Ten minutes later, Madigan finished her second song and waited for the applause to silence, thanking the audience. “I’m glad you enjoyed that one. This next story is called ‘Party Games,’ and it might throw you right back to your teenage years.” She began strumming and singing, “It’s been so long since it started. But I can’t get you out of my head…”

The door to the pub opened, and her heart nearly stopped when Tobias strode in, his thick thighs wrapped in worn denim, heavy boots moving across the floor. His muscular chest and biceps strained against his thin black T-shirt as he ran a hand through his hair, pushing the long strands away from his finely chiseled features, those broody eyes locking on Madigan.

Her heart thudded faster, and she played harder, sang louder. “Do you wanna play some party games? The rule book says we have to make out…”

The audience chuckled, and Tobias’s lips quirked as he made his way to the bar, as if he were amused but refused to let that emotion break through his steely exterior.

Madigan tore her gaze away, refusing to give him the satisfaction of looking over again as she finished that story and started another, practically shouting relevant lyrics to “Sports 2.” A message to the man she refused to acknowledge. “Fuck that. I’m gonna rule this town tonight. You will never be the same when I leave your sight…”

His gaze burned into her like a laser beam, beckoning her to look over. Her skin prickled with the urge to meet his dark eyes. The same eyes that had lit up Saturday night with his laughter and had flamed with desire, revealing a very different man from the one who gave off a slightly dangerous vibe to the public. Was that why he’d said they shouldn’t have kissed? Because he’d let his guard down and then thought better of it? Or did he just get off on making women feel like shit?

It didn’t matter. She refused to be toyed with.

She finished the story, and as applause rang out, she decided to give him a taste of his own medicine and tell her newest story, which she’d written Saturday night after the fireworks.

“That’s a fun story to tell, and I have a feeling you’ll like my next one, too. It’s new, so if I mess it up, please go easy on me.” The audience chuckled, and she slid her gaze to the towering oak standing by the bar, taller and broader than all the men around him. Everyone was watching her, but Tobias’s gaze was so intense, it felt like his hands were gripping her as tightly as they had when he’d put her onto his lap and consumed her.