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I spot Ryder’s black truck idling outside the entrance near the sidewalk. As soon as I slide inside the vehicle, he takes off, pulling out of the parking lot and into traffic.
When I remain silent, lost in thought, he flicks a glance at me. “Everything all right?”
Not really.
The last thing I want to do is fall for him. It wouldn’t be difficult. Already, I can feel myself teetering on the brink. Even though I’ve known Ryder my entire life, he hasn’t turned out to be the guy I’d always assumed. I’ve seen a different facet to his personality. He’s opened up and shared more with me these past weeks than during the entire time I’ve known him.
“Juliette?”
I force those thoughts to the back of my brain to mull over at a later date. “Yeah, it’s fine.”
That’s when I realize we’re not heading back to campus but driving in the opposite direction toward downtown. As we pull onto the main street that cuts through the heart of the city, I do a quick mental rundown of the list and what’s already been eliminated.
It’s a relief to shove those concerns from my head and focus on something else. “I think I know what we’re doing tonight.”
The smile that simmers around the edges of his lips arrows straight to my core before exploding on impact.
When we pull into the parking lot for Blue Vibe, a local club, I know I’m right.
Number seven.
Even though it’s only half past nine, the parking lot is packed. Ryder pulls into a space in the back, and we leave our jackets in the vehicle before exiting. My pulse leaps with excitement. Lame as it sounds, I’ve never been to a nightclub before. Carina has attempted to drag me to a few, but I’ve always declined the invitation.
Ryder’s arm snakes around my waist as he steers me toward the two-story red brick building. As we approach the door, he reaches around and grabs the handle before ushering me inside. After a couple of steps, his palm settles at the small of my back and I feel the heat of his touch through the fabric of my dress. He gives a chin lift to the bouncer.
“Haven’t seen you in a while, McAdams.”
“Been lying low,” he responds with a grin. “You know how it is during the season.”
“Sure do,” the guy says with a snort before giving me the quick once over. “Have fun in there.”
“Without a doubt. Catch you later, man.”
Once he propels me inside the club, everything hits me all at once. It’s like an assault on the senses. The techno beat pulses off the black walls as strobe lights cut through the darkness. There’s a long stretch of glass bar at the far side of the room with booths and tables scattered around the perimeter. The dance floor is opposite. Just like the parking lot, the space is jampacked. There’s a range of people from college-aged students to adults in their mid to late twenties. A DJ sits perched high above the crowd, mixing music.
My gaze flies around the sumptuous interior, trying to soak everything in all at once.
It’s almost a surprise when he leans close enough to whisper, “You’ve really never been here before?”
I pull my attention away from the writhing bodies and shake my head.
“Do you want something to drink or—”
“No, I want to dance.” Already the music is calling my name, and I feel the beat of it thrumming through my veins.
He flashes a grin. “Then lead the way.”
My fingers lock around him as I wind my way through the sea of people talking and flirting with one another. Once we make it to the lit-up dance floor below the DJ booth, Ryder carves out a small space for us. He wraps his hands around my waist and draws me closer. Our gazes cling and everything around us falls away. There are times when we’re together that he makes me feel like I’m the only girl in the world.
The only one he’s cognizant of.
But that can’t possibly be true.
Especially when we’re surrounded by beautiful women in sexy strapless dresses that barely skim their asses and leave a mile of toned legs on display.
Instead of glancing around, his gaze stays pinned to mine as if he’s completely oblivious. It stirs up the exact kinds of feelings I’m trying to avoid.
The way he stares makes my pulse thrum beneath my skin. Especially when he pulls me against him and whispers in my ear, “What are you thinking about?”
