Page 9 of Chasing Wildflowers
I can’t tear my eyes away, caught in the sway of her hips. Her lips tilt up in an easy smile, unburdened, like nothing dark could ever touch her.
Is it possible for a woman who looks so carefree to carry such a dangerous secret? Could those hands that cling to her friend in laughter be the same ones who ended her husband’s life in cold blood?
My eyes narrow when I spot two men dressed in flannels come up to her and Kam. The girls greet them with wide smiles, easily accepting their company. Thebrightness in Lane’s smile has my jaw clenching with jealousy.
The guy in the blue flannel grabs Lane’s hand, twirling her in smooth motion before pulling her close, his hands hovering just above her ass. She looks at ease in his arms, her head tilting back, exposing her long, slender neck, as she laughs at something he whispers in her ear.
Is he her boyfriend?
My gut clenches at the thought.
Focus.
Why the hell do I care if she has a boyfriend? I’m here for one reason and one reason only. To find out if she’s Ceciley Knox.
Her posture stiffens and she lifts her eyes, locking onto mine from across the crowded bar. Tension coils between us, like an invisible string connecting us.
She says something to her friend and the guys, her eyes not leaving mine, before pushing through the crowd toward the bathrooms in the back.
Her friend excuses herself as well, heading toward the bar, her hips shimmying as she weaves through the crowd. Perfect.
I push off the wall and stalk to the bar, sliding in beside her, close enough to make my presence known. I bump into her lightly, just enough to draw her attention without looking intentional.
She whips her head to me and opens her mouth, likely to bitch me out. But when her eyes lock with mine the irritation quickly turns to curiosity. I’m well aware that women find me attractive, and I’m not above using my looks to my advantage.
I offer her a slow, charming smile. “I’m sorry, it’s a little crowded here tonight.”
Her eyes trail down my body, unashamed, and her lips curl into a seductive smile. “No problem. I’m Kam,” she says with a lazy drawl. “And who are you?”
“Jameson Crowe.”
She leans against the bar, arms folded casually across her chest, completely at ease in her own skin. Something tells me it takes a lot to rattle this woman. “Did you just move here?”
I shake my head, leaning my arm on the sticky bartop. “No, I'm here temporarily, for work.” I nod toward the bathroom. “Can I buy a drink for you and your friend to make up for bumping into you?”
"Sure. Captain and Coke." She says it offhandedly, her attention stolen by a voice across the bar yelling her name. A smile spreads across her face and she pushes off the bar, hands waving in the air, making a beeline to them.
After a quick scan of the bar, I pocket the straws from their empty cups. All we need is a little bit of Lane’s DNA to run against Ceciley.
I flag down the bartender, holding up two fingers. “Two Captain and Cokes and a whiskey.” I lay some cash down and lean against the bar, watching the crowd.
Moments later Kam saunters back, her lips curing into a slow smile when she spots me still standing there. “You should join me and my friend.”
I glance at the door. I should leave. I got what I came for.
Instead, I ask, “Your boyfriends won’t mind?”
Kam chuckles, and grabs their drinks off the bar. “Those are just friends of ours. Besides, no man tells me who I can and can’t talk to.”
Go back to the hotel, Jameson.
I grab my drink off the bar. “Lead the way.”
She gives me a knowing grin as she turns, her hips swaying as we weave our way through the crowd. We claim a table in the back. It offers a perfect view of both the bathrooms and the entrance.
Minutes later Lane emerges from the bathroom, her back stiffening when she spots us at the table. She recovers quickly, her shoulders pulling back as she strides to the table with confidence.
She takes the seat beside me, despite the one beside Kam being open. Clever girl. Never sit with your back to the door.
