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He gave a halting one back, eyes flicking down my dress before his throat bobbed on a swallow.
I hadn’t thought this one was particularly sexy, but maybe I was wrong?
Before I could consider the nearly floor-length garment further, my vision was blocked by a decidedly unfamiliar form.
The man towered over me, his clothes slightly ruffled as he swayed back and forth. The scent of booze all but wafted off him, and I cringed when he breathed even more of it on me.
“You wanna like, go home with me, sweet thing?” He asked, leaning forward until all I could smell was the putrid scent of liquor.
Biting back a gag, I pointedly scooted further into the booth and shook my head. “No, thank you.” Of course, he couldn’t make things easy on me and just walk away.
His face twisted into a frown as if he’d never been turned down before, and he tried again. “Oh, come on, I’ll make sure to show you a good time.”
His hand trailed along the table, the sweaty palm making me want to scrub my skin raw where he brushed. When he tried to move his hand from my arm to my chest though, I’d had enough.
Slapping it away, I scowled. “Get away from me before I call security over here and have them handle you.” My voice rang with threat, and I even looked behind him to where the bartender stood. His hand was already raised, signaling one of the nearby bouncers, and relief hit in a wave.
It didn’t last long.
The man scowled, clearly offended now as he hissed. “No need to be so serious, I was just flirting with you. Damn women, can’t say anything to them anymore without someone getting uppity.”
I almost responded to that, then decided he wasn’t worth the energy. Instead, I scooted back another few inches and scoffed.
Apparently that was enough for him because his nostrils flared and he went to step forward. “You got something to say?”
I raised a brow, my irritation climbing higher by the second as I snapped. “I have plenty to say, but you’re not worth it.”
His face flushed darker red than before, this time from anger instead of alcohol, but just as he reached for me, a hand landed on his shoulder.
One of the bouncers glared down at him with severe eyes. “Here’s your one warning: leave the lady alone and go back to your seat. If we see you messing with her again, you’re out of here.”
The man almost looked ready to argue, but after a second, he scoffed. Jerking free from the other’s hold, he rolled his eyes and walked away. “Whatever, she ain’t worth it.”
When he was gone, I relaxed. “Thanks, that was going to get ugly.”
The bouncer shrugged. “Looks like one of the other patrons was set to step in if I didn’t.” Then he walked off, leaving me to ponder that.
Looking back over to William, the proverbial light bulb went off when I saw him halfway out of his seat. Apparently he’d been gearing himself up if no one else had the situation in hand.
Waving him down, I smiled and mouthed, “I’m fine.”
He scowled, clearly not buying that, but he did sit back in his chair. There was no one else around him, briefly poking my curiosity. Was he waiting for Devin?
Then, as if to contradict the thought, a woman sauntered over and plopped into the chair next to his. She was gorgeous, her dress hugging every curve as if it were fitted specifically to her, and immediately William’s eyes snapped to her chest.
I couldn’t blame him; she was beautiful and she knew it.
The protectiveness from before drained out in a blink and I could all but see his attention snap to his hormones.
A twinge burned inside my chest, and I quickly shoved it down.
He hadn’t stopped being a playboy just because he moved back here. I knew that, and it was stupid of me to feel hurt over someone who wasn’t even mine. Repeating that like a mantra, I forced a smile and turned my focus away from them.
What he did with his time was none of my business.
Maybe if I said that to myself a few dozen more times, I’d actually feel like it was true.
Alice took her seat across from me with a few glasses and bowls of snacks. She smiled, only for it to fall when she looked me over.
