“EXCUSE ME,” CAME a syrupy-sweet male voice behind me as I stood in the middle of the Rosemont watching the revolving doors. Not that Jackson would be coming through them again anytime soon, but I couldn’t bring myself to move. Had that really just happened? The woman Jackson was basically promised to had come crashing into Savannah with the grace of a wrecking ball, and he’d run along after her.

He had to, came the small voice of reason from somewhere in the far recesses of my brain. He would’ve rather stayed with you, but he couldn’t just leave her. That was what the rational side of my brain said. The irrational side saw how devastated she’d been and remembered what that felt like, especially at the hands of Jackson. It was enough to send anyone into a straitjacket—or in my case, into a club full of willing cocks, and she didn’t exactly look the type to relieve her sadness with a good fucking or thirty. Not that that had made me forget for long, but it at least took the edge off before the realization of what had been lost came crashing back in.

What would he tell her about us? That it was a mistake? That he hadn’t meant it? Or would he tell her it was more…

“Oh honey, don’t feel bad,” came that voice again, and this time a blond with a lip ring came around to stand in front of me. “That happened to me once too, only he was married with two kids.” He tsked. “Those straight guys. They never leave their wives. We’re just their naughty little experiment before they go back to a life of monogamy and boring vanilla sex.” His eyes trailed down to my hips, and he sucked the lip ring into his mouth. “But don’t worry. I can make you forget aaall about ole whatshisname.”

I stared at the stranger offering himself up for rebound sex. A week ago, I may have taken him up on his offer. But tonight? And sober? Fuck. That. I had to get out of there.

Ignoring him completely, I headed toward the exit, and he called after me, “If you change your mind, I’m in room seven fourteen!”

Yeah, and now all the straight married guys on vacation know, I thought, pulling my car keys out of my pocket. Go grab yourself one of those.

I jumped into my truck and slammed the door, but I had no idea where the fuck to go now. There was no telling how long he’d be, so it didn’t make sense to stay, but did I really want to go somewhere else? Sighing, I leaned back in my seat and rubbed my face. This was not how tonight was supposed to go. I only had a handful of hours left with him, and Sydney was here to commandeer those? Like she wasn’t the lucky one who got to see him every single day of her perfect existence.

Fuck. The green-eyed monster wasn’t letting me off easy tonight, but I was feeling selfish, dammit, and didn’t I deserve to?

Calm down, asshole. He won’t be long. He’ll just tell her he’s crazy about you and then you’ll go upstairs and he’ll show you.

As I looked out at the people walking arm in arm down the street, ready for a fun night out, I felt the irrational jealousy unfurling. They were all exactly where they wanted to be, with people they—

Fuck, there Jackson was, crouching down to where Sydney was sitting—why sitting?—on the sidewalk. They were back-and-forthing it until finally Jackson swept her into his arms. Even from here I could see the look of adoration on her face as she put her arms around his neck. It made me queasy, but I couldn’t stop watching, not until they disappeared into the Montview Hotel.

What the fuck? A hotel? Was he going up to her room now? Seriously? And carrying her up there, no less?

My heart battered my chest until I thought it would tear free, and as the blood pumped through my veins, rushing in my ears loud enough to drown out my common sense, I knew exactly what would happen next. I started up the truck and peeled out of the parking spot before I changed my mind.

I DIDN’T HAVE to push my way through the crowd at Argos, since my mood seemed to announce my presence to anyone within ten feet of me. Shaw stood at the bar, and it was obvious he was on the prowl by the bold look he gave to the man he was talking to, but if I wasn’t getting who I wanted, no one else was either, so I inserted myself into their happy little personal space so that I was face to face with Shaw.

He was about to tell me off when I said, “Tequila shots. Five, and don’t give me a hard time.”

The annoyance on his face was replaced with confusion. “What’s—”

“Five, Shaw.”

He was quiet for a minute as he studied me, and then he apologized to the guy behind me and sent him on his way. After signaling over one of the bartenders, Shaw placed my order while I drummed my fingers on the bar and looked out at the crowd tonight. Lots of regulars, but several new faces. Decisions, decisions.

The tequila came out just the way I liked it, with no preamble of salt or lime, and I did the shots in quick succession.

“He left, didn’t he.”

I finished off the last of the tequila and wiped my mouth on the back of my hand. “Not exactly.”

“You mean Jackson’s still in town? Why the fuck are you here, then?”

