Summer Breeze Kisses - Addison Moore Page 0,181

he’s like a stray I can’t shake. A hot one, but nonetheless. “You’re not lost, are you? Look, I’m not available, and I’m not a jersey chaser. Two unlucky strikes for you. Now, scoot before the hookup hos all pair off for the evening and you’re left with Rosy Palm again.” Again. I snicker to myself at the perfectly timed dig. Oh, wait…Isn’t there some blonde ditz who’s been known to drool at his feet now and then? That’s right. Knox very much has a plus one floating around somewhere. They were at the Black Bear last week when my friends and I were all discussing our summer internships. Poor thing is probably tied up in his closet, seeing that he’s determined to get what he wants when he wants it, and honest to God, right now, that feels like me.

His lips purse a moment, those lucent sea glass eyes glare at me as if I’m the one who’s done something offensive. “No, I’m not lost.” The muscles in his jaw pop as he stuffs his hands into the pockets of his perfectly worn-in-all-the-right-places jeans. His face is contorting as if he’s struggling with something, and I can’t help but wonder what in the hell it is.

“Look, if you’re constipated, the bathroom line at the base of the foyer is a killer. I’ll give you a free pass and let you go upstairs.” Traveling beyond the third step is a no-fly zone in this house as far as male guests are concerned, so if he happens to get himself banned for the night for violating house rules, it’s on his obnoxious head, not mine. “Now, go on. Go get yourself some relief.” I try to shake him by threading through the crowd at a decent clip, but he’s right there with me.

“Trust me, I don’t need to take a dump.” He gives a nervous look to the tables set out advertising their wares in hopes to garner a fair amount for the silent auction at play—and, judging by the number of names running down those lists, we’re off to a stellar start. “How about we head over and bid on a few things? I’ll let you pick them out for me.”

“ARRGHH!” I give a hard gasp and nearly voluntarily baptize myself with the contents of my Solo cup—ginger ale for inquiring minds. “We shall not commit commerce together!”

His frown grows pronounced, and for some reason his features morph into something far more attractive than they were to begin with. Figures. Both his mind and his looks are fueled with anger.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” he gruffs.

“I’m not looking at you like anything.” The crowd blossoms around us as I rise on my tiptoes and spot Ava and Lucky in the rear of the room. Thank God. I give a wild wave. The social Titanic next to me is about to suck me under, and I’m in desperate need of their life raft.

“Yes, you are.” There’s a marked baritone in his voice that penetrates right through my solar plexus the way my father’s voice is known to do. It’s funny, but I’ve always associated that deep, dark talent with a man, and now I have this rocks for brain jock contesting the idea.

He steps in front of me, effectively blocking my path. “You’re looking at me like I should be arrested.”

“My God, that’s the best idea you’ve had all night! Wait here. I’ll get the boys from the Hollow Brook PD to toss you into the back of their paddy wagon.”

“What?” He jumps back as if I just electrocuted him with my words as Ava and Lucky swarm us with their other halves.

“Finally.” I pull my two best friends into a much-needed human shield—I mean, embrace. “A girl can only handle so much from a quarterback with a room temperature IQ.”

Ava pulls back with a curious expression. Ava is beautiful in a sweet girl next door way, a complete contrast to Lucky who is more the vixen next door with a knack to get naughty with a set of sharp knives. I’ve never met anyone with a mischievous streak so wide and dangerous.

“What’s up, sis?” Lawson gives me a quick high five. He’s a b-ball boy, thus the general increase in brain cells in comparison to his pig-headed, pigskin prone stepbrother, Knox. Ava’s boyfriend, Grant, is the king of the court as well, and both Lawson and Grant have that frat boy smile, those laughing eyes. As handsome