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“You like it?”

“I love it. There’s no other place on earth with this kind of energy. There’s always something to do, somewhere to go, new places to explore.” She cocks her head. “Are you visiting?”

I nod. “Sorry.”

She laughs. “No need to apologize. People have to live everywhere. Where are you from?”

“Originally from Michigan but I live in the Atlanta area now.”

“My brother just moved to Atlanta. I’m going to visit this fall.”

“I hope the weather is nicer in the fall. It’s been hot as balls this summer.”

“Here too. Luckily, I spend most of my time indoors.”

“Same.”

We grin as the throng of people around us push us forward.

“Damn, it’s crazy in here tonight,” she says, gripping my arm to steady herself when someone knocks into her. “I come here a lot and this is busier than usual, even for a Saturday night.”

“Here, stand in front of me.” I gently tug her over so her back is to my front.

Right. Up. Against. My. Front.

Jesus, she feels good.

She smells good too. A little like sunshine and coconut and something citrus. I lean down to surreptitiously sniff her hair and that’s where it’s coming from. If I could have buried my face in it without coming off like a creep, I would have.

“You’re a literal human shield,” she says as we move with the crowd trying to push their way to the bar.

“I do my best,” I say solemnly. I don’t mention that’s pretty much my job as a pro hockey player, knocking people out of the way and protecting our goalie. But she doesn’t need to know that.

“We might need to order two drinks,” she says, gazing at the never-ending line.

“We can do that.”

“Will you dance with me some more after we drink?”

Will I?

Absolutely.

“Sure.”

She cocks her head. “Do you like to dance?”

“Not really, but I will if a pretty lady asks me to.”

Her smile broadens. “That’s nice. You seem nice. Out of place, but nice.”

“Why do I seem out of place?” I ask curiously.

She lifts one shoulder. “I’m not sure how to explain it. A gut feeling, like you’d rather be almost anywhere else, but you’re determined to have fun.”

A laugh rumbles out of me.

She’s not just beautiful but intuitive too.