Linda
I stepped into the club, the bass thumping through my chest like a second heartbeat. Neon lights flashed across the crowded dance floor, and the air hung thick with sweat, perfume, and spilled drinks. At twenty, I knew I shouldn't be here, but the pull of rebellion had won tonight. I just wanted one night to forget the rules, to feel alive without Dad's constant shadow looming over me. I squeezed through the bodies, my short dress riding up my thighs, the bass vibrating up through my heels and headed straight for the bar.
Suddenly I slammed into something rock-hard and warm — a broad, unyielding chest that smelled faintly of whiskey and cologne. The impact jolted through me, knocking the air from my lungs and sending me stumbling back a step. My heart slammed against my ribs as str
