I slip into the booth beside her, gently wrapping my arm around her body and pulling her close. “Hey baby. You okay?”
Her head wobbles as she tries to look at me. Her pupils are slightly unfocused. Fuck, what happened?
“Bruce?” she manages in a weak voice.
“Yeah, baby. It’s me. Do you want to be here, or do you want to go home?”
She shakes her head and points at Tom’s back. “I asked him to take me home. I don’t feel good, and he keeps buying me drinks and telling me to, ‘Chill, babe.’”
That asshole. He’s going to get a piece of my mind, but not now because there are more important things to tend to. Carefully, I help Katie up, holding her tightly to my side. I make sure she’s stable before I approach Tom and tap him on the shoulder. “I’m taking her with me.”
Tom looks at me with a smirk on his face. “Have at it. She’s way too fucked up for me.”
“How much did you give her to drink?” I ask, using every ounce of strength I have to keep my composure.
“Just a couple of Long Island Iced Teas, and frankly, that took a hell of a lot of convincing on my part. The chick’s a lightweight.”
“Asshole,” I snap. I could easily start a fight with this man, but right now, my one concern is getting Katie out of here safe and sound.
Once we reach my car, I feel Katie start to pass out. Her body goes limp. “Katie? Katie?” She can’t even talk, she’s so wasted. “Baby?”
Her head lolls back even as her mouth hangs open. Oh shit.
Gently, I buckle her into the passenger seat and take her back to my place, where I carry her inside. At this point, she’s out cold.
I lay her down on my bed and undress her down to her bra and panties, knowing it would be uncomfortable for her to sleep in a dress, especially one that looks stained with liquid. Then I take off my clothes, throw them in the hamper, and climb into bed right next to her. I wrap my arms around her body and listen to her breathing.
Good.
She’s going to be okay.
I just have to make sure she doesn’t throw up during the night and choke on it. So I position her onto her side, spoon her close to my body, and lock my hands with hers.
And in a matter of minutes, I fall asleep, feeling at ease now that she’s at my side again.
19
Katie
What happened?
I blink into the darkness, trying to remember, but it’s all a giant blur. Tom Benning. Club Echo. A couple of Long Island Iced Teas practically forced down my throat. But after that, I don’t really know what happened.
What feels like soft, silky sheets caress my skin. It’s then that I realize that I’ve been stripped down to my bra and panties. A second later, a strong, male arm flexes, tightening its grip around my body.
Ever so carefully, I start to move, trying not to wake whomever is beside me. His arm is heavy, but I manage to lift it off my body, placing it by his side. He snorts, choking back a snore. I tense, thinking he’s about to wake up, but instead, he stretches a bit and continues to sleep soundly. It’s too dark to see who he is.
I get out of bed and stumble around the room before locating the window. There, I pull back the curtain slightly, letting some moonlight filter into the room. Thankfully, it’s just enough to illuminate my dress, shoes, and purse. I quickly snatch them up and put them on before leaving the bedroom with my purse firmly in hand.
It’s only when I walk out of the bedroom and into a brightly lit hallway that it dawns on me. I’m in Bruce’s house!
How in the hell did I get here? Did he bring me here? Or did I come here myself? Trying to remember only makes my head hurt. I rub my temples, hoping that will help, but it provides little relief.
Creak!
The sound spooks me, and I scurry toward the front door. I really don’t want to stick around, so I call myself an Uber and wait at the curb for it to show up.
“Miss James?” the driver asks when he arrives. Hearing him address me in such a formal manner reminds me of Bruce. Miss James. Hearing him say my name was always enough to send a shiver down my spine. There was just something so sexy about his voice.
“Miss?” the driver repeats, looking at me, his head slightly cocked in question.
“Yes, yes, sorry.” I get into the back of the car.
He waits until I’m buckled in before driving off. As soon as we’re on the road, my thoughts start to wander, buzzing with a million and one questions. How the hell did I end up in Bruce’s bed?
