Ryan Hunter

got the feeling she really enjoyed herself and figured we could do a little more than just stand poker stiff. Slipping behind her, I took her hands and lifted them over her head. Together we clapped to the beat, and our audience mirrored us. I stood very close to her, enjoying the nearness, and sang in her ear while she had the mike all to herself. She delivered an amazing show. That was my girl. Vulnerable like a kitten, but strong and brave when she needed to be.
    The song’s end was drowned out by the clubbers’ whistles and shouts, prompting us to perform another song. I was totally up to it, but this time I thought it better to ask Liza first. “What do you think?”
    “I think I’m going to kill you.”
    Yeah, I knew that and laughed.
    “No way are we doing this again.” She grabbed my hand like I’d done with her before and made me follow her down from the stage.
    I shrugged and grinned at the expectant crowed as I was dragged away.
    When we reached the bar again, Rachel had switched sides and stood with Phil behind the counter now. “That was awesome!” She beamed at Liza and me together. “You’d really make a sweet couple.”
    Liza laughed about that. “Yeah, right.”
    Yeah, right ? Did that mean no? I gave her a wry look and she cast me the same look back, then she stuck her tongue out at me and laughed again.
    Okay, Hunter, make something of that , I thought.
    A little later, she asked me if it was okay to leave. It was almost midnight, and I remembered that I’d promised to take Cinderella back before one. I let Rachel kiss my cheek as we told them goodbye, and she whispered into my ear that she’d come home tomorrow and intended to get all the details about me and Liza.
    “All right,” I surrendered. “But only if you bring cherry cake.” She made the best cake in all California, I swear.
    Out in the cool air, I took a few deep breaths, getting rid of the dry smoke in my lungs, then I turned to Liza who pressed her palms to her red cheeks. “Want to drive again?”
    She shook her head . “The way I feel right now I might very well wrap your car around a tree.”
    Still shaky from the excitement, eh? I put my arm around her shoulders like we already were a real couple. She didn’t back away. And when her shy hand moved up to rest on my hip, my stomach did a double roll of joy.
    Opening the passenger door for her, I let her get in first, then I walked around and made myself comfortable in the driver’s seat, adjusting it to my longer legs.
    Since Liza was looking out the side window, I figured she wasn’t up for talking, so I switched the radio on but kept the volume low. I liked how her beautiful scent filled the interior and my head. It was hard to concentrate on driving, when my thoughts drifted to my right time and again, and I remembered how her tender lips had felt beneath mine.
    After a few minutes, she turned her head toward me and studied me instead of the passing streetlamps.
    I cut a quick glance toward her . “Did you enjoy yourself tonight?” It was nice to speak in a softer tone again after shouting so much inside the club.
    Liza gazed at me for a couple of seconds longer before she answered, “It was okay.” Then after a short pause she added, “Actually, it was quite nice.”
    As I cut another glance at her, she made a point at playfully narrowing her eyes at me. “ But I still hate you!”
    That coaxed a chuckle from me. “I know.” And I didn’t mind as long as she stayed in this car with me. “ I’m sorry I dragged you into hell on that stage.”
    “And you should be.”
    A car passed us, and the headlights made me squint for a moment. But when the car had disappeared also from the review mirror, I moved most of my attention away from the silent road and back to Liza. “What about the lime surprise?”
    “What about it?”
    “Should I be sorry about that, too?”
    Liza let me wait on her answer for a couple of seconds. I was holding my breath in that time. Then she said in a nonchalant, “Nah. I should just have heeded your warning.”
    “Yeah. Or maybe…just not.” Because as far as I was concerned, it had been one helluva hot kiss, and I didn’t want to have missed it.
    With a lower voice than before, Liza drawled, “Or maybe not…”
    Heck, did she just agree? “You liked it?” I cut a quick glance to her side and noticed the blush on her cheeks. That made me smile. “Yeah, you did.”
    Liza didn’t say more to it, but after one