Page 24 of Bad Boy Done Wrong
Ethan said something that had Zach turning toward her. He didn’t smile, but his eyes were locked on hers, the intense focus telling her she was the most important person in the room to him. It was how he made her feel every time he looked at her. Delicious heat speared through her, a flutter low in her belly, electric energy shooting down her legs, urging her to run and leap into his arms.
No, she couldn’t do that here in front of everyone. She had to play it cool. Especially in front of Hailey, who’d been very clear about her concern for the temporary nature of their relationship. She slowly, casually made her way to him and he watched her approach with hooded eyes.
When she reached him, she used his shoulder for leverage, went up on tiptoe and kissed his temple. “Hi!”
He held her chin and kissed her gently on the lips. “Hi, Carrie,” he said in the deep honey voice that made her melt.
“You want my seat?” Ethan asked.
“Hi, Ethan,” she said cheerfully, drawing attention to the fact that she wasn’t embarrassed in the least at being caught almost having car sex and that she found him perfectly acceptable to talk to on a social occasion.He’s not a sex addict, people!“I’m good with standing.”
“Sure?” Ethan asked with a smirk. “Seems like maybe you and Zach might want to—”
“Oh, we see each other every night,” she assured him. “He just met me here to save time. We’re heading out after this.”
Ethan’s brows shot up. “Is that right?”
“Leave it,” Zach told Ethan in a low tone. Then he picked her up and settled her onto his lap.
She heated everywhere with his casual display of strength and what almost felt like possessiveness. Zach took alpha to an exhilarating level. His arm banded around her waist and he shifted her to face the bar. He pushed her hair back, his lips grazing her ear as he whispered in his deep erotic voice, “What do you want to drink?”
She shifted slightly to meet his eyes. “I usually get white wine.”
His expression was intense—serious and focused. “Is that what you want?”
It suddenly felt like the question meant so much more. Do you want more of the same? Do you want to try something a little more dangerous? And then the message she got loud and clear, that she suddenly realized she’d felt with him from day one, bounced through her brain—live it up, Carrie. I’ll keep you safe.
This was why she had zero inhibitions with him. Why she leaped into his arms, knowing he’d catch her. How was it that a bad boy made her feel so safe?
“You pick,” she said and faced front.
He leaned toward her, his soft beard grazing her cheek. “Ever try tequila?”
“Nope.”
“You’ll like it.”
She nodded, valiantly attempting to look cool even as she went damp between the legs. “You’ll like it” was the phrase he used right before he rocked her world. The message was always the same:I’m gonna fuck you like this. You’ll like it.
“I’ll take one too,” Ethan said. “It’s been a helluva week.”
Zach waved the bartender over. Josh jerked his chin and held up a finger to wait while he served some guys beer on tap. Josh was the oldest Campbell brother, along with his identical twin, thirtyish with dark brown hair that curled a bit, brown eyes, muscular bod. He was a former paratrooper in the army and kept fit. He was dressed casually in a faded black T-shirt that showed clearly defined muscles with ripped jeans. Carrie liked him a lot. He was always laid-back, charming, and flirty, except with his number one frenemy Hailey.
A few minutes later, Josh had her, Zach, and Ethan all set up with shots of tequila, salt, and limes.
Hailey appeared, standing close to Ethan. “Ooh, I’ll take one too.”
“Nope,” Josh said.
This was to be expected. In keeping with their never-ending frenemy war, Josh never let Hailey have a drink other than water. It was a drastic measure, considering they were all regular patrons of the bar that Josh managed, but Carrie had to admit the punishment fit the crime. Hailey had squashed the impotency rumor she’d started by implying Josh had a tiny banana. Denying Hailey drinks was the only revenge Josh had been able to inflict short of whipping it out to prove his manliness. He’d also spread the news far and wide that they used to be a couple and Hailey was just bitter that he was the one that got away. But that wasn’t nearly as satisfying as continually denying her drinks.
“Come on, Josh,” Ethan said. “Have a heart. The poor woman looks parched.”
Hailey let out a tinkling laugh. “Oh, Ethan, you’re so funny.” She touched her neck, met Ethan’s eyes and then looked away and back. Classic flirty move. “Maybe I could have a taste of yours,” she said in a husky voice.
Ethan’s gaze turned speculative, taking Hailey in from her perfectly smooth strawberry blond hair to her perfectly made-up face to her perfect body in a formfitting gray tank dress that ended mid-thigh with tan gladiator sandals with ties that wrapped up her calves. She always looked like she just stepped out of a glossy fashion mag.
“I’ll get you your own damn tequila, princess,” Josh grumbled and served one up, slamming the shot glass on the bar in front of Hailey. Some tequila sloshed over the side.
