Page 11 of Our Sweet Destiny
Treat climbed from his booth. “Duty calls,” he said with a smile.
Max rested her head on Treat’s chest, and Treat’s hands slipped around her waist. The couples next to them shifted, and there, across the dance floor, sitting at a table with Riley Banks, wearing a tight black dress that barely covered her thighs, was Jade. She had two empty glasses before her, and her cheeks had a rosy glow. The muscles in his arms tensed. He set his beer down, not realizing he’d slammed it until droplets flew over the rim and splattered across the table.
What is she doing here?
A tall, blond-haired guy approached Jade, and Rex sat up straighter, narrowing his eyes, assessing him in one quick glance: too friendly looking, all smiles and—look at him, touching her arm, her shoulder,sitting down at the table?
Rex took a slug of his beer, his eyes locked on the trio. Jade was smiling, but her eyes darted around the room. Rex knew women, and any woman whose eyes darted wasn’t interested.Get outta there, buddy.
“Rex, you look like you’re ready to kill someone,” Treat said as he sat down. Max squeezed in beside him.
The guy rose to his feet and reached for Jade’s hand. She followed him to the dance floor, then pressed her hands flat against his chest and rested her face between them, moving her body way too close to his.
Rex fisted his hands beneath the table.
“Rex,” Treat said as he touched his arm, “go cut in.”
“With who?” Max asked.
Treat nodded toward Jade.
“Hey, that’s the girl on the horse, the one who rode up when I smashed your car.” She kissed Treat, then said, “The best day of my life. The day you proposed.” She twisted the engagement ring on her finger.
“Yup,” Rex said. “That’s the one.”
“Rex, she’s so pretty, and the way she looked at you that day, I’d say she really liked you. You should ask her to dance, but maybe after they finish,” Max urged.
“Nope,” he answered.
“Why not? You only live once,” she said.
“Our families have been feuding forever,” Treat explained. “Well, our fathers have, and you know how Rex is about family loyalty.”
Max took a sip of her drink. “Well, as far as I’m concerned, all’s fair in love and war. I vote he makes a move.”
For the next hour, Rex watched Jade and the blond guy, just waiting for the guy to make a wrong move. He didn’t mean to count Jade’s drinks, but he was. She’d had four, and that was a shitload of alcohol for someone her size. She had no business drinking that much.
“We have to go,” Max said. “Rex, I’m really glad you came with us, but I have to work early tomorrow.”
Treat purposely blocked Rex’s view of Jade, and in a firm voice, he said, “Rex, let it go. You missed your chance tonight. There’s always tomorrow.”
Rex gave Treat a harsh glare. “Was there always tomorrow for you and Max?” He shook his head at his admission, then tried to cover his tracks. “I’m just going to make sure she doesn’t get herself into any trouble.”
“You okay to drive?” Treat asked.
“Fine. I’ve only had two beers. I think I can handle it.”
“See you when the sun comes up,” Treat said as he and Max left.
By the time Treat moved out of Rex’s way, Riley was gone and Jade was alone with the guy.What kind of friend would leave her alone?Rex reminded himself that she wasn’t his to take care of, but as she stumbled to the dance floor again, her dress hiked up her thigh and the guy walking behind her ogled her rear, the fact that she wasn’t his didn’t mean squat. He moved to the edge of his seat, ready to step in.
