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“Plans changed,” Auden said, trying to talk over the music. “Do you know where she is?”
She pointed past them. “She’s been dancing with Connall.”
He wanted to saywho the fuck is Connall,but when he turned that way, it didn’t take a genius to figure it out. A dude with curly red hair was dancing up on some girl on the dance floor. No, not some girl.O’Neal.
“Whoa,” Lennox said next to him. “She’s…damn.”
It was as if Len had spoken Auden’s thoughts aloud. If Quyen hadn’t pointed O’Neal out, he would’ve never recognized her. She was pressed up against the redhead and wearing the shortest dress he’d ever seen her in. The dude’s hand was half on her naked back, half on her ass. By the way they were moving, he could tell that O’Neal was partially leaning into him for support, not quite steady on her feet.
A rush ofoh hell nowent through Auden, making him see red. Quyen was talking again, but he couldn’t pay attention to the words. He muttered a thanks to her and stalked forward, winding through the people between him and the dance floor. Lennox followed right behind.
When Auden reached the handsy redhead, he tapped him on the shoulder. “Can I cut in?”
“Fuck off, dude,” Connall said. “She’s with me.”
Auden’s fists clenched as he barely resisted taking the guy by the collar and physically dragging him away from O’Neal.
As if sensing the tenuous hold Auden had on his temper, Lennox stepped next to Auden, all placid expression, but when he spoke, the tone was laced with frosty menace. “I strongly suggest you get your hands off my friend’s girlfriend, or we’re all going to have a problem.”
O’Neal lifted her head and squinted like she wasn’t quite sure of the language in this country. “Auden?Len?”
“You know these guys?” Connall’s gaze was wary now, his tone unsure.
“Heeey…what are y’all doing here?” O’Neal asked, her words sloppy.
Auden inhaled a calming breath and put out his hand. “Dancing with you. Come on. My turn.”
“O’Neal?” the redhead asked, sending her a hopeful look.
She patted his shoulder. “S’okay. I’ll meet you back at the table.”
Connall looked confused and then annoyed. He shot Auden and Lennox a withering look but was bright enough not to pick a fight with two taller, much more sober guys. He rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”
Auden took O’Neal’s hand, guiding her closer to him. She braced a hand on his shoulder and leaned toward his ear, the smell of cheap liquor on her breath. “Wha’s goin’ on?”
Lennox stepped up behind her, his gaze meeting Auden’s in silent solidarity, and he began to move to the music, putting his hands lightly on her waist. “You drunk texted Aud,” Lennox said. “We wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I’m s’okay. I tried tequila!” she said with a goofy, triumphant smile.
Auden couldn’t help but laugh. Now that he knew she was safe, he could relax—and enjoy the view because…fuuuuck, she looked hot. Even if silly drunk. “I can see that. How much of this tequila did you try, Ms. Lory?”
She wrinkled her nose like she was trying to concentrate. “Three shots? Four? I think? Connall told me it’d help me dance better.”
“I bet he did,” Lennox said. “He also knew it’d increase his odds that you’d dance withhim.You’re way out of his league.”
She made apfftsound.
Auden slid his hand onto her back, the bare skin burning his palm and making him want to touch her everywhere. It was driving him crazy that there was nothing but a thin piece of fabric keeping her from him, not even a bra. He took a deep breath. “You shouldn’t drink that much if you don’t have someone sober looking out for you.”
She frowned, a line appearing between her brows. “Wait, did you jus’ tell Connall you’re my boyfriend?”
“No, I did that,” Len said.
She turned, giving Auden her back and facing Lennox. He could see her shoulder muscles stiffen. “Why?”
Len gave her a disarming smile. “Because a few more drinks, Sweets, and you might’ve woken up with an Irish surprise in your bed tomorrow. We figured we’d give you an out.”
“What if I didn’t wants…wantan out?” She turned back to Auden, all of it looking like some on-purpose group dance. “I told you…noooobabysitter.”
