He unceremoniously removes her arms when she wraps themaround his neck.
“What are you doing here?”he asks.
“Your mom called.”
Okay, private conversation.I leave his drink on thebar behind him and slowly walk away.
***Ethan***
Fuck!I should have known Mother would pull a stunt likethis.I can feel Casey pulling away, and not just physically.
“What did she say to you, Shae?”
“Only to meet you here.Obviously, you weren’t expecting me.”
“Obviously.”
“Well, now that I’m here—”
“Go home.”
“But, Ethan….”
She pouts her shiny, red lips at me.It’s never workedbefore, and it’s not about to work now.
“Go home.You and my mother need to stop.It’s not going tohappen.I’m not interested, and neither is he.”
For the first time since I’ve known her, she displays someemotion.Her lips tremble, and she blinks back tears.Damn it.
“Look… You’re a beautiful woman.It just won’t work betweenus.”
“Don’t give me the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ speech.Spare me.I hope you find whatever it is you’re looking for.”
Her lips are wishing me well, but her eyes say otherwise.She spins on her heels and storms out.We both know she’s not the one, but shehas her eyes set on that alpha title, and I don’t need that kind of woman in mylife.
I can feel Charlie’s eyes on me.I turn to where he’ssitting and see the nervous look on his face.Casey’s next to him, her armlinked through his.She’s smiling and animatedly chattering away about the NewYork party scene.I nod, indicating he’s fine.He nods in understanding andjoins the conversation.I pick up my drink and start to make my way over tothem.Before I’m even halfway there, she jumps up, pulling on Charlie’s arm.
“Comeon!”she urges.
With a sigh, he slides out of the booth.She giggles and dragshim to the dance floor.Sitting across from Brick, I watch as she throws herarms around Charlie’s neck.Is she trying to make me jealous?I trust Charlieimplicitly, but I can’t help the possessive feelings stirring in me.She’smine.I walk over to them and tap his shoulder.Without a word, Charlie steps out ofher embrace and heads back to the booth.As I pull her into my arms, she looksinto my eyes.
“Where’s your friend?”she asks.
“I sent her home.”
“Oh?Yousenther?”
“I told her to go home.”
“And people always do what you say?”
I shrug indifferently.“Pretty much.”
“I see.”
“It’s just my mother playing matchmaker.There’s nothingthere.”
“For you, maybe.”
