Page 25 of Blue Hawaiian
“No, but you’re drunk and about to do something stupid,” Connor said. Never mind that he’d enjoyed his share of equally stupid hookups in the past. He didn’t want Jess to make the same mistake. Especially since she was in no position to actively consent toanything.
Lance gave a snort of disgust. “She’s shit-faced. If you want her, she’s all yours.”
Connor moved in closer. Even if he’d promised Marc to keep things under control, he was itching to put this douchebag in his place. He kept his voice low, tamping down the rage building up inside him. “Get the fuck out of here.Now.”
Muttering curses under his breath, Lance stomped off toward the elevator.
Connor bent down next to Jess. “Come on. Let’s get you back to your room.”
She pulled away from him. “I don’t need your help.”
This was the thanks he got for sticking his neck out? He wanted to scold her for acting like an idiot, but at this point, she was too drunk to care. He knelt and swept up all the crap from her purse. Once he was done, he pulled her up and set her back on her feet. She swayed precariously but managed to stay upright.
“What are you doing?” she demanded.
“Getting you into your room so you can sleep there instead of out in the hallway.” He held out his hand. “Key card?”
“In my purse.”
He rifled through the contents, smirking as he pulled out a couple of condoms. “I see you came prepared for your date with Lance. Too bad you won’t get to use them.”
“Shut up. Just find my damn key card.”
He looked through her purse twice. “It isn’t in there. Are you sure you took it with you?”
“I think so?” She closed her eyes and leaned against him. “I just wanna go to bed and make the spinning stop.”
He set her against the door while he scoured the hallway again. No sign of it. Either she’d forgotten it completely or it had slid under someone’s door. Either way, he didn’t want to waste any more time.
“Let’s go in my room. You can wait there while I get you another card from the front desk.”
“Not a chance. You just want to have your way with me.”
He sucked in his breath. “Believe it or not, I find you remarkably easy to resist.”
She could have stripped naked and he still would have turned her down. Only a player like Lance would take advantage of a woman when she was this far gone.
He led her into his room and turned on the light. A wave of fatigue crested over him, making him long for the comfort of his bed, but he needed to take care of Jess first. He went into the bathroom to fetch her two ibuprofen, then grabbed a bottle of water from the mini fridge. He handed them to her.
“Here. Take these. And drink all the water.”
She plopped onto his bed and kicked off her heels but made no move to drink the water until he pushed it at her again. “Fine,” she said. “You’re so damn bossy.”
He dragged a wastebasket beside the bed. “Stay here while I get you another key card. Don’t lie down, okay? I don’t want you passing out on my bed. And don’t throw up. But if you feel the urge to vomit, use the trash can, not the bed.”
“You use that line on all your dates? You’re a real ladies’ man, aren’t you?” She snorted with laughter.
Once she’d drained half the water bottle, he left the room. He took the elevator to the lobby, grumbling the whole way. Why was he helping her? She certainly didn’t appreciate it. If anything, she resented him more for interfering.
Maybe it was his way of making up for what he’d done to her five years ago. For leaving her so abruptly and cutting her out of his life. But if he hadn’t severed their ties, he might have sought her out after he returned from Spain. Which would have been a huge mistake. Because once he started working under his brother, Darren, he’d been miserable. And he hadn’t handled it well. Instead of channeling his frustrations into running or joining a boxing gym, he’d spent too many nights at the bar, getting drunk and picking up women. Jess had been better off without him.
But he hadn’t explained his actions. Or apologized. Instead, he made her feel like their two weeks together had been easily forgettable. That she was just another fling, rather than a woman who’d affected him deeply.
When he returned with a new key card, she was sprawled across his bed, sleeping soundly. He nudged her shoulder. “Jess?Jess.Get up.”
Nothing.
He closed his eyes and let out a weary sigh. She was hogging half the bed. If he tried to move her, he might wake her. In her state, she was better off sleeping. The bed was big enough for three or four people, but if she woke and found him lying next to her, she’d probably smack him in the face with a pillow.
