Free Reckless Abandon by Andrea Randall

together with friends we haven’t seen in ages. Adrian and Monica, it was lovely catching up with you two. Take care of our girl.” Raven hugs them both before leading my dad out of the bar by his hand.
    “ We will!” Monica calls after them with a hint of sarcasm before turning to Adrian. “So, Adrian, how long are you in town?”
    “Heading home now. Em, I’m glad I got to see you sing again. Beautiful. Shoot me a message next week.” He gives me a quick hug, says goodbye to Monica and the guys, and heads out of Finnegan’s.
    Adrian is the epitome of cool; someone passing by might actually believe I’ll wait till next week to “shoot him a message.” He knows by Monica’s tone that she’s suspicious but doesn’t know anything. I feel a little rejected by our staged goodbye, but I realize it was necessary.
    “That was nice of him to come watch you.” Monica’s sarcastic smile loses the game of hide-and-seek with her face.
    “Yeah, it was. I’ll be right back—I left something in my car. Can you order me a drink?”
    She nods and heads to the bar while I move to the parking lot. Once outside, I check over my shoulder and see Monica engrossed with Josh’s lips over the bar.
    Scanning the parking lot, I spot Adrian just as he turns on his headlights. He leaves his car running, but gets out as I wave my hands and run to his car.
    He stands behind his open door. “What’s wrong?”
    “Thanks again for coming. Also, thanks for everything back there.” I hitch my thumb toward the bar.
    “Of course.” He gives me a lopsided grin. “It was really beautiful watching you sing.”
    “Damn, and this whole time I thought you meant it was me who was beautiful.” Grinning, I step around his door. He drops his hand from the door and takes mine.
    “You are beautiful...I just ...”
    “No, I get it. I was teasing. Thanks for not making things weird with my parents and Monica. Have a safe drive home.” I lift myself onto my toes and kiss his cheek.
    Without a moment’s hesitation, his hand cradles the back of my neck and he pulls me into his mouth. This is a real-deal Adrian Turner kiss. I dig the pads of my fingers into his shoulders as my tongue is granted entry into his mouth. His hands work down my sides, igniting the goosebumps I thought may have gone away for good. Pressing my hips into his, I force his back against the door of his car. He can’t hide his want with my body pressing into him like this; his throaty groan echoes his need. I suddenly love knowing I do this to him. You’ve still got it . I don’t want to stop—he’s a delicious escape—but I know we have to. As my hands beg access to his belt, I pull away.
    “See you Friday?” My lips feel drunk as I speak.
    Adrian squeezes my hips as he rests his forehead on mine. “See you Friday.”
    My wobbly legs carry me back into Finnegan’s, where Monica flags me down at the bar. The place is still crowded and once my ears clear themselves of Adrian’s lust-filled air, they tune into a fiddle on stage. She hands me my beer, and I try to keep the grin off my face as I evaluate the tall drink of water swaying on stage.
    “What the hell? Is he playing “Smooth Criminal?” On his fiddle?” The well-over-six-foot beauty on stage has his brassy-red hair pulled back in a short, messy ponytail. Typically I hate when guys have long hair, but this dude is hot.
    “Yeah, isn’t he amazing? That’s C.J.’s cousin,” Monica whispers.
    The crowd is completely mesmerized by the rock music floating from his strings. I’ve heard people play rock music on classical instruments before, but hearing it live is intense. His body moves slowly side-to-side as the bow races across the strings with passion.
    “ That’s Regan? Holy shit.”
    “Right? He’ll do in a pinch.” Monica giggles, making her chocolate ponytail swing side to side. Josh elbows her.
    “Take it easy, Mon,” he teases.
    When Regan finishes, the crowd hoots and hollers wildly, then