Eyes flaring, he quickly holds up both hands. “I never claimed it was an acceptable justification for touching you.” He looks seriously put out that I think he’s making excuses for his meathead friend. But I don’t care. I want him gone. His very presence unnerves me. And I don’t like it.
So even though I know he means well, I carry on with my plan to drive him away. “Actually,” I cut in, “that’s exactly what you said.”
Those thick brows of his jerk together as he shakes his head. “But it’s not what I meant. I just wanted you to know that he drank a few too many and isn’t using good judgment. Alex is a pretty harmless guy. But yeah, I guess he thought you were pretty and was looking for a way to approach you.”
This conversation has gone from bad to worse. My mouth literally falls open. “So you’re actually telling me,” I say with a shitload of disbelief, “that this is my fault because he thinks I’m pretty?”
Is this guy for real?
His eyes widen at the insinuation. “No,” he finally snaps with just a bit of heat, “that’s not what I meant at all.” Looking frustrated, he quickly runs a hand through his messy brown hair.
I’m momentarily distracted by those rich chocolate colored strands of his. Yep, totally dangerous.
“But that’s what you just said.” Thankfully this conversation is going exactly where I need it to- right down the tubes. Like I said before- gorgeous guy, total asshole behavior. Guess I’m not as far off the mark as I’d originally suspected. But this is exactly what I want. For him to expose himself as a douche and for me to move on without so much as a second thought.
So why does him doing exactly what I want leave me with a feeling of disappointment sitting in the pit of my belly? I force that thought away before I’m able to examine it too closely.
Looking exasperated, which yeah, is a totally adorable look on him as well, he finally snaps, “Damn it, I know that’s what I said. All I wanted to do was apologize for Alex pissing you off.” He actually glares at me… with those amazing golden eyes of his. “I’m apologizing on behalf of my friend. That’s it. Okay?”
Not knowing what else to do, I shrug my shoulders. “Fine. Apology accepted.” It’s definitely time to leave. If this guy has any self-preservation skills what so ever, he’ll let me go about my business without trying to detain me again. “Bye.” Turning, I give him a half wave, before continuing to search through the thick press of bodies for my roommate.
Make that my former roommate…
“Hold up!”
Christ Almighty!
All I want to do is shake this guy loose. Can he seriously not take a hint? I’m not interested! I don’t want to be interested. I don’t need the distraction. And he’s definitely a distraction.
“I need to find Brooklyn so I can get the hell out of here,” I mutter to myself.
“What?” His breath feathers along the back of my neck making goosebumps ripple across my arms. I grit my teeth trying to suppress my body’s natural reaction to him.
With heat flaring in my narrowed eyes, I careen towards him for a third time. “Are you following me?” My gaze locks on his. As annoyed as I am right now, I still find him completely dreamy. Which only exacerbates all those feelings of frustration and annoyance that are roiling through me right now.
“Um… yes?”
He sounds none too sure. His eyes continue to hold mine and even though I don’t want him melting the thick sheath of ice protecting me, he kind of is.
Inhaling a deep breath before blowing it slowly out, I try to calm the raging mess inside me once and for all. “Look, you seem like a nice guy.” Well, as nice of a guy as I’m going find at an ass grabbing kegger. “But this isn’t going to happen.”
His thick brows instantly slide together and it’s kind of… argh, adorable. Aw hell, it’s completely adorable. Damn him for being completely gorgeous and adorable. That is such a lethal combination. I’m sure he has all the girls at Western swooning at his feet.
But I’m not one of those girls.
“What’s not going to happen?” His utter confusion only adds to his adorableness.
Seriously… I cannot catch a break here.
Slowly I point my finger between the pair of us. I have to stifle a groan because he’s so damn close. And yes, I probably should have known he would smell completely amazing. Like the ocean on a perfectly sunny day with just a hint of a breeze. I want to inhale a great big breath of him but I don’t. I don’t dare because he’s much too dangerous for the likes of me.