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He shrugs. “Sorry, Carter, but I’m in a tight spot. That’s Michael Albrecht. He invests in the club, too. You’re lucky I was here tonight. If it was one of the other owners, they would have kicked you out in favor of him easily.”
For some reason, knowing Michael hasthatmuch power—even if it’s only in a measly club—really pisses me off. I should be the one with the upper hand.
“Just do me a favor, and stay out of trouble, okay?” Peyton says.
I nod, but I’m still fuming over everything that just went down.
Once Peyton and security are gone, I turn to Mia once more. “Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask. “We don’t have to stay. I can take you home if you want.”
She shakes her head. “I don’t want Michael to be the reason I leave anyplace.” She peers up at me. “Never again.”
I rub her arm. “You seem pretty shaken up. Are you sure he didn’t hurt you?”
“He never even had the chance to touch me.”
I nod. “Good.” I lean toward the table next to ours and pick up our martinis, then place them down on our table. “Have a seat. I brought our drinks.”
“Thanks,” she says and takes her seat. She gives her drink a stir with the martini pick and stares into it. “Carter, can you just stay by my side for the rest of the evening? I don’t think I’ll be okay if I’m left alone.”
My lips curl into a soft smile. This might be the first time I’ve ever felt soneeded. It’s nice. “Of course.” I pick up my glass and take a sip. “So that was your ex?”
She shoots me a look that screamsdon’t ask.
I let out a laugh. “I don’t blame you for running out on him. He seems like such a loser.”
Mia throws her hands over her forehead shamefully. “I can’t believe I’m only seeing his true colors now.”
I chuckle. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. We all have at least one ex we regret.”
She steals a glance at me. “Do you?”
I take a sip of my martini and shrug.
Mia narrows her eyes on me. “You’re so elusive.”
I adjust my shoulders to face her. “Do you likethatin a man?”
She turns her shoulders so we’re now facing each other, our knees practically touching under the table. Neither of us attempts to move them.
“Honestly, I can’t stand it.” She cups her chin in her hand as her elbow relaxes against the table. “Michael was mysterious.” She sighs as she replays the beginnings of their relationship in her mind. “I thought he wassocharming back then. Look how that turned out.”
I study her face. While shame is a running theme for her tonight, she also seems soregretful. I really do believe she wanted to love Michael, maybe even wanted to see the good in him. There simply wasn’t anything for her to grasp for, though. As charming as he might be, Michael is as terrible as they come. It’s a relief she realized that before she married him.
I set my glass down. “That’s a shame.”
Mia sits up and rests her hands on her lap. “Why?” A curious grin crosses her face.
“Because I was hoping my elusive charm would persuade you to dance with me,” I say, returning her grin with a smirk of my own.
“I never took you for a dancer,” she says.
“I’m not.” I rise and hold my hand out for her to take it. “But it might help you get your mind off things.”
Her lips curl up as her dazzling green eyes sweep from my hand, then back up to my eyes. She accepts my hand, then stands up. I walk her over to the dance floor as a slow song starts playing and set my hands on her hips, allowing her to wrap her arms around my shoulders. Then, I take the lead in our slow dance.
“Thank you for saving me,” Mia finally says after a few silent yet comfortable moments.
I huff. “I hardly saved you.”
