her closer, speaking directly into her ear. “That’s nothing compared to the big deal I’m going to make in the bedroom.”
She closed her eyes as a shiver of heat skated through her and felt Nick kiss her head.
“Best picture ever!” Jillian exclaimed, showing Jax and Jon her phone across the table.
Jax shot a look at Nick, nodding approvingly. “Perfect engagement shot.”
“You two look good together,” Jon said.
Jillian showed the picture to Trixie and Nick. Their eyes were closed as he kissed her head, his arm was around her, his hand holding her shoulder like he never wanted to let her go. The look on his face was so peaceful and different from the energy he’d been exuding, it tripped Trixie up. She glanced at Nick, and he drew in a deep breath and shook his head, as if he had a hard time processing the image.
“Can you send me that picture?” Trixie asked.
“Already on it.” Jillian thumbed out a message on her phone. “I’m sending it to everyone. Mom’s going to be so excited.”
“Christ, Jilly. Give it a break,” Nick said.
“Oopsie.” Jillian set her phone down. “Too late.”
“It’s a good thing we’re not in Oak Falls, where gossip spreads faster than STDs in a brothel,” Trixie said. “Everyone would have already heard about our kiss on the dance floor by now.”
Trixie’s and Nick’s phones chimed. Trixie pulled hers out of her purse, and Nick snagged it from her hand. “Hey.”
He turned it off and did the same with his. “Can we deal with everyone’s shit tomorrow?”
“That’s a good idea,” Jillian agreed. “By then Trixie’s brothers will be on your doorstep, and you can do it in person.”
Everyone laughed, but Nick cursed under his breath again, sparking another round of jokes. As the night wore on, the jokes about Nick and Trixie became fewer and farther between. She and Jon talked about the race at Rough Riders, Jax told them funny stories about bridezillas, Jillian made everyone laugh with quirky comments and sisterly banter, and Nick finally loosened up, laughing along with everyone else, taking part in their conversations, and driving Trixie out of her mind. He whispered dirty things in her ear and touched her upper thigh under the table. She tried to concentrate on what Jax was saying as the women he’d been talking with earlier returned to the table, but Nick’s fingers were so close to her panties, and his hand was so hot, all she could think about was being touched by him. As her hand slid up his thigh for the hundredth time that evening, she felt his muscles flex, and she palmed him through his jeans.
Nick pulled her closer, whispering, “You’re playing with fire.”
“Maybe I want to get burned.” Heat flared in his eyes, and she said, “Dance with me.”
His brows slanted, but he pushed to his feet, drawing her up beside him.
“Are you leaving?” Jillian asked.
“Dancing,” Trixie answered. “I figure I better get one last dance in before our phones are turned on and he freaks out and says it was all some kind of joke.”
Jon stood and reached for Jilly’s hand. “You and me, girl. Let’s get it on.”
“Hey,” Nick warned.
Jillian rolled her eyes. “Keep your man busy, will you, Trix? I want to dance.”
Trixie grabbed Nick’s shirt, tugging him toward the dance floor. “Come on, handsome. Show me your moves.” The dark look he gave her made her wish they were leaving.
He swept her into his arms and pressed his hand flat against her lower back, keeping their bodies flush. All around them, people were dancing fast, but Nick moved in a slow, seductive rhythm. She wound her arms around his waist and slipped them under the back of his T-shirt. She brushed her fingers along his back, and his eyes drilled into hers. She still couldn’t believe they were together like that in public. She felt high, and a tiny bit worried that he’d wake up tomorrow and take it all back. She was tempted to say something about that, but before she could, he lowered his lips to hers, kissing her like he’d waited his whole life to do it, and those worries fell away.
His hands traveled up and down her body as they danced to their own private beat. She turned in his arms, swaying her hips. His arms circled her, and she felt every inch of him against her bottom. He kissed her neck and shoulders, his hands sliding over her bare midriff. Every touch of his lips made her crave more. One hand moved up her stomach, stopping short of her breasts, and he tugged her back against him. His teeth grazed the curve of her neck, and she leaned her head to the side, giving him better access.