Chapter 11
Eleven
I drink more than one.
Between the whiskey and tequila shots, alcohol is pleasantly buzzing through my veins.
It’s enough to loosen me up, but not enough to dull my senses.
I notice every move she makes out on the dance floor with April.
How she tilts her head back when she laughs, long hair hanging loose down her back.
How the fabric of her jeans clings to her ass and thighs as she moves her hips.
I know I should look away, but I can’t. She’s captivating.
When Vaughan called me last month and invited me to the opening night of his new bar, I agreed.
Over the years, he has built an impressive real estate portfolio.
He regularly saves businesses that need a cash injection or builds something that meets the needs of the community.
I make sure I always show up for him because he is one of the few people who has consistently supported me.
After spending so much time with Beck over the past three days, a weekend away from Emerley was just what I needed.
Imagine my shock when the woman I want distance from slid into the booth next to me.
How is she even more beautiful tonight than she was when I drove her to work this morning?
She had lined her sapphire-blue eyes with thick black strokes.
Painted her plump lips in a shade similar to her top.
And as always, the sweet scent of cherries surrounds her.
Vaughan mentioned he was seeing someone new the last time we spoke. But he’s always dating someone new. I can barely keep up. He never mentioned her name, nor that she lived in Emerley—I would have put the pieces together if he had.
It’s clear that April was the mastermind in getting Beck and me in the same place at the same time. I don’t know how she got Vaughan to go along with it, but I know Beck was as surprised to see me.
“I’m sorry about earlier,” Vaughan interrupts my thoughts. “I shouldn’t have dug up the past like that. Not with the girls here.”
“It’s fine; don’t worry about it,” I say, brushing off his concern. “I overreacted. I just want to keep my life in Emerley separate.” It’s more complicated than that, but I don’t want to talk about my mixed feelings with Vaughan tonight.
“I see the way you watch her,” he states as he sips his drink.
“What are you talking about?” I narrow my eyes at him. Apparently, I’m not being as discreet as I thought I was.
“She’s important to you,” he says, raising an eyebrow as he places his tumbler on the table.
“We have the same friends, but I don’t really know her that well.” He knows me better than most, so I know he won’t let it go easily.
“And why is that? Why haven’t you gotten to know her?”
“You know why.”
“She reminds you of Lily.” When I don’t answer, he continues. “It was a long time ago. Don’t you think it’s time to move on and bring someone new into your life? You’re forty. Don’t you want to settle down and start a family?”
“Says the man who’s dating a girl a couple of years older than his son,” I snort. “I’m not sure you should be giving me relationship advice.”
“Hey, I’ve already been married, and it didn’t work out. Now I want to have fun. You, on the other hand, live like a hermit.”
“I don’t live like a hermit; I’m private. There’s a difference,” I deny. “Plus, I have friends. I go out all the time.”
Ignoring my objection, he continues. “Beck’s great. Funny and smart. April adores her; she says that she is incredibly talented. Not to mention she’s very beautiful.”
“Yes, she’s all of those things, but I’m not interested in pursuing a relationship with her or anyone else.”
“Maybe she doesn’t want a relationship either. Maybe she’s looking for something casual.” He leans back on the bench and raises his chin towards the dance floor. “Like with that guy.”
Turning my gaze back to where the girls are dancing, I see a heavily tattooed man slide up behind Beck and place his hands on her hips. Looking over her shoulder, she grins at the stranger and keeps on moving, never missing a beat.
The sight hits me straight in the chest. Every instinct tells me to stay where I am. To let her have fun. She can dance with anyone she wants. I grip the table to hold myself in place as my pulse picks up.
She must feel me watching her because she turns her head and meets my eyes.
Her mouth twists into a smirk. A challenge to see what I’m going to do about it.
She wants a reaction. Reaching behind her head, she loops her arm around the back of his neck and winks at me as she continues swaying her hips.
“What’s wrong, buddy?” Vaughan chuckles. “I thought you weren’t interested.”
“I’m not,” I refute as the man spins her around and pulls her closer. His hands slip lower as they grind together with his knee between her thighs.
And that’s it. I don’t think; I just act. I’m on my feet, weaving through the crowd to get to her.
Sliding up behind her, I rest my hands on her waist and pull her towards me.
“Thanks for keeping my girl company, but I’ve got her from here,” I say calmly, flashing the guy as polite a smile as I can manage.
The last thing I want to do is punch him in the face for touching Beck on Vaughan’s opening night.
