Shannon’s Reviews > Bourbon & Lies > Status Update

But she shakes her head. “How could you just leave?” Her eyebrows pinch together, looking more serious by the second. “You can’t want to leave.” I kiss her. “I want to be with you. It’s that simple. Nobody asked me to choose, but it’s you, baby. You’re what I’ve been waiting on. Brave. Smart.” I kiss her lips again. “Fiery and sweet. And everything I want.”

I close the distance and tuck my finger under her chin, tilting her face up. Her pretty eyes have flecks of blue and swirls of brown that remind me of my bourbon now in the dim light behind the desk. The way she looks at me is something I don’t take for granted.

“But in case you misunderstood me, honey. When I woke up with the taste of you on my tongue and the smell of you in my beard, I considered you mine.” I blink, because the way this man talks to me feels like foreplay. And all I can think of is that I want to be his. At this moment, I want to claim him the same way he just did me.

I drag my palm along the nape of my neck, but it’s an actual slap on the back that knocks me out of my head. Lincoln slides a beer in front of me. “You look like you’re thinking about someone a little too hard over here, brother.” I smirk, because he’s not wrong. And it wouldn’t be worth denying it. He can be a dick, but he knows exactly who I’m looking at. He just wants me to fess up.

I suck in a deep breath and count to three, because getting worked up over the unknown isn’t going to make this truth any easier to share.

She points at the dog sitting next to her. “Tattletale.” Julep lets out a bark, and then puts both her front paws on the tub, leaning in to lick Laney’s face. Laney squeals and laughs in response. Seeing that makes me feel…something. Something deeper than attraction. Maybe it was appreciation. Witnessing my dog genuinely respond to another person like that.

But there’s a part of me that knows her eyes are on me. I can feel it, like a zip around my skin from every part that's exposed and beyond to the parts of me that are not.

She throws my balled-up shirt back at me and starts to walk away. “Haven’t gotten that wet for a man in a long time. So, thanks!” “Laney,” I call after her. “You know I’m not going to let it go, right?” She catches it with a smirk. “Neither am I, cowboy.” I snort a small laugh to myself. That ridiculous nickname. Turning around, she yells, “And I’d be very disappointed if you did.”

I open a red-and-white candy and hold it out to her. It disappears in seconds. I laugh when she snorts and nudges my hand for more. Instead I glide my hand along her head. Her big black eyes look into mine and it’s like we exchange something. Another laugh escapes me, this one filled with hope. Like if I don’t laugh, those tears from moments ago will fall. This entire situation has my emotions all over the place.

“Not sure who the bands are this year, but there’ll be some dancing, too.” “Save me a dance, Laney?” Lincoln says from his seat. A growl escapes my throat as I watch her smile at him with a nod. I wipe my mouth and throw my napkin on my plate to play off the noise. Lincoln looks at me with his brow furrowed, like what the fuck? I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me.