Love and Other Things (Crystal Lake 4)

“You should call now and schedule it for later because Pete the cab guy will be busy.” Nate shook his head. “Last week, I waited nearly forty-five minutes after our game for a ride home.”

“You only have one cab guy in Crystal Lake?” Sidney couldn’t keep the shock from her face.

Beck nodded. “On this side of the lake, anyway.”

Nate pulled Molly away, and they disappeared while Beck sent a text to Pete the cab guy. “He’ll be here at midnight.”

“Okay,” she replied, voice a little too soft and a tad too husky.

The air was thick between them. Thick with something that had her skin buzzing as if an electric field covered her whole. As if her skin was alive, infused with something, some spark she’d forgotten existed.

Desire.

Beck smiled down at her, and her heart leapt. Her lady parts sang. Her breath hitched. She knew he felt the same way because she’d caught the long looks and hooded gaze. They didn’t acknowledge it, but instead, settled into an intimate corner to watch the band. Maybe they were invisible, or maybe they gave off some kind of aura, because no one bothered them. They were able to just be, to exist beside each other on a night she’d not seen coming.

It had been ages since Sid felt anything like what was happening inside her. She wasn’t dead inside after all. And she supposed that was a good thing. That after all this time, after Nick’s betrayal and the trauma afterward, she was alive. Sure, it was a damaged version of the person she used to be, but heck, life damaged everyone, so what was wrong with that?

When the band slowed things down and pulled out a moody Eagles song from their repertoire, the dance floor filled with couples. She stood beside Beck and watched, heart still beating faster than it should, breath still falling in short, quick spurts.

Beck swayed a bit, and she realized he’d probably had a lot to drink. A lot more than she had, anyway. According to Molly, the guys had been playing since noon, and most of the men were well on their way to hangover Sunday.

“You like the Eagles.” He tossed his empty beer into the bin.

She eyed him warily. “I do.”

“This song in particular is one of your favorites.” A slow grin curved his mouth, and her knees went to jelly. She’d like to say it was from the booze, but that would be a lie.

“It is.” God, he was good.

“You want to do something about it?” His eyes were a bit glassy, and she knew he was definitely on the drunk side. But did she care? His grin deepened. Hell no.

“I didn’t take you for the kind of guy who likes to dance in public.”

Beck reached for her, and she literally stopped breathing. He leaned close and angled his head so his mouth was near her ear. His breath was warm on her skin, and she shivered. “Seems like you don’t know me as well as I know you.”

He led her to the dance floor and slipped his arms around her, though he held her lightly and didn’t pull too close, even though she wouldn’t have minded that one bit.

They swayed together slowly, while the band’s rendition of Love Will Keep Us Alive washed over the entire room. He didn’t say a word, and neither did she. Instead, her fingers splayed across his chest, and what they touched was hard and warm. An image of him that first day they’d met, when the only thing he’d worn was a plaid shirt he’d not bothered to button up, flashed in her mind’s eye, and she rested her cheek against his shoulder, letting him take control and lead.

He smelled damn good, a mixture of male and something fresh, most likely from the shower. She closed her eyes as that ache came back with a ferocity that left her weak-kneed and out of breath. When was the last time a man had held her like this?

It was Nick, of course, but even before the end of Sid and Nick, they hadn’t had whatever it was she felt right now. Intimacy in the middle of a crowd was a heady thing, and when the song finally ended, she was left stunned at the depth of need inside her.

I want him. Which should have surprised her, but kinda didn’t.

But does he want me?

Beck’s cell pinged, and he let her go so he could search through his pockets for his phone. He took a look and stared at it for a few seconds.

“Pete’s here.”

“Who?” she managed to say through lips suddenly so dry, she could taste sawdust.

“Pete the cab guy.”

“Oh.” Sidney took a step back. This was it. The night was over. “Yes, we should go, then.”

Beck nodded and, with his hand at the small of her back, lightly guided her out of the community center. He said goodbye to a few of the guys, but most of them were still caught up in the celebrating thing and didn’t notice him leaving.