Chapter 11
11
SUMMER
“What did Asher say to end up wearing your drink?” Darcy asked as I rejoined him.
“It wasn’t my drink.” I didn’t know whose it was, but I trusted that Bailey would replace it. “He was acting like an ass, as usual.”
Darcy grimaced. “I don’t know what’s gotten into him lately. He’s being weird.”
I kept quiet because I hadn’t noticed whether he was behaving differently. We were always at odds, so it was difficult to tell.
“Let’s just dance,” I said, taking his hand.
A grin crept across his face. “Sure.”
We danced until my feet ached. Through pop music, country songs, and ballads. I laughed and smiled nearly enough to wipe the sting of Asher’s comment from my mind—but not quite.
Darcy was good company. I wasn’t interested in him romantically—he reminded me too much of a younger version of my brothers for that—but I liked spending time with him. Eventually, he pulled me off the dance floor, dropped my hand, and let his head flop back.
“I need a breather,” he said. “I haven’t done this much cardio in ages.”
I laughed. “You’d never know. You’ve been keeping up well.”
He winked. “Thanks, beautiful. I’d better bow out now though.”
He turned and made his way toward the bar. I lingered for a moment, debating whether to sit down or find another partner. If I stopped dancing, I’d have time to mull over Asher’s cruel words, and I’d rather not do that.
“May I have this dance?” a raspy American-accented voice said from behind me.
I spun around and squealed. “Blair!”
“Hey, Summer.” He opened his arms and caught me as I lunged into them, his shaggy hair flopping around his face. “It’s good to see you.”
I embraced him fiercely. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” He released me and stepped back. “Mina and the twins weren’t able to get away, but it was easier for me.”
Blair was a musician. His band was reasonably successful, but he wasn’t famous enough that every second of his time was scheduled weeks into the future.
“How long are you here for?” I asked.
“Just a week, maybe two.” He scowled at me when my face fell. “Don’t go getting mopey on me. I get enough of that from Kennedy.”
I laughed. “Just wait until the pregnancy hormones kick in properly.”
His eyes widened. “You mean, they haven’t already?”
I touched the tip of my finger to my nose. “Didn’t you promise me a dance?”
“Too right.” He took one of my hands. “You ever learned any Latin dancing?”
“Uh…no,” I admitted.
His teeth flashed between his lips as he smiled. “Don’t worry. Just go where I guide you and spin when I turn you.”
“Easy.”
To my absolute shock, he placed one of his hands on my hip and pulled me closer. He was a good head taller than me, and much broader, so being close to him made me feel petite in comparison.
He lowered his head, and his breath gusted across my ear as he spoke. If there had been any chemistry between us whatsoever, I’d have swooned. Unfortunately, once again, he was too much like a brother.
“Want to make Asher jealous?” he whispered.
My gaze snapped to his. “What?”
He smirked. “Don’t worry. Our secret.”
I stared at him. “H-how did you know?”
His green eyes locked onto mine. “I’ve been taking courses on body language and microexpressions. I don’t want to be caught off guard again like I was with Tyler.”
I felt a pang of sympathy for him. “I get it.”
Tyler had been a friend of his, until he’d knocked Blair out and kidnapped Kennedy.
“So,” he prompted, “what do you say?”
The first thrums of a new song played over the speakers, and I let him draw me deeper onto the dance floor.
“I say yes.”
Assuming it was possible to make Asher jealous at all. But at this point, I was willing to try.
His feet moved quickly as the song kicked up a notch. The singer was crooning in Spanish, and I took a moment to wonder if he’d requested the song with whoever was in charge of the playlist.
I did my best to follow along, admiring his flourishes and how easily he showed me where I needed to be. His hands wandered up my body, but there was nothing sexual about it. I suspected it was just how he’d been taught the dance. Either that, or he was putting on a show for Asher’s benefit.
When the song ended, he gripped my hand and tugged me off the dance floor and across the pub. I followed him, my heart light. I’d liked Blair since the day I’d met him. He was gruff, but he had a way of making people feel good.
He led me out the exit and around the corner of the building, into the same alley where I’d once had the most excruciating conversation of my life with Asher.
“What are we doing out here?” I asked.
He raised his finger to his lips. “Wait for it.”
I cocked my head, listening carefully. A few seconds later, heavy footfalls pounded around the side of the building, approaching rapidly.
Asher appeared out of the dark, a scowl plastered across his face. “Blair, your sister is looking for you.”
Blair grinned, his eyes twinkling mischievously in the dim light. “I’ll be in soon.”
Asher’s scowl deepened. “She wants you now.”
Blair rested his hand on my hip. Asher’s eyes followed the motion.
“Five minutes won’t make a difference,” Blair said.
I shifted from one foot to the other as the two men stared each other down, not one hundred percent sure what was going on except that it was a giant pissing contest with me in the center.
Asher shifted his attention to me. “Do you really want to do this? He’s just going to leave in another week or two.”
My instincts screamed at me to push Blair away and reassure Asher, but where did he get off questioning my choices when he’d told me both through his words and actions that he didn’t want me himself?
“It’s my choice what I do and with whom,” I said firmly.
The corners of his mouth turned downward. “I just don’t want to see you hurt, and neither do your brothers.”
I softened toward him a smidge. “That’s sweet—although it has nothing to do with any of you, and again, it’s my choice. If you’re really bothered by the decisions I make, perhaps you should ask yourself why.”
His breath caught, and he looked stricken. He backed up a step. “I can’t.” He shook his head, as if reinforcing that fact. “I just can’t.”
With that, he turned and stalked away.
“Wait!” I called after him.
I hadn’t meant to upset him. Just to make him question why he cared so much about what I did. But he didn’t stop, and he didn’t return to the pub. Instead, he took off down the darkened street.
I was about to turn away when movement in the corner of my eye stopped me. I stared hard at the alcove where I’d seen the movement. I could have sworn there was someone there. But I couldn’t see anything.
I took a few steps toward the alcove, but halted when Blair touched my shoulder.
“Did you see that?” I asked, glancing back at him.
He frowned. “See what?”