Page 36 of Drawn to You

“I have to go,” I tell Lucas, grabbing my bag and following Dane.

“Dane,” I call as he walks. “Dane, stop!”

He turns to face me, his gaze dark and angry. “What? You need a condom? Looks like you and Lucas are about to fuck right here in front of everyone.”

I recoil, taken aback by his hostility.

“What are you talking about? We never even touched, and that blond just had to peel her body off yours so you could get up.”

“I didn’t encourage her.”

“And I didn’t encourage Lucas. I need to pay for my drinks before we go.”

“I already paid for them.”

“Oh. Thanks.”

He exhales through his nose. “You’re not a puck bunny, Josie. Don’t let Lucas make you into one.”

I give him a confused look. “Dane, I was just talking to him. A shitty work thing happened today and I was talking to him about that.”

“Why can’t you talk to me about it?”

I laugh, getting so lightheaded I reach for a nearby table to steady myself. “You mean besides the fact that you don’t care?”

He puts an arm around my waist, the heat of his solid body against mine making me gasp.

“Let’s get you to the car,” he says.

“I’m fine.”

“Stop arguing and let me get you to the car.”

“Stop helping and let me argue,” I say, knowing it doesn’t even make sense.

He walks me out to his Range Rover, helping me into the passenger seat. I lean my head back against the seat, wishing I wouldn’t have had three strong drinks when we have to fly out so early tomorrow.

“I feel like we’re even,” Dane says as he gets into the driver’s seat.

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah, I got wasted last night and you got wasted tonight. Even.”

I laugh at his flawed logic. “I’m not wasted.”

“You’re not sober.”

“That’s the truth. If you bolt on me right now, I don’t think I could catch you.”

His smile is wry. “I hate to break it to you, but there’s no chance you could ever catch me in a race unless I wanted you to.”

“Hey, I played volleyball in middle school.”

His deep, full-throated laugh makes me warm all over. “Can’t compete with that, Nosy. You’re a fucking boss.”

I turn up the air conditioning, swearing to stick to one drink only when we go out in the future. Or even better, none.

“You can talk to me, you know,” Dane says.

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