Free Brody by Victoria H. Smith

through. I nodded, gripping the railing.
    He smiled at me before his breath touched my ear again. “Food first?” he asked.
    I shook my head, going to his ear this time. “Beer?”
    And the grin he gave me when he pulled back had my gut going all wobbly again. “I think that can definitely be arranged, darlin’.”
    God, I could not handle him and that accent and that word. Nope, I could not .
    His hand sliding down to mine, he gestured for me to come with him, but I told him I wanted to keep watching the pit. I fed off it. He let me stay, but only after making sure I was okay. I actually was. I loved the environment here and the bar was only about ten feet away.
    He left with a chuckle, pointing to where he would be. After he left, I shook my hips, swaying to the latest Hot 100 track. They really played everything here. This place had a hometown country feel, but a spin on it with an urban edge. I couldn’t help but get into it. Perhaps, that’s why he brought me here, understanding my style. He’d been so absorbent our entire trip, getting to know me in all that despite how little I gave back, so that shouldn’t surprise me.
    Turning, I watched Brody, his hip leaning against the bar. He was waiting his turn like everyone else, but then he wasn’t alone. A girl came up to him, a Hispanic girl, pretty, with a flurry of ultraviolet hair. Her arms covered in a full set of tattoo sleeves, she waved at Brody, which he returned with a smile. He was always smiling. I thought she’d be on her way, but she wasn’t. Instead, she chose to cross in front of him and lean back on the bar. Her position, arms rested back with the tip of her boot out, had her breasts pushed way up over a top that didn’t strike me as super revealing at first. Now, I could definitely see, and my sight didn’t fail me as she reached over and squeezed his thick arm. One I hoped to at least touch tonight when I danced with him.
    My heart dropped like a stone when she moved in and got closer. It definitely seemed like Brody knew her since he didn’t pull away. He actually smiled at something she said before the expression immediately left his face. He’s the one who put his hand on her arm this time, but only to increase some distance between them. Holding up his hand, he shook his head at her and…
    Turned her down.
    She pouted, a joking way about it when she touched him again, and again, he put some distance between them, politely moving away. She gave him a hug, which he kept friendly before finally stepping away. Brody sat back against the bar again. He proceeded to wait his turn to order and I turned to the pit, unable to help my smile.
    The music changed, a more classic, country hit this time, and the pit transformed. The room hooting and hollering, they formed into a line dance. The whole thing was something out of a movie and I loved it. Eyeing the bar over my shoulder, I could see Brody wasn’t any closer to being done. He had his arm on the bar, still waiting to order.
    I’ll stay near the railing so he can see me.
    Going all in, I joined the group. I hadn’t done these particular steps before, but I was a fast learner. I moved my hips, falling into the beat with my steps, and my black boots gave me my own personal edge to the traditional dance. A girl next to me started showboating a bit, breaking formation, and added her own spin to the dance. She went sharp with every move and quickly got the attention of the rest of the pit.
    I guess I couldn’t help what I did next.
    Getting to her side, I fell instep with her. She smiled, and together, we kept all eyes on us. Eventually, I mixed it up a little, offering a little alternative dance as well as some hip-hop. My partner stopped dancing entirely and clapped above her head, giving me the floor to do my thing. I couldn’t stop even if I wanted too. I fed off every step, took in each beat like I had at the park. Music and dancing were my life.
    By the time the song ended, I had just