Chapter 39
thirty-nine
Watching Reyna and Brex flirt and dance is driving me insane, but I can handle Brex’s shit.
The only thing I can’t handle, which is pissing me off, is the fact that he has his hands all over her and I don’t.
What I really want to do is go over there and smash her body between ours like we did at the club last year.
Talk about a scandal. The Mayor’s wife, Martha, would probably have a conniption, not to mention it would absolutely put my job in jeopardy.
All night I’ve been trying to keep my attention focused on whoever I’m speaking to, but I can’t for the life of me keep my eyes from straying to the angel in red on the dance floor.
As Martha drones on about the equipment budget or some shit, a flash of red catches my eye again, and I shift my gaze, only to see Reyna strolling up to Alan.
What the fuck?
Grinding my teeth, I clench my one empty fist in the pocket of my pants as he leads her onto the dance floor.
Pressing my lips together in frustration, I watch for a beat before I make up my mind.
Keeping Reyna in my sights, I extend my apologies to Martha, excuse myself and down the rest of my drink before making a beeline for Reyna like a bull zeroed in on a muleta in a bullfighting arena.
With every step I take, my blood pressure spikes another ten points. Alan’s hand is way too low on her back, fingers splayed wide across the exposed skin just above her ass. It makes me want to rip his arm clean out of its socket.
“I’m cutting in.” The words leave my lips in low, guttural growl, but I don’t give a shit.
Mine.
Startled, Alan looks up, dropping his hand like it’s been burned. “Uh, yeah. Sure thing, Cap.”
Practically shoving him out of the way, I slide my hand possessively around Reyna’s waist. The warmth of her skin against my palm sends heat rushing through my veins as I pull her in close.
“Logan.” Her voice is breathy, eyes wide with surprise.
“Angel.” The word falls from my lips before I can stop it.
Her skin is so freaking soft. Even with the goosebumps that pop under my palm when I tuck my hand under the side of her dress.
“What are you doing?” she whispers, breath warm against my neck as her chest rises and falls, pressing her tits more firmly against me.
“You said you’d save me a dance. I’m cashing in.”
“I did. Didn’t I?”
Our bodies mold together perfectly, as if they were always meant to.
“You look incredible,” I murmur, grazing my lips over her ear.
She shivers. “Thank you.”
My dick jumps in my pants.
I catch Brex watching us from the bar, a knowing smirk on his face. The bastard. Fucker planned this whole thing.
As we circle the room, I see Alan has set his sights on Melody, a bartender who works at The Brew.
Good. Maybe she’ll keep him busy for the rest of the night.
Kinda hard to fight fires without your hands.
“Brex put you up to this?” I ask, spinning her out and back.
Her lips curl into a mischievous smile. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Hmmm. Whatever you say, Angel.”
Just as the song ends, Brex seems to materialize out of nowhere. It’s then that I realize I’ve been so lost in her, I almost forgot where we are.
“My turn.” He grins, holding out his hand.
Reyna’s eyes dart back and forth between us, something flickering behind them that I can’t quite read as she takes his hand.
“You’ve had several already,” I growl.
“And I plan on having many more.”
Smug fucker.
“One song,” I warn, low enough so only he can hear. “Then I get her back.”
“Sure thing,” he winks, spinning her away.
I retreat to the bar and order another whiskey while Brex waltzes her around the room.
When she throws her head back, laughing at something he says, the sound hits me right in the solar plexus.
For the next hour, we trade off like we’re playing some fucked-up game of musical chairs.
Every time a song ends, one of us is there, ready to claim her. But each time she’s back in my arms, she seems a little more tense. More closed off. At one point she excuses herself to the ladies’ room, Sasha following closely at her heels.
After another thirty minutes of cat-and-mouse, I ask, “Everything okay?”
“Of course.” But her smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Just a little warm.”
She’s lying. I can see it in her body language. Feel it in my bones. She’s not as pliant as she was with our first dance, not even our fifth.
Plus, she keeps glancing toward the exit.
“Um, maybe I just need to get some air.”
A rush of concern floods my veins. “You want me to come with you?”
“No. I… Excuse me.”
Before I can respond, she’s rushing across the room and out a side door.
Catching Brex’s eye across the room, I shrug and mouth, “What the fuck?”
Brex just jerks his head toward the door she just sailed through with a smirk, eyes dancing with that annoying I told you so glint he tends to get when he thinks he’s won.
Oh, now he wants me to go after her? After spending the last couple of hours playing pass-the-girl like she’s a goddamn football?
Fine. Whatever.
If anyone’s going to score a touchdown tonight, it’s gonna be me.
Cool night air clears some of the whiskey fog from my brain as I push out the door and whip my head to the left.
This side of the building opens to a narrow alley between the community center and the parking lot.
When I turn my head to the right, a flash of red catches the edge of my vision at the far end of the alley heading north toward the fire station.
“Rey!”
Before my brain can fully catch up, my feet are already moving. “Reyna! Wait!”
All she does is pick up her pace.
“Goddamn it,” I mutter under my breath, breaking into a jog.
My dress shoes aren’t built for this shit. Leather pinches the bridge of my foot as I round the corner just in time to see her cross Main Street, cutting diagonally across the intersection without even checking for traffic.
“Jesus Christ.” Heart hammering, I sprint after her, dodging a parked pickup truck and a couple walking their dog.
Once she turns onto Cedar, I slow down to a walk. Now that I know for sure where she’s headed, I can bide my time.
Sliding my hands into my pockets, I slow to a leisurely stroll.
If she thinks she can just run away after the hustle she helped Brex orchestrate, she’s got another thing coming.