Strip Search (Tap That)

“Ah. There’s the catch.” Sloane looked amused. “Give me the beer.” She took the bottle from him and stood up. “For the record, she’s not your type.”

“I don’t have a type.” He didn’t even date that much. Why did Sloane and Lilly seem so confident that Leighton was not for him? That was annoying. And good thing the music was pumping some serious bass or she probably would have heard this conversation. “Go find your boyfriend and see what he’s got in his tool belt for you.”

Sloane laughed loudly. She placed her hand on his arm and squeezed. “Safety first, Axl. Wrap it before you tap it.”

His response was a grin. “I’m flattered you think I’m good enough that I’ll need to wrap anything tonight.”

She gave him an eye roll.

Then she was gone and he was dropping into the chair next to Leighton. He set the glass of wine down in front of her. “You look like you needed a drink.”

Leighton turned and stared at him with wide eyes. “I think that seat is taken.”

Not quite the response he was hoping for. “Sloane went to find her boyfriend. It’s my seat now.”

Her mouth opened, but she didn’t say anything. For a long heartbeat they just stared at each other while she seemed uncertain how to proceed. She had long, dark eyelashes, at odds with her blonde hair that fluttered as she looked at him. She was beautiful in a quiet way and he took the moment to study her obviously natural and delicate features. Axl had learned how to be still in the military and it didn’t bother him to just watch her and wait. She would be too polite to tell him to fuck off.

He was right. She broke their gaze and reached for the wine. “Thank you. I am quite thirsty.”

But the cameraman intervened. “Leighton. You shouldn’t drink that. You didn’t watch the bartender pour it.”

For a second Axl was fucking offended. But then he realized the guy had a valid point. They didn’t know him or his character. He would give the same advice to his female friends. She looked torn and a little sheepish.

Axl let her off the hook. “Good call, man,” he said to the guy. “You never know who is a dirt bag. Here, I’ll drink it so you know I’m above board.” He lifted the glass and took the wine down in one long swallow. It was like a bowl of sugar exploding in his mouth. He grimaced. “Shit, that’s sweet. Oh, my God.” His whole face was contorting.

Leighton gave a soft laugh. “Not your drink of choice?”

“Hell, no.” He reached past Leighton and held out his hand for the cameraman. “Axl Moore.”

“Jackson.” He shook his hand.

Then he turned back to Leighton. “If you come up to the bar with me I can get you a drinkable drink.”

“Oh, I don’t know. That’s really sweet, but I have to work. We need to interview Winnie and her friends.”

Axl stared at her for a second. He wasn’t sure if he was being blown off or not, but in either case, it didn’t matter. He wasn’t going to get to talk to her. “Understood. Well, it was nice to meet you, Leighton. Maybe I’ll see you around town.” If the cameraman wasn’t sitting there acting like he had no clue Axl was making a play for Leighton, he would have asked for her number.

Leighton nodded. “Maybe. And thank you. For what you did. I appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome. You’re a good dancer.”

She smiled. “And you’re sweet.”

“I can’t say sweet would be the word most people use to describe me.” But Axl stood up and gave her a head nod. “Enjoy your night.”

“You too.”

As he walked away he heard the cameraman say, “I’m glad I was here to save your ass. A guy like that? You’ll find yourself with your ankles on his shoulders by midnight.”

Axl’s cock hardened at the thought. Damn right. That had been the plan he’d already been half formulating without even realizing it.

“Would that be a bad thing?” Leighton asked in a curious and high-pitched voice.

Fuck.

He came to a halt and turned back to them. “No. It wouldn’t be a bad thing at all. More like the best way to end your day. And mine.”

Two