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suppose, the teens wouldn’t mind, but I’d guess you might want to be a little more conservative.  Maybe a button-down shirt at least?”
    He nodded.  “Got it.”   He moved his head forward a little again, and she felt her breat h catch in her throat.  She bega n to doubt she’d ever be able to breathe normally again.  But he stopped, his lips close enough, his breath warm on her cheek, his arm braced on her car, and said, “What are you planning to wear on our date, Ms. Erin?”
    She swallowed again, well aware of the powerful effect he was having on her.  She didn’t know if it was just part of his personality or if it was because he was the big, bad rock star.  It didn’t m atter really.  He was having that effect and analyzing why wouldn’t change it.  “Uh…I’m not sure yet.  Like I said, this was kind of a last-minute thing for me.”
    “A dress?”
    “Well, yeah, I have to wear a dress.”
    His lips turned up into a half-grin.  “You don’t have to, Erin.  That’s a societal expectation, and you forget…my job’s all about rebelling against expectations.  You wanna wear a bikini tomorrow night, I wouldn’t object.”
    She wasn’t quite sure how to take his statement, but she was pretty sure he was fucking with her, just like he had all the young women onstage tonight.  Maybe he thought he was so clever, she’d never notice.  Needless to say, the smoldering feelings she’d had just moments earlier iced up.  “I’m sure you wouldn’t, Mr. Schultz, but I can assure you I’ll wear something date appropriate.”
    He raised his eyebrows, a look of amusement causing a twinkle in his eye.  “ Mister ?   Fuck…that’s the second time I ’ve been called that tonight.  What t he hell?”
    Erin turned in the tight space between Riley and her car, but as she moved back to open the car door , she backed into Riley.  “Apparently, I and others are trying to show you the respect we expect in return.”  She turned her head slightly to the right to catch his eye.
    His left arm wrapped around her waist and held her up against his body.  She could feel his strength and it made her feel instantly weak .  The coldness she’d felt?  Gone in a second, replaced by furious desire.   But she couldn’t let it show.  She refused to play the helpless victim in his cat-and-mouse game.  Still…he was proving to be irresistible.  “Oh, I respect you.”  She felt his breath on her neck and then he said in her ear, “ I just think maybe we could have a little fun together too.”
    She felt her nipples tighten and was relieved he wouldn’t be able to see it.  He couldn’t know the effect he was having on her.  She cleared her throat and prayed she sounded stronger than she felt.  “If your idea of fun is seeing me in a bikini at something like this, I’m afraid you’re going to be sorely disappointed.”  She pulled away, relieved he released her, and sat in her car seat.  She took a deep breath.  “ There’s a Hooters in Colorado Springs if that’s more your cup of tea.  Otherwise, s ee you tomorrow.”
    He smiled and shook his head.  “It was just a joke, you know.”
    She arched her eyebrows and reached for the door handle.  Before pulling it closed, she said, “ I wasn’t joking.”  She forced herself to start her car and not look back at the mysterious Riley Schultz before driving out of the parking lot.
     

 
     
    Chapter Six
     
    JESUS CHRIST , RILEY breathed, watching Erin’s little white car peel out of the parking lot.   How could he constantly manage to fuck things up?  They’d actually been having a nice conversation and he was pretty sure Erin was even admiring his body while he looked on , and wham !  He just had to make one in appropriate joke too many.
    And… fuck .  He already really liked her.  She seemed smart and sweet, unlike a certain someone who’d ripped his heart to shreds. 
    Ah…n ever again.  And he told himself that now