The pounding in my ears was all I could hear. All I could focus on. Nothing else mattered except the fast, heavy beating of my heart.

Aimlessly, I walked, not quite sure of the direction but aware there were still lots of people around. My gaze remained dead ahead, not daring to look round and not yet willing to make eye contact with anyone.

When my focus settled on the small makeshift bar, cornered off for adults only, I made a beeline toward it. One beer, and I could use the time to think and get my head straight.

My smile was tight as I nodded in acknowledgment at a few people queueing, and when I was finally served and stepped away to a lone stool at a high table, I swooped on it, perched, and took a large gulp.

As soon as the tangy beer made contact with my tastebuds, I swallowed and exhaled heavily. A small laugh followed, more of a chuckle of disbelief than anything.

I kissed him. Full-on kissed Ian. With tongue.

And holy shit, the taste of him was a whole heap better than the warm beer.

The thing was, there wasn’t an ounce of surprise in me at discovering that.

From the first time I’d met Ian, I’d been caught up in his calming presence and gentle smile. And hell, his eyes; just looking into their depths sucked me in. It had taken me one dinner to know I was drawn to the man and wanted to be his friend. It had taken a little over a year to figure out that the ache in my gut whenever we spent time with each other or texted or even I spoke about him to Jasper was actually attraction.