Page 2 of Burning Skies
My toes pinch, and I wish I’d worn my old boots instead of these silver heels, though they’re pretty.
The parking attendant runs up to us. “You’re not supposed to use the front door. Go around the back.”
Cyn rolls her eyes. “But I have an invite.”
He gives her a look like she’s full of shit and walks away.
A knot of anxiety coils in my stomach as I watch the guy disappear into the dark lot. “I have a bad feeling about this.”
She tugs on my arm, and we veer off the main path to go around the rear. “This thing you’re feeling is excitement. For one night, you get to ditch your good-girl image and have a little fun. Didn’t you tell me your dad is ready to marry you off to some old geezer?”
This is what I get for confiding in my new roommate. Since we had that heart-to-heart our first week together in the dorms, she’s been determined to pair me up with anyone who wasn’t hand-picked by my father. “My dad just wants me to settle down.” I can’t believe I’m defending him right now, but given hishealth concerns, I understand why he wants me and my two older brothers to have a plan that aligns with our family’s ranch.
“Look, you do not want to go through life living by someone else’s rules. My sister did everything my parents wanted her to do, and now she’s married to a man she hates. If you don’t take life by the horns, someone else will.”
“That actually makes sense.”
“Don’t sound so surprised. I’m a sensible girl.”
She wobbles in her heels, and I brace her until she’s steady. “Careful. Don’t want you to break an ankle.”
Waving her hand, she motions toward the giant mansion that seems to pulse with the music blaring from within. “I want to meet a real man tonight. Someone with a good job, not another dumb frat boy like the one who puked on my shoes last weekend, and if he looks like Riley Green, that wouldn’t hurt.” She starts singing “There Was This Girl,” and I join her.
As I think about who would fill that role for me, a Riley Green mystery man, one person comes to mind, and I let out a dreamy sigh. In my mind, I can see his sexy smirk. He’s tall and rugged and handsome as hell. And irresistibly charming to boot.
Beau Walker.
Of course, he’s the very last man on Earth I’ll ever get with for so many reasons. But damn, if Beau wasn’t a Walker, and I wasn’t a McAllister, he’s the guy I’d set my sights on.
Maybe Cyn’s right and tonight will be fun.
But my bravado takes a sharp turn when we reach the back door and the bouncer holds up his hand. “You’re late.”
That niggle of worry in my gut grows.
“Car trouble.” Cyn shrugs, making sure to jut out her best assets, which the bouncer studies. I’m quickly learning that my roommate has a lie for every occasion.
“IDs, please.”
With my heart pounding, I show him my newly minted fake ID. Tonight, I’m Yvonne, not Honey McAllister.
We’re not even inside yet before we get our second “you’re full of shit” expression, but the bouncer opens the door. “You know the deal, girls. Topless only tonight. You have to strip down before you enter.”
What the fresh hell?
Cyn shrugs and starts to undress, and I elbow her. “I’m not doing this.”
She pauses and then turns to the bouncer. “This is my friend’s first time. Think you could cut her a little slack until she gets comfortable?”
He eyes me up and down, then adjusts himself. Gross. A slimy smile spreads on his mouth. “Sure. She can serve drinks for a while.”
Serve drinks? We drove all this way to serve drinks? Screw this.
I start to walk away, but Cynthia grabs my arm and hisses in my ear. “You wanted to live a little, right? This is it. We have no idea what we’re walking into, but that’s the thrill. Tonight will be a story we tell our friends someday and laugh about. Don’t you want that? Besides, that was a long drive to tuck tail and go home.”
Ugh, the guilt. Fine. “One hour, and then we leave,” I grit out.
She claps her hands and strips off her shirt, which leaves her in a see-through push-up bra, which seems to placate the bouncer. Then she grabs my hand and drags me inside.
