She’s bouncing on her heels, slowing down the steps. Trying to walk this moron through a simple two-step.
The next second, his hand is on her waist, entirely too close to the swell of her ass. He leans down low to speak directly in her ear.
Steam billows from my ears. I bite into my thumbnail. I’m pretty sure I growl beneath the upbeat music and nearly choke on my next swallow through a thick throat.
Why does he have to put his fuckin’ hands on her?
I steam, and stew, and flag down the server for another beer. The song changes. Suddenly, it’s no longer Ed Sheeran. “A Bar Song” by Shaboozy takes its place to raucous cheers.
“I’m not drunk enough for this,” I mutter. Not that I ever let myself get drunk, but suddenly, my mood is sour. Maybe alcohol is the cure.
“You should get out there,” Silas says, clapping my shoulder. “Looks like fun.”
“No.”
“Suit yourself,” he shrugs, pushing out his chair. The screech of legs against the tile floor grates on my nerves.
Several of the other guys follow suit and stand. Aiden. Corjan. Looks like the younger guys still have it in them.
Fucking hell.
“You gonna tell us what she did to piss you off?” Spencer asks once they vacate.
“Who?” I miss my mouth turning toward him and dump a splash of beer onto my lap.
“Your nanny,” Jude grumbles as if I’m fucking dumb.
“She didn’t do anything. If anything, I’m the asshole here.”
“Nothing new,” Lee gives my shoulder a brotherly pat. “What happened?”
“What’s with all the fuckin’ questions?” I snap.
Lee leans in close. “Well, I don’t know about my brothers, but I’d like to ascertain whether your broody-ass mood is going to ruin my girl’s night.”
Around the table, everyone nods.
My nostrils flare, and I let out a deep sigh. “You all can relax. I’m not going to ruin anything. She won’t even talk to me.”
The last few days have sucked, to say the least. Alice has been showing up in the morning right when I need to leave, and she’s packed and ready to go with her cactus in hand the moment I return after work. Doesn’t matter the time. She leaves her things by the door like a goddamn natural disaster prepper solely to avoid talking to me.
“That’s a relief because she’s coming this way with her new friend.”
New friend?
My stomach drops clear to my toes. An insidious band tightens around my chest. Every muscle in my body clenches tight as I freeze in anticipatory hell.
Frankie appears first around my shoulder. She circles the table and drops right into Jude’s lap. Cortney follows on her heels and slides into the empty chair beside Spencer, placing a gentle kiss on his scarred face.
“We’re here for a quick break.” Frankie pulls the pitcher of ice water her way and tops off her glass. “Line dancing is fun, but holy shit, I’m tired.”
Frankie’s words go straight through my ears. I sense Alice before I see her. The wannabe cowboy passes by our table, looking back as I feel Alice move beside me. That flowery perfume she wears announces her presence. The one I’ve become accustomed to. It’s all over my damn house. On my couch. My bed. Even my kid smells like her.
Without my telling it to, my hand shoots out, and my fingers wrap tightly around her slender wrist, halting her mid-step.
“Sutton,” she hisses, tugging lightly, her gaze fixating on our point of contact.
I am too, but for a different reason. I’m struck by how soft her skin is beneath my fingers.
