Uncovering Officer Smith (The Discovering Trilogy #2) by Sheena Hutchinson Page B

head nods before glancing around, just one more time. John is stationed in his usual spot against the far wall, overlooking the dance floor. His stern glare surveys the area as groups of girls gravitate to the dance floor in front of him. He has a vibe about him that begs to be enjoyed. Tonight, I want to give in. I crave spontaneity and adventure the way a college girl should. But most of all, I want to be that way with him .
     

     
    Quite a few songs later, Meggie and I are bopping about on the dance floor. She mimics a girl in a short black skirt, attempting to grind. A snort escapes my nose, thankfully hidden by the loud music. Meggie is cracking me up tonight. It’s just like old times, she and I. Boy free and carefree. I take a sip of the drink in my hand again, twirling into another loop around Meggie. I throw my head back for a laugh when my eyes meet his. Deep, blue, and drop dead gorgeous. Hair slicked back and his collared shirt is begging to be tugged on. He doesn’t glance away this time. His eyes watch me as I lip sync and dance about to the song, finding I can’t tear my eyes away from his, either. There’s something about John. Behind those eyes, something speaks to me. The lights play across his face; or maybe it’s my fuzzy eyesight. He scans the dance floor before once again returning to me. A shiver runs down my spine. Tonight is the night.
    I don’t know when I made the decision, but by the time my mind clicks back to the present, I’m walking toward John, who is still standing against the wall. His arms are crossed; face is glancing at anything and everything besides my approaching figure. I can’t help but notice his fists keep clenching at his sides. I weave my way through the crowd before spinning and leaning on the wall beside him. Girls before us sway this way and that, struggling to make eye contact with him. I study them all, their glazed-over looks as they sneak peeks. My eyes curiously gravitate to his. They are not straightforward; they are stealing a glance through the side—The side that I am on.
    Those hands release their rock hard grip across his chest and fall to his sides. My hand is millimeters from his. There’s heat emanating from it, drawing me closer, and electrifying me as it pulls me in. I steal a glance at him again; those blue eyes are fully on me now.
    Something on my left surges me forward. Our hands fumble and I’m tumbling headfirst. Big hands wrap around the top of my arms and pull me right side up again. John’s face comes into focus directly in front of me, deep blue eyes inspecting me while his hands run their way over my body. Words become stuck in my throat. A part of me wants to tell him I’m okay – the other part, however, wants him to touch me. No, strike that – the other part needs his hands to touch me.
    “Are you okay?” I read his lips. The commotion has brought over a few other bouncers, the flock of girls shrieking around us. There are two girls still involved in a scuffle on the floor beside me before bouncers tear them apart, screaming something lost over the music. The two huge bouncers nod to John as they pass us, carrying the girls out of the club. I’m shaken again. “Are you okay?”
    His voice comes louder this time, and his face seems closer to mine than before.
    “Yes.” I’m taken back slightly.
    “Did they hit you?” His eyes search mine, hands hard against the side of my arms.
    I rub my shoulder. “Just pushed, I think.”
    “Stand next to me. We’re closing soon.” He practically picks me up and places me beside him. I don’t miss that I’m slightly closer than before. His chest is puffed out and his breathing has increased considerably. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he was… mad.
    The lights flick on and people begin to filter out. John’s strong arm swings across me and holds me against the wall as he leans over. “Stay here.”
    He leaves me to stand by the door. The bouncers kick the few remaining