Page 256 of A Matter of Time

“Where are you?”

“I’m at Shane’s birthday party, at the Hyatt.”

“I’m not dressed for a party.”

“You always look good, J. I just need a wingman.”

It was a choice between spending time with Sam and taking the easy way out and canceling, going to a party with my friend in need. It was an easy choice to make. “Fine,” I agreed.

“Thanks, man. I owe ya big. When can you be here?”

“In, like, fifteen minutes.”

“Have I told you lately that I love you?”

I hung up on him and looked at Sam. “I’m sorry, but duty calls.”

He nodded. “When you’re done, then.”

“It might be late. Let’s try again tomorrow.”

He shook his head.

“C’mon. I’ll meet you at Dundee’s for dinner after I go to the gym. Say, seven thirty?”

“Okay.”

I got up, smiling at him. “Thanks, Sam, I⁠—”

“C’mon, I’ll drive you.”

“Oh no, that’s okay. I can⁠—”

“I’ll drive you.”

“It’s not necessary.”

But by the heavy hand on my shoulder, I knew that, to him, it very much was.

Three hours later I told myself I shouldn’t care. The man didn’t belong to me. And yet every woman who walked over to Sam Kage and put her hand on his shoulder annoyed me. Every man who leaned on the bar next to him and checked him out irritated me even more. The fact that he was just sitting there—having told me that since he was at a bar, he might as well have a drink—minding his own business, was slowly driving me crazy. To try and numb the growing pain in the pit of my stomach, I was drinking.

When my friend Aiden walked up behind me and put his hands on my shoulders, I rolled them so he’d have to let go.

“What’s with you?” he snapped at me.

“Nothing,” I said absently, standing up. “I think I’m gonna go, though. I saw Scott and Jerry. You don’t need me anymore.”

“Yes, I do,” he said, shoving me back down into the chair. “I need you.”

My eyes darted to Sam, and I saw him leaning back against the bar, long legs crossed at the ankles. He was the picture of ease, and I was all tangled up just looking at him.

“Jory, honey, just come dance.”

“I don’t feel like it.” I forced a smile, draining my third Chivas and water. “I just wanna sit.”

“You gonna let somebody sit with you?” he asked, tipping his head toward the seat beside me, where my leather racing jacket lay. “There’s plenty of guys dyin’ to come over here, but you are definitely not being real inviting right now.”

“Oh no?” I grinned up at him, the alcohol slowly seeping through my veins. “I feel pretty good.”