Forbidden Harmony (Harmony Falls #3) - Elizabeth Kelly Page 0,121
on the other side of the bar and smiled when they gave her matching grins.
“My friends are going to think I’m an idiot,” she said.
Nathan stood up and held out his hand as the music turned soft and slow. “C’mon, Addison.”
“Where?”
“Dance with me.”
“Just a dance?” she said.
“Just a dance.”
She took his hand and let him lead her to the dance floor. He put his arm around her waist and held her close but not so close that she was uncomfortable. He was very tall, and she stared up at him as he steered her around the dance floor.
“You’re a good dancer.”
“Thanks,” he said. “Took some lessons in my youth. My dad told me that the ladies loved a man who could dance.”
“They do,” she said.
“My old man always gave good advice,” Nathan said.
“Do you live in Harmony Falls?” she said.
“I do. I just moved here about six months ago,” he said.
“Do you like our town?”
“Yes,” he said. “I was living in the city for quite a few years, but I grew up in a small town very much like this one and it feels a little bit like coming home.”
“What do you do for a living?” They had sat and talked for nearly an hour, but Nathan had asked her questions about her life.
“I’m a vet. I work over at… well, this must be your tattoo artist.”
“What?” Addison said.
Nathan was staring over her head and she craned her neck to see Preacher standing behind her.
“Preacher? What are you doing here?”
Preacher stared at Nathan and said, “Can I cut in?”
His tone was low and perfectly polite, but Addison was pretty certain there was murder in his eyes.
Nathan gave Preacher an easy grin. “Sure, if the lady is agreeable to it. Addison?”
Preacher made a low growl of anger when Nathan said her name before lowering his gaze to her. He held out his hand. “Take my hand, Sunshine.”
She automatically reached for his hand, smiling apologetically at Nathan. “I’m sorry, Nathan.”
Nathan tipped his cowboy hat to her as he released her and stepped back. Preacher pulled her into his arms, pressing every inch of her body against his before splaying his hand across her lower back in a possessive grip.
Nathan walked away and Preacher glared at her. “What are you doing here?”
She returned his scowl. “What are you doing here?”
“I asked you first.”
She rolled her eyes and then winced when Preacher stepped on her foot. He cursed and muttered an apology before resuming his awkward swaying.
“You don’t even like country music,” she said.
“You don’t know that.”
She just stared at him and he said, “Why are you at this bar?”
“It’s ladies’ night, okay? Which you’ve ruined by showing up here.”
She supposed that statement would have stung him a little more if she hadn’t sounded so pathetically excited about him showing up.
“You don’t go to bars,” he said. “You should be home knitting or some stupid shit like that.”
“One – you’re not the boss of me and two – knitting is not stupid.” She winced again when he stepped on her foot for a second time.
He cursed and lifted her up until her feet were dangling.
“What are you doing? Put me down – this isn’t dancing.”
“I can’t fucking dance,” he said.
“Then why did you cut in? Nathan was a perfectly good dancer.”
“Because I know exactly what you were planning to do with that prick and it is not fucking happening,” he snarled. “Do I make myself clear, Sunshine? If you let him anywhere near your pussy, I’ll break both his arms.”
She stared silently at him. He had given up completely on moving and was just standing on the dance floor, holding her tightly as the other couples moved around them. His face was red and the usual calm and collected Preacher had disappeared. He was acting like a jealous lover and a tingle of excitement went through her. Maybe Preacher wasn’t done with her after all. She bit back a smile as a truly wicked idea flashed in her head.
No, Addie! No, that is a very, very bad idea. Maybe he still wants you but there’s no point in continuing to sleep with him. Tell him he has no say over who you can sleep with, then go and find that nice cowboy and take him home. You’ll forget all about Preacher when Nathan’s in your bed.
She almost laughed out loud. She’d never been a good liar – not even to herself.