Desertion
Page 95
“Oh, my God, Holly. Go to Kadence, now,” I say, pointing over to the leather sofa area where the rest of the ladies are sitting. Holly pouts but does as I say, giving Grant a wink then turning and walking to the girls.
“I’m so sorry, she’s a little drunk.”
“It’s fine.” He smiles again, handing me a glass of champagne. He pays the bartender, takes the bottle and holds it up. “Let’s get your girl her bottle.” He nods, before taking my hand and moving over to where Holly and the girls all sit, watching us. A new level of excitement starts to build inside of me as the warmth of our connection resonates in my hand. I don’t know what I’m doing, I told the girls I wasn’t interested in meeting anyone this weekend, but falling into Grant might have changed my mind.
“Ladies,” Grant greets my friends when we reach the table. He places the bottle on the glass table in front of Holly then steps back.
“For us? Why thank you.” Holly acts shocked at his gesture then turns to me. “I approve.” She laughs and the others follow. Yep, just kill me now.
“Just ignore them. They’ve had a crazy night,” I rush out, excusing their boldness.
“I can see.” Grant’s grin grows wider as his eyes sweep over each woman.
“Take a seat.” Holly points to the space next to her but I don’t feel up to her pushing my buttons. “Wanna dance?” I blurt, hoping to move away from the ladies before they make it worse. Oh god did I just ask someone to dance?
“Sure.” He nods, takes my glass and places it on the table before moving us to the dance floor. I start to second-guess my motives when we make it to the dance floor. I really suck at dancing. Keeping my back to the table, so I don’t see the girls watching us, I let Grant take the lead.
“I have to warn you, Bell. I’m really not that great at dancing.” Grant leans closer so I can hear him over the music.
“Well, I have to warn you too, Grant. Neither am I. I only asked you to dance to get away from Holly before she started on you,” I admit. He shakes his head with laughter before taking my hand and pulling me closer to him. With the alcohol rolling through me, I let my reservations go and relax closer into him. Thoughts of Jesse flash in my mind but I push them out immediately. This is what I need . Forcing myself not to read too much into anything, I close my eyes and let the music take over. Grant’s arms come around me, his hips swaying in time with mine.
“You lied.” I tilt my head back when he spins me to face away from him, his front flush with my back.
“How is that?” His breath grazes my ear as his hand moves to my hip, dragging me against his hardness.
“You said you couldn’t dance,” I breathe, getting lost in the feeling of him pressed up against me. He doesn’t reply but I feel the soft chuckle against my back. We stay on the dance floor locked against each over for two songs, before Grant takes my hand and moves us back to our table.
“Can I get you another drink?” Grant slows as we walk past the bar.
“Bell!” Lissy shouts for my attention before I can reply.
“Yeah?” I turn to see her eyes bugging out of her head. “What’s wrong?” Thinking something has happened, I step out of Grant’s hold and move toward her.
“Umm.” Her eyes dart from Grant then back to the table. Following her gaze, I slowly turn and see what has her in such a panic.
“Oh, God…” I shake my head watching Holly wrap herself around Sy, both locked in a passionate kiss while Kadence plants her ass on Nix’s lap.
“What are they doing here?” I start to move toward the group, pissed off our night has come to an end. Lissy follows close behind as I stalk my way over, ready to put an end to it. They said girls only, the traitors.
“Bell, look the boys decided to crash the party.” Kadence has the audacity to look innocent as I come to stand in front of them.
“I can see,” I bite out, getting a wave from Nix, Beau and Hunter, before my gaze lands on Jesse. Shit. How did I miss him sitting there?
“Bell.” His voice is liquid to my ears; the smooth sound forces my knees to lock, and throws my head into a tailspin. Jesus, get it together, Bell. You’re okay. You’re stronger now. You’re not the weak girl you used to be.
“Hey, Jesse.” I return his smile, hoping I’m not showing my alarm. My stomach starts churning, and my hands sweat. I’m not sure if it’s from excitement or fear, but having him here is affecting me more than I thought it would. “So, looks like the fun is over?” I look back over at Holly and notice she and Sy have come up for air.
“Well, Kelly was dragged off as soon as Brooks saw what she was wearing. Holly’s about one second from getting arrested for public fornication and Kadence is trying to be polite and lady like, but we can see her squirming on Nix’s lap.” Lissy laughs, breaking it down for everyone who wasn’t clued in on what is about to go down. In short, we are about to be ditched for sex. Great .
“Yeah, it’s probably for the best,” I say, looking back over at Jesse. I can’t keep my eyes off him. It’s the first time I’ve seen him since the funeral. He looks good. Really good. Seriously, why does he have to look so good?
“Hey, you ran off.” Grant breaks my stare when he leans down into my ear, reminding me he’s still here.
