Free Ashes - Book 2 (New Adult Romantic Suspense) by Leslie Johnson Page B

some new shoes that didn’t tear into my still healing feet.
    “You’re very beautiful. I noticed you the moment you walked in.”
    I glance up at him and he seems sincere. He belts back the drink and orders another — crown and coke. I shudder, remembering the hangover I’d gotten from that drink several years ago.
    “Want to dance?” he asks and I look out onto the crowded floor. The place is huge and there are people everywhere. But the music is crazy good … driving every person in the place to move.
    I nod. “Let me take my drink to my friends,” I shout loud enough to be heard.
    “I’ve got a table over there.” He points in the direction of the corner.
    No way in hell will I ever drink from a glass that hasn’t been carefully watched. I shake my head and start walking in Steph’s direction, my hand firmly over my glass. A second later, I feel his warm fingers on my back again. I smile. He followed me. I wasn’t sure that he would.
    “Watch this for me?” I ask Steph when I find her again. She smiles and her palm flattens over the rim. Tanner tosses back his drink, then sets his empty glass down too. Then he’s pulling me behind him and I’m soon in his arms, grinding to the music.
    I like dancing with Tanner. I like the way he keeps me close. And I like the way he slows things down even when the music tempo hasn’t changed. My arms are around his neck and we’re swaying to a rhythm he’s set. Slow and sexy. Perfect.
    I look up at him and try to decide. Could I sleep with him? How would it feel to be with someone new? Someone not Gage? He grins at me, and he has a dimple too. I lift my hand and dip a finger into the groove.
    I’m bumped from behind and an elbow connects with the back of my head. Tanner pushes off the crazy guy who’s flailing around to the music.
    “Are you okay?” Tanner’s hands are in my hair and his fingers are rubbing my skull. I wince when he touches the bruise already forming there. Looking concerned, he propels me through the crowd and to his table where the music isn’t so loud. He lifts a hand to a passing waitress and orders us another round.
    “Make mine a double,” he tells her and I look at him closely. He’s already had two crown and cokes that I know of in a very short amount of time. He must have a stomach of steel.
    Walking around the small, bartop table, Tanner moves until he’s behind me. “Let me look.” He parts my hair and gently probes my scalp with his fingers. He’s being ridiculous — I wasn’t hit that hard.
    I try to pull away, to protest and let him know I’m totally okay.
    His fingers grip into my shoulders. “Sit. Let me look.” I stay put, feeling a little embarrassed about how much of a fuss he is making over a little accident. It kinda reminds me of Gage and even Ken, always making sure others are alright.
    “Are you in healthcare?” I ask him, pulling his hands away from my head again.
    Tanner snorts. “No way.”
    I bristle a little at that and am about to ask him what’s so wrong with the health field when the waitress is back with our drinks. He slips his card from his pocket, then seems to change his mind and pockets it again. “One more round,” he tells her.
    I begin to protest, but she’s gone and he’s lifting his glass to his lips. He reaches for mine, but I grab it quickly first. He gives me a funny look.
    “To new friends,” he says and lifts his gigantic glass. I lift mine and he clinks them together, then turns his up and swallows most of it in one gulp.
    “You might want to slow down,” I say and then add, “I got my worst hangover ever off of crown.”
    He grins and gives me a little salute. “It’s good stuff. Takes the edge off.”
    I look at him curiously. “Why do you have an edge?”
    “Part of the job.”
    He’s a lawyer. I’d bet a hundred dollars on it. “What’s your job?”
    “I’m an attorney.”
    Bingo.
    I consider telling him that my dad’s an attorney too, but hesitate. He’d