Stepping away, he laughs, raising his hands in surrender. “Sorry, man. I didn’t know she was here with someone.” Turning, he disappears into the crowd.
Beck spins around and glares at me. “What the fuck was that?”
Keeping my tone easy, I say, “Oh, I thought I was saving you. From where I was sitting, the way you were contorting your body looked like you were trying to get away from him. My bad.” My hands don’t leave her body. Instead, I pull her towards me, falling back into the rhythm together.
“Seriously, Ryan?” She shakes her head, half laughing, half exasperated. “You’re unbelievable.”
“What? I was looking out for you,” I say in feigned innocence.
“Oh, yeah. That’s what it always is—you just looking out for me.”
“Someone has to,” I counter.
“Oh my God. That was so hot,” April interrupts, grasping Beck’s arm. Reluctantly, I release her and step back to give them space.
“I don’t know about that.” Beck rolls her eyes and shakes her head.
“We’re ready to head out,” Vaughan says as he pulls April to his side.
“You don’t mind walking her back to the hotel, do you, Ryan?” April asks.
“Of course he doesn’t,” Vaughan answers for me, patting me on the back.
“Do you have your room key?” April asks Beck.
“Yep,” she says, patting her pocket.
With a hug and plans to meet up in the morning, our friends walk away, leaving us standing in the middle of the dance floor.
Reaching out, I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, before I can think better of it. Her casual touches are becoming contagious. “Do you want to stay and dance some more, or are you ready to go?”
“Yeah, I’m ready to go.”
“I can’t find my key card,” Beck says as she spins in circles in the hotel lobby, checking all her pockets. “I swear I had it with me when I left our room. It must have fallen out of my pocket when I checked my phone earlier.”
“We can stop at the front desk and get you a new one—no big deal,” I tell her as I lead the way across the glossy hardwood floor.
The temperature dropped as the night progressed, and the fresh air walking from the bar to the hotel helped me sober up a little.
“My friend has misplaced her key card,” I tell the bored-looking front desk clerk. “Can you give her a new one, please?”
“Room number?” he mutters, raising his eyes slowly from the computer monitor.
“406,” she responds cheerfully.
Expelling a loud breath, he asks, “Name?”
Jesus. Would it hurt this guy to insert some inflection in his voice? I know there isn’t much happening this late at night, but this guy is acting majorly inconvenienced for doing his job.
“Beck Stone,” she smiles sweetly. “Or it could be under Rebecca.”
His fingers tap away on the keyboard for a moment before he looks up. “You’re not on the guest list.”
“Oh, maybe it’s under April’s name?” Biting her bottom lip, she picks at the cuticle of her thumbnail.
“Are you April?” He quirks an eyebrow with his hands hovering over the keys.
“No,” she says slowly, furrowing her forehead and pointing to her chest. “I’m Beck.”
“I don’t know who you are.” He sighs loudly. “I cannot give a key to just anyone, and I don’t see your name as a guest.” He taps his finger on the computer monitor.
“Can you please call Mr. Sinclair to verify that Beck can have a new key? She is his guest tonight,” I ask, trying to remain calm instead of reaching across the counter and grabbing him around the neck.
“Good idea,” she agrees, looking between me and the man across from us. “Yeah, please call Vaughan.”
Slowly picking up the phone, he punches in the numbers, listens for a moment, and then hangs up. “No answer. It went straight to voicemail.”
“What am I supposed to do?” She throws her hands in the air. “All my stuff is in that room.”
“I can’t help you,” he says dismissively, straightening the papers on his desk.
I glance at the name tag on his shirt. Todd. I can’t wait to tell Vaughan how unhelpful Todd was tonight. Asshole.
“Should I just sleep in the lobby? Maybe in a chair over by the fire?” She gestures wildly towards the other side of the room.
“Hey, come here,” I say, pulling her into my arms before this escalates even further. “It’s fine. You can stay with me.”
“I shouldn’t have to,” she says, resting her forehead on my chest. “You don’t understand. This is supposed to be a fun night away. I’m constantly screwing up the simplest things.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong.” Slowly rubbing my hand up and down her back, I rest my chin on the top of her head. “You misplaced the key card. It could have happened to anyone.”
Releasing her, I take her by the hand and lead her across the polished wooden floor towards the bank of elevators. It arrives quickly, and we step inside together.
“It could happen to anyone, but it always happens to me,” she mutters, eyes dropping to the floor. “I’m so sorry.”