AllFreeNovel
Share Us
That was right. Tabby, like a tabby cat. Adler remembered now.
Adler again tried to move away from her grasp, but room was tight around the tables, and he had no choice but to wrap his arm around Tabby. In answer, she laid her palm on his chest. “Adler is a great dancer. We’re having an amazing time together but need a drink.”
Daniel handed them each a cold beer and a shot. Tabby handed Adler a shot glass, clinked hers against his, and smiled as she tipped hers up.
Adler’s gaze roamed around the table, and as his eyes caught Leila’s.
She held his gaze and her brows lifted in question.
His heart skipped a beat. That wasn’t a friendly look. He placed his full shot glass on the table and separated himself from Tabby.
“Drink up, Adler.” Tabby patted his stomach.
He pulled his attention away from Leila and smiled down at the girl next to him before tossing the shot down. Maybe the alcohol would calm his heart and make him numb. He sure didn’t like the look Leila gave him. It was like she was scrutinizing him. Proving all the negative thoughts she hadabout him were correct. He put as much space as he could between Tabitha and him, but it wasn’t much.
The talk around the table increased as the band went on a break, and the bar was quieter with music playing from the speakers. Adler was only halfway paying attention. His gaze kept settling on Leila. No matter how long he kept his gaze on her, she didn’t look at him. She seemed to be in deep conversation with Elizabeth and sometimes William. His stomach clenched. That should be him next to her. Finally, Tabby and her two friends left the group and headed for the bathrooms. Adler stretched, enjoying the extra room. Maybe they wouldn’t come back, and he could focus on Leila.
Adler grabbed his beer and walked around the table, but William took Leila by the arm and led her to the dance floor. Adler’s gaze followed them, and a pit formed in his gut. He sat in the stool just vacated by William where he could keep an eye on them both.
An arm flopped on his shoulder, causing Adler to look away from the dance floor.
“What has all your attention?” Daniel’s words were slurred. He always was a lightweight. “I think William has the hots for that little cutie. He’s been ignoring the brunette ever since your friends showed up.” Daniel looked around. “And I think the girls aren’t coming back. Their trip to the bathroom was a one-way ticket to leave.”
Thank God. His eyes caught Leila and William slow dancing, talking, and laughing on the dance floor. Leila’s head tipped back as she laughed. The pit that was in his stomach became a boulder. He swallowed a large mouthful of beer, and his eyes narrowed as they focused on William’s hand low on Leila’s waist. Memories of dancing with her at the wedding flashed in his mind. That hand on her lower back should be his. Anger and something else that he couldn’t identify formed deep in his gut.
Daniel whacked his shoulder. “Hey Ad. You aren’t into that little hottie, are you? She doesn’t seem like your type.”
Adler’s heart rate picked up, and it suddenly grew sweltering in the club. He pulled away from Daniel and squared up to him. “First of all, stop calling her a little hottie. Her name’s Leila. And some of us tend to grow up at some point. We can’t see women as pieces to fuck forever.”
He could feel all eyes on him as the table got quiet. It was just Tristan and Stacey with them as Elizabeth and Brady were on the dance floor.
“Hey. Everything’s cool.” Tristan broke in between them as Leila and William came back to the table.
Adler’s gaze fixed on William’s arm sitting low around Leila’s waist. He had a need and desire to tear that arm off her and replace it with his. Jealousy was a new emotion, and he didn’t like it at all.
“I’m getting us some water. Anyone else want anything?” asked William. When no one said anything, just shook their heads, he turned to Leila. Adler watched as his arm squeezed her tight. “I’ll be right back.”
She gave him a crooked smile.
God, that was sexy. Adler had never seen that smile before and desperately wished it was given to him instead of William. He moved next to her, and the smile faded from her face, making his heart stop. He could feel his temper flaring. Yeah, jealousy, if that’s what this feeling was, was something he didn’t need to experience. “Looks like you’re having fun.” His voice was clipped and cold.
Up close, he could see that her cheeks were flushed, probably from the heat of dancing. He didn’t want to think it could have been from anything else.
“Yeah, I am. William’s a good guy. And he’s funny.” Leila scrutinized him. “And he knows how to treat a woman. He sure wasn’t gyrating with a stranger on the dance floor.”
Ouch. “You saw that?” His voice was soft, and he looked at the table.
“It was sort of hard not to see.” A smile returned to her face, causing Adler’s heart to skip until he noticed she was smiling at William, who was on his way back with a pitcher of water and plastic cups.
“Hey, I know no one said anything, but I got us a pitcher of water anyway.” He sat it on the table. “And here’s some clean cups.” He poured water in some cups and handed one to Leila.
She moved a little closer to him. “How thoughtful.” He smiled down at her.
Vomit rose in Adler’s throat. He grabbed a water to wash it back down.Yeah, how thoughtful. The jerk wasn’t always so thoughtful. He held the record for the most girls in his dorm room. And he was damn proud of it too.Though Adler wanted to say that, he was more mature now. “Yeah, it’s amazing how we can all change when we grow up.” He narrowed his gaze on William.
“Problem, Adler?” William asked as he pulled his shoulders back.
Adler shook his head. “No.” He took a large swig of water. He needed to calm down. He knew that. But he couldn’t help but let Leila know that William’s reputation made Adler look like a saint. “I was just pointing out the obvious. We can all change as we mature. Don’t you agree William?”
