Page 66 of Counting On You

Chapter Seventeen

Vicky

Iburymy head between my hands. My breath becomes labored. My head is pounding. This day has officially turned into one of the worst days of my life.

“Can I buy you a drink?” A guy in his forties slides into the seat next to me.

I raise my head and nod my head in agreement. “Sure, why not.”

“Another drink for the lady.” He gestures to the barman, probably mentally high-fiving himself at the prospect of a sure thing.

“Where’s your boyfriend?” he asks as the barman slides a glass of vodka on the rocks across the counter.

At home, drooling over a Victoria’s Secret model who doesn’t even know he exists.

“Not here,” I mutter and bring the glass to my lips, readying myself to take a generous, numbing gulp when a strong grip holds my hand in place. “What the—” I turn around angrily and see Kade leaning over me.

His breath is close to my face—warm, moist, and deliciously sexy. I stare at his lips, wondering what he’d do if I just pressed my mouth against his.

“What the fuck are you doing, Vicky?” Kade’s voice is sharp, menacing. And holy hell, he’s angry. “I’ve just spent the last half hour looking for you. When the bouncer said you left the office, I thought you had run away. Do you have any idea how much you scared me?”

I laugh. “Why would I want to run away?”

“That’s the question I kept asking myself when I couldn’t find you.” He yanks the glass out of my hand, spilling a few drops in the process, and places it on the counter with a little too much force.

“You shouldn’t have worried.” I peer at my vodka, wondering how much of it it’d take to push Bruce into the proverbial filing cabinet of my mind.

Or force him into complete oblivion.

“Hey, back off, dude. She’s with me,” the guy says, his fingers wrapping around mine.

“Get your fucking hands off of her,” Kade roars.

“Is he your boyfriend?” the guy asks.

I know I should be lying for the sake of getting rid of him and returning the peace. But I can’t. It’s clear Bruce would rather be with someone else. This stranger’s attention is like a balm to my wounded soul.

I shake my head. “No. He’s my roommate.”

“Let’s head to my place, then.” The guy’s grip on my hand tightens, and I realize I should have lied.

Kade’s jaw sets. Before I can tell the guy that I’m not interested, Kade slams his fist into his face, sending him flying backwards. “I said get your fucking fingers off of her before I break them.”

“Kade.” I step in front of him as I watch the guy stumble to his feet, his hand pressed against his nose. “He was just buying me a drink.”

“And you decided to thank him by fucking him?” Kade almost spits out the words.

He’s so angry I almost laugh. The hypocrisy is ridiculous. Wasn’t he planning on fucking the blonde dancer when he hadn’t even bought her a drink?

“Why not?” I yell at him. “I’m not exactly a virgin.”

“What about Bruce? I thought you were going to be faithful to him.”

“Bruce.” I let out a laugh. “You mean the guy who wants to fuck a stick?” I laugh again at his confused expression, my veins boiling from the two glasses of vodka and the adrenaline coursing through them. “Relax, dude. We’re all adults here. Why don’t you go fuck your hot little dancer who you pretend isn’t a stripper? What? You thought I didn’t see you eyeing her up and down?”

“I barely noticed her, Vicky,” Kade says, his tone suddenly calm and sincere.

Oh, he’s a good liar, this one. He might just give Bruce a run for his money.

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