CHAPTER TWELVE
SCOTT
The party was in full swing by the time we got there—around nine thirty, because going later would already have been an inconsiderate move. I explained all this to her as we drove through the city into the posh neighborhood where Doug lived, and she absorbed my words like a sponge. I tried my best not to let my eyes stray to her face, which had transformed from pretty to gorgeous with just a few sweeps of smoky eyeliner and red lipstick. As I parked the car in the driveway, I smiled at how her eyes widened when she took in the mansion, which was so big you could fit two mansions inside it. Yeah, Doug was extravagant in that aspect and I had to hand it to the man.
When we got to the porch, I held out my hand. “Coat.”
She hesitated.
“Come on, Jules. Show off that cleavage. You’re coming in with me and Doug’s bound to notice. Make the first impression count.”
I smiled as I watched her debate over it. I watched her steel herself. Then she nodded her head and began removing her coat, just as the door opened and one of the football players greeted us.
The smile disappeared from my face as I took her in.
She didn’t wear the blue dress, but the white dress—a halter one with a swinging skirt that played around her thighs, and strings that tied up at the back of her neck. Her entire back was bare, showing off more skin than I was accustomed to seeing from her.
Soft skin. Creamy skin.
Extremely kissable skin.
Fuck it.
“Hey, McCall! Glad to see you again.”
Hearing my name, I tore my gaze away from her enough to look at the football player. What was his name again?
“Hey, Andy.” I resisted the urge to tear his eyes out as he looked Julie from head to foot with a slight leer. Instead, I shouldered my way in and protected her in my arms, trying not to notice how her tits looked fantastic in her dress—and how they bounced with her every movement.
She wasn’t wearing a goddamn bra.
Fuck. It.
Julie was looking hot as hell tonight, and I wasn’t the only one noticing.
We bypassed the living room, where there was a bunch of already drunk athletes talking in loud voices. Some of them greeted me and gave Julie curious glances, and I knew what they had in mind—that she was my date. Others invited me over to join them on the couch, but I declined. I could tell Julie was nervous based on how stiff her shoulders were, which meant she wasn’t used to huge, rowdy, rich parties like this.
I wanted to put my hand around her shoulder, but my hands were itching too much with the want to touch her. So I placed my palm on her back instead, careful to keep it away from bare skin.
“Hey, relax,” I whispered in her ear as I steered her towards the recreation room. “This is a party, after all.”
She inhaled a breath. Then she nodded. “I know. I’m just…this is it.”
“Like I said, relax. Doug isn’t going to bite.”
She shot me an amused look at that, and I was glad to see her relax. Then she frowned. “So we’re on some pretend date now?”
I nodded. “Not really, but people will speculate. And Doug will notice.”
She looked skeptical. “But wouldn’t that make him back off?”
I shook my head. “Trust me, Jules. Men like the challenge.” I didn’t because I never went after women who were already obviously with others, but I didn’t mention that.
A few seconds later, we got inside the recreation room where some more athletes were found. Doug was there, and a woman was heavily flirting with him and giggling occasionally. She was exactly his type—blonde, slim, and hanging on to his every word. Julie’s back stiffened again, but I patted her there and quietly told her to wait.
She looked up at me, her hazel eyes hopeful.
And I found myself remembering the kiss all over again. Damn it.
I erased it from my mind with thoughts of racing guidelines, club business rules and the likes—boring stuff. It prevented me from acting out on what I was feeling after that kiss, that tingly sensation that seemed to wrap every inch of my skin.
The blonde said something that made Doug laugh. He threw back his head—then glanced in our direction.
I watched the way his eyes immediately noted where my hand was. Then he finally took Julie in, and his eyes widened.
I couldn’t exactly blame him.
Just like that, his attention was now on us as he approached, completely forgetting the blonde who frowned at his back. For some reason, that bothered me—though for the life of me, I couldn’t pinpoint why.
“Hey, man. Happy birthday.”
“Thanks, glad you could make it.” He smiled at me in his usual friendly manner. Then he turned to Julie, his expression warming some more. “Hey.”
“Hi,” Julie smiled at him, her face transforming. “Happy birthday,” she said softly.
“Thank you. I’m really glad you could make it. And wow. You look great.”
And that was my cue to leave. I nudged Julie. “Drinks?”
“Coke?”
“Boring,” I shot back. “I’ll get you something else.” Then I was out of there, leaving them alone—and leaving Doug wondering what was going on between us. It was the perfect bait.
There was a great selection of wine and other alcoholic drinks at Doug’s bar. Color me impressed. He even had a bartender. I went to the back patio where I saw a martini bar and a little pool party going on, with women clad in skimpy bikinis. I ordered one glass and got a Coke for Julie, having only been jesting earlier. She was good at keeping her beer, but I wasn’t sure about hard drinks, and I didn’t want her inebriated before she even started with her moves.
And men taking advantage.
When I got back to the entertainment room, they were no longer there. I wandered around while sipping, keeping polite with the people who tried to start up a conversation but never engaging. It was when I got to Doug’s other entertainment room that I stopped.
Doug and Julie were there, talking animatedly.
I watched as a glow came on her face as she listened to whatever Doug was saying, and how she looked shy and confident at the same time when she answered—it was an extremely charming combination. That charm radiated off her now in spades, and despite Doug already hogging her attention, a few of the men who passed by glanced her way still, as if hoping to catch her interest. Doug’s eyes remained on her face, though he would glance down from time to time whenever she took a sip of her…was that scotch?
Displeasure surged in me at the thought of her getting tipsy with Doug. Then disbelief followed the displeasure because…well, what the hell did I care? She could get tipsy all she wanted.
His hand went to hers, a sort of brushing. Julie’s eyes widened as Doug leaned forward and whispered near her ear. Then she nodded, a smile blooming on her face as she let Doug take her hand…and lead her upstairs.
I stared as they walked up the stairs, then kept staring until they finally disappeared from my sight. Julie didn’t see, like a ‘give it all away at the first chance’ …but again, what did I care? Or know?
It was her life. It was her choice.
But what the hell did she see in Doug?
She was too smart for him. Too feisty. Too…vibrant.
The kiss popped in my head again, eliciting an answering erection. I cursed in my head as I recalled how hot that kiss had been, encumbering us in fire. But obviously, I was the only one who felt that way, considering how she jumped ship eagerly. Something low settled in my belly now—something that felt like jealousy.
I downed the rest of my drink in one huge gulp, shaking my head to forget about it.
Then I went back to the pool party to find myself someone.
Maybe getting laid was the solution to my messed-up thoughts.