“Oh, sorry.” I turn back and look up at him. “Looks like our party is over.” I bite at my lip, not sure how to play this out. An awareness starts to grow in me as I feel everyone’s eyes move between Jesse and Grant.
“I’m so sorry, she’s a little drunk.”
“It’s fine.” He smiles again, handing me a glass of champagne. He pays the bartender, takes the bottle and holds it up. “Let’s get your girl her bottle.” He nods, before taking my hand and moving over to where Holly and the girls all sit, watching us. A new level of excitement starts to build inside of me as the warmth of our connection resonates in my hand. I don’t know what I’m doing, I told the girls I wasn’t interested in meeting anyone this weekend, but falling into Grant might have changed my mind.
“Ladies,” Grant greets my friends when we reach the table. He places the bottle on the glass table in front of Holly then steps back.
“For us? Why thank you.” Holly acts shocked at his gesture then turns to me. “I approve.” She laughs and the others follow. Yep, just kill me now.
“Just ignore them. They’ve had a crazy night,” I rush out, excusing their boldness.
“I can see.” Grant’s grin grows wider as his eyes sweep over each woman.
“Take a seat.” Holly points to the space next to her but I don’t feel up to her pushing my buttons. “Wanna dance?” I blurt, hoping to move away from the ladies before they make it worse. Oh god did I just ask someone to dance?
“Sure.” He nods, takes my glass and places it on the table before moving us to the dance floor. I start to second-guess my motives when we make it to the dance floor. I really suck at dancing. Keeping my back to the table, so I don’t see the girls watching us, I let Grant take the lead.
“I have to warn you, Bell. I’m really not that great at dancing.” Grant leans closer so I can hear him over the music.
“Well, I have to warn you too, Grant. Neither am I. I only asked you to dance to get away from Holly before she started on you,” I admit. He shakes his head with laughter before taking my hand and pulling me closer to him. With the alcohol rolling through me, I let my reservations go and relax closer into him. Thoughts of Jesse flash in my mind but I push them out immediately. This is what I need . Forcing myself not to read too much into anything, I close my eyes and let the music take over. Grant’s arms come around me, his hips swaying in time with mine.
“You lied.” I tilt my head back when he spins me to face away from him, his front flush with my back.
“How is that?” His breath grazes my ear as his hand moves to my hip, dragging me against his hardness.
“You said you couldn’t dance,” I breathe, getting lost in the feeling of him pressed up against me. He doesn’t reply but I feel the soft chuckle against my back. We stay on the dance floor locked against each over for two songs, before Grant takes my hand and moves us back to our table.
“Can I get you another drink?” Grant slows as we walk past the bar.
“Bell!” Lissy shouts for my attention before I can reply.
“Yeah?” I turn to see her eyes bugging out of her head. “What’s wrong?” Thinking something has happened, I step out of Grant’s hold and move toward her.
“Umm.” Her eyes dart from Grant then back to the table. Following her gaze, I slowly turn and see what has her in such a panic.
“Oh, God…” I shake my head watching Holly wrap herself around Sy, both locked in a passionate kiss while Kadence plants her ass on Nix’s lap.
“What are they doing here?” I start to move toward the group, pissed off our night has come to an end. Lissy follows close behind as I stalk my way over, ready to put an end to it. They said girls only, the traitors.
“Bell, look the boys decided to crash the party.” Kadence has the audacity to look innocent as I come to stand in front of them.
“I can see,” I bite out, getting a wave from Nix, Beau and Hunter, before my gaze lands on Jesse. Shit. How did I miss him sitting there?
“Bell.” His voice is liquid to my ears; the smooth sound forces my knees to lock, and throws my head into a tailspin. Jesus, get it together, Bell. You’re okay. You’re stronger now. You’re not the weak girl you used to be.
“Hey, Jesse.” I return his smile, hoping I’m not showing my alarm. My stomach starts churning, and my hands sweat. I’m not sure if it’s from excitement or fear, but having him here is affecting me more than I thought it would. “So, looks like the fun is over?” I look back over at Holly and notice she and Sy have come up for air.
“Well, Kelly was dragged off as soon as Brooks saw what she was wearing. Holly’s about one second from getting arrested for public fornication and Kadence is trying to be polite and lady like, but we can see her squirming on Nix’s lap.” Lissy laughs, breaking it down for everyone who wasn’t clued in on what is about to go down. In short, we are about to be ditched for sex. Great .
“Yeah, it’s probably for the best,” I say, looking back over at Jesse. I can’t keep my eyes off him. It’s the first time I’ve seen him since the funeral. He looks good. Really good. Seriously, why does he have to look so good?
“Hey, you ran off.” Grant breaks my stare when he leans down into my ear, reminding me he’s still here.
“Oh, sorry.” I turn back and look up at him. “Looks like our party is over.” I bite at my lip, not sure how to play this out. An awareness starts to grow in me as I feel everyone’s eyes move between Jesse and Grant.
