Page 4 of An Inevitable Marriage
Decision made, I slowly pushed to my feet. Sure, slipping out while Tristan and Rafe were busy on the dance floor was a dick move, but I was all partied out.
They’d get over it.
Eventually.
Touching the cool glass of the tumbler against my lips, I drained the last of my bourbon before grabbing my jacket. Just as I headed out of the booth, Rafe and Tristan sauntered inside.
And they weren’t alone.
Three starry-eyed women stood behind them.
“We brought company,” Tristan happily announced.
My gaze flitted over said company. “So I see.” The words came out through clenched teeth. Not that anyone noticed.
Rafe was too busy chatting with his new blond friend while Tristan motioned for his companion to sit.
Which left me and the redhead.
And the fucking uncomfortable way her gaze tracked over my body.
I groaned. Not subtly either.
I’d been through this dance too many times to know exactly how it would play out.
Suddenly, the music was too loud, the beat too thundering. My lungs were filled with air, yet I was out of breath. I was hot. I was cold.
I needed to fucking leave.
Shoving my forefinger into my shirt collar, I took three steps backward.
Rafe noticed my discomfort and immediately followed. Or tried to, but I held up my hand, warning him to stay back.
Thankfully, he did.
The redhead, however, had other plans.
She was in front of me faster than I could blink. Licking her way-too-pink lips, she inched even closer. My nostrils flared as the cloying scent of her perfume invaded my senses.
“Hiiii.”
I almost ground my molars to dust at her high-pitched voice.
“Youmust be the birthday boy.”
“Not interested,” I grumbled.
The redhead must not have heard me, or she had fewer brain cells than I thought. Because the woman stepped even closer. She placed her hands on my chest and slowly dragged her palms up and over my shoulders.
“Ohhhh, wow. Are you from England? You must be. With an accent like that, you can read me the phonebook, and I’d still swoon. You’re like Tom Hardy but with long hair.” Pushing onto her toes, she tried to bring her mouth to my ear.
Since I was much taller, I would’ve needed to bend down for her to reach.
I didn’t.
Take the damn hint, I silently begged.I don’t want to be an asshole tonight.
She didn’t.
