Page 23 of Counterfeit Connection

Kaitlyn raises her hand. “Swear. Scout’s honor.”

I can tell the mixture of more time with me, the alcohol flowing, and the good company has made her infinitely more comfortable as time has progressed this evening. It pleases me deep in my chest. There’s nothing I want more than to make sure she feels safe and secure whenever she’s around me. I’m not sure where this feeling is coming from, considering I barely know her, but regardless, it’s there.

“Are we going dancing after this?” Katarina asks, clasping her hands together like she’s praying. “Please say we are. This dress looks too good not to show off under some strobe lights.”

I’d be lying if I said the idea of spinning Kaitlyn around a dance floor in that dress she’s wearing didn’t excite me on a primal level.

Kaitlyn looks to me for input, so I give it. “I think Tobias and I would like to take you anywhere else you’d like to go.”

Katarina and Kaitlyn picked a crowded club that looks like it’s been renovated from an old warehouse. The line extends from the door and all the way around the building. With Kaitlyn’s hand in mine, we follow Katarina as she leads us up to the front, where she apparently knows the bouncer.

Flash. Flash. Flash.

Someone is across the street snapping photos, using a large camera with a huge lens. Christ. It never ends.

Ignore them,I tell myself, and none of my mates for the evening seem to notice. Good.

We are led inside after Katarina places a kiss on the cheek of the large, bearded bouncer, and I’m shocked there are three times the number of bodies inside as there are outside.

There are three levels, all of which are packed to the brim with a true menagerie of different humans.

“This isn’t your usual scape, mate. You going to survive?” Tobias says.

I stuff my hands into my pockets and lean in so he can hear me. “The eye candy certainly helps.” I smile and nod toward our lovely companions for the evening.

We are barely inside the door before Katarina comes running back toward us and grabs Tobias by the hands. “Dance with me!” she commands excitedly.

“Pardon me, mate. I have an incredible woman to impress on the dance floor.” Tobias begins to roll up his sleeves as they weave through the crowd and toward the main dance floor.

In the blink of an eye, Kaitlyn and I are alone again… so I extend my hand to her. “Care for a drink? I am driving us back, so I’m stopping for the night, but I’ll gladly buy you another.”

“What? You don’t want to dance with me?” she asks with a grin.

I think the whiskey and drinks at dinner have loosened her up. I like it.

“Surely you can tell by looking at my face that all I’ve thought about since we walked into the establishment is being able to dance with you. It means unfettered access to a beautiful woman pressing herself against me.”

She places her hand in mine. “Then come on. Show me how those posh British boys do it.”

So I did.

We danced. We spent time by the bar and had some water and a couple of bites of food. We settled into an ease together, unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

An hour into our time at the dance club, I point over to Katarina and Tobias, who are making out in a corner just off the main floor. “I have a feeling those two won’t be saying goodnight until the morning.”

Kaitlyn peers over my shoulder to see them. “Honestly, I’m not surprised. That girl could have chemistry with a statue.”

“We should probably get them out of here before they end up with an indecent exposure charge.”

She nods in agreement, so I settle the tab and take her hand while we make our way to our friends. I’m not sure whereKaitlyn will be going since our companions will be a little occupied… but I know I don’t want our night to end yet.

Chapter 8

Griffin

Not like I didn’t know where tonight was going when we began, but here we are. As I expected, Kaitlyn didn’t want to leave Katarina completely alone when she announced she was going back with Tobias to his room. So having this beautiful woman waiting for her friend in my room was the best available option.

The ride back must have sobered her up a little, because she keeps rubbing her hand up and down her arm. I’ve watched her do it since we walked through the lobby. I’m not certain if it’s a nervous habit, if she’s cold, or both. I quietly say her name. “Kaitlyn?”

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