He takes my hand and points to the bar. “Wanna go in?”
“Yeah.”
The place is packed and humid, thick with the press of bodies. There’s an African American woman with a slinky black dress and a sultry voice at the front singing Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds.”
The crowd moves in a wave.
Caden looks back at me. “Too crowded for you?”
“Nope.”
His fingers tighten on mine, and he swings me around, pressing me to his front and putting his large palms on my hips. He leans down and whispers in my ear, somehow making him easier to hear than if he was yelling. “Want a drink?”
I nod.
His hands fall from my body, and there’s a coolness at my back without him. With my eyes on the stage, I let the woman’s voice carry me away. I begin to sway right along with everyone else. We’re all moving, and that pulse and throb takes hold of me.
I feel free, loose. Like magic.
“You’re a hot little thing,” an unfamiliar male voice says from behind me.
I look over my shoulder. A cute guy that looks to be in his early twenties is giving me the eye.
I shake my head at him, waving. “You’re a baby.”
He smirks, raising a brow. “Hardly.”
I laugh. “Are you even out of college?”
He’s all lean hips and chiseled features, the kind that are only afforded newly minted adults.
He leans in close to me. “I’m in law school.”
I roll my eyes. “Of course you are. You probably go to Harvard.”
He grins. “Stanford.”
“So predictable.”
He hooks a finger into my belt loop. “Wanna dance?”
“No, she does not.” Caden appears holding two bottles of beer, his expression stormy.
I shrug. “Sorry, junior.”
The younger man gives Caden a look. “I don’t see a ring on her finger.”
“You’re not going to see much of anything if you don’t get your hands off her.”
Well, this is interesting. I haven’t caused a ruckus in forever. At home I’m just Cat, barely even a woman. And now look at me.
The guy cocks a grin at me. “I’m a modern man. I’ll let the lady decide.”
Caden raises a brow and gives me a look like he’ll consider taking me over his knee if I don’t tell this guy to fuck off.
I can’t help it; a giggle escapes my lips.
“Caaaaaaat.” He drawls out my name in warning.