“Not tonight, Shaw,” I said, turning to leave, but he grabbed my arm.

“Don’t do anything fucking stupid, Lucas.”

“Sure, Dad.”

His grip on me tightened. “I mean it. You’ll hate yourself tomorrow. It’s not worth it.”

“Who gives a fuck about tomorrow, Shaw,” I said, ripping my arm from his hold. I could feel the burn of the alcohol flaring down my chest, moving through my veins. Soon I wouldn’t be able to feel, and that was just the way I wanted it. There, no one could touch me. They couldn’t hurt me, couldn’t leave. It was my wall of protection, the one I could retreat behind when I couldn’t face things. It wasn’t the healthiest coping method, but meditating or doing some stupid yoga shit wasn’t gonna cut it—not tonight, not ever.

“Sorry to cut in, but…you’re Lucas, right?” Lean and somewhat attractive in a quirky way, the guy looked nervously between me and Shaw, and then gave me a shy smile. “I’m—”

“I don’t care,” I said before the twink could give me his name. I didn’t want names. I didn’t want conversation.

Grabbing a fistful of his shirt, I dragged him onto the dance floor as the music changed and a grinding rhythm came over the loud speakers. Yeah. He’d do for tonight. I took him deeper into the depths of the club and I turned to face him, giving him a cocksure smile as I began to dance.

The guy’s eyes were wide as he watched me, like he couldn’t believe I’d actually agreed to dance with him, but then he grinned back and stepped in closer, moving his hips and pulling me forward against him. I could feel how hard he was behind his jeans, and even through the fog of my brain, I knew this was wrong.

Come on, tequila, I thought, closing my eyes so I wouldn’t have to look at someone who wasn’t the man I wanted. Don’t let me down.

“I thought you’d be home consoling your man tonight,” Bash said in my ear, and my eyes flew open to see him standing beside me in a low-cut black jumpsuit, a scowl marking his pretty face.

“Nice of you to answer your phone earlier.”

He ignored my jab. “What are you doing here, Lucas?”

“Dancing. Care to join?”

He shook his head as Shaw came up behind him. Great. A man couldn’t just enjoy himself without those two playing the role of conscience.

“Ignore them and maybe they’ll go away,” I said to my dance partner in an exaggerated whisper, and then I rolled my hips against his in a way that made him groan.

“Listen,” Shaw said, “it’s obvious something’s up. I’m the last person to tell you not to have a good time, but you’re askin’ for trouble, man.”

“Since when is that anything new?”

Bash raised an eyebrow at Shaw. “Since last Friday, isn’t that right?”

“Yeah, that’s about right,” Shaw replied.

I turned my back on the dirty grinder as he continued to dance behind me. “Guys, I appreciate the gangbang approach that’s happening right now, but I’d like it even more if you two would mind your own damn business.”

“We’re the ones your stupid ass is gonna be crying to,” Shaw said, and then over my shoulder, he told the brunette, “Get lost, kid.”

“Don’t you go anywhere,” I said, reaching back to stop him from trying.

Bash sighed and inspected his dark nails. “You know, I don’t typically say this sort of thing, since it’s more Shaw’s brand of brashness, but you really are quite a dumb shit, Sully boy.”

“You’re finally getting that, are you? This is me,” I said, spreading my hands wide. “This is what I do.”

“It doesn’t have to be. Go home to Jackson,” Shaw said.

“Gee, what a great fucking idea,” I said. “Oh, wait. Nope, can’t do that. He’s busy with his fiancée.”

“His what?” they said at the same time, and the looks on their faces would’ve been comical under any other circumstance.

“Yeah, the woman he’s supposed to marry just happened to come in town tonight and caught us on our way up to his room. Of course, he chased after her, so you’ll have to excuse me if I didn’t want to sit around waiting like the third fucking wheel.”

Sympathy lit Shaw’s eyes. “Lucas—”

“He’s just gonna leave again. I’ve been here before. I know how this works.” I shoved Shaw back into the crowd. “Now kindly fuck off.”

Bash moved in front of him and glared at me. “You’re making a mistake.”

“Mine to make.”

“That’s enough,” Shaw said, taking a hold of Bash’s wrist. “Just let him do what he’s gonna do. We can’t stop him.”

“Glad you finally figured that out,” I said, and then turned my back on my friends and let the music dictate my next moves.