Page 40 of Wanted

He shifted behind me. Then he grabbed my waist, squeezing me toget my attention.

I’d had enough of his little games. He tossed me aside likeyesterday’s garbage, for whatever reason, and didn’t contact me for threemonths, then ran into me twice in one week. Trying to persuade me to talk tohim like I owed him something.It’s notenough he devastated me twice already, but he wants to do it again?

No, I won’t allow him tohurt me anymore.

I flipped my body around and faced him head-on. We were so closeour breaths mingled, our lips temptingly close.

“Baby, please talk to me. I can’t take it anymore.”

“Youcan’t take itanymore?You?” I yelled a littlelouder than I’d intended. Thankfully, I captured Kael’s attention, who was onhis way over. Hopefully to intercede and not just be a bystander to the warwhich was undoubtedly going to erupt between the two of us if we continued our littlecharade.

“Please, can’t we go somewhere and talk?” Alek persisted. Histeeth captured his bottom lip, chewing on it in his uneasiness.

Kael strode up behind Alek and calmed the volcano before iterupted. That volcano was me. I was about to go off on him and cause a scenebecause I was on the verge of a breakdown.

He seized Alek by his shoulders and tried to pull him away. “Comeon, man. Let’s go. Don’t do this here.” When Alek didn’t budge, he gripped himtighter.

“Fine!” he yelled. What the hell was he so angry about? The onlyperson who had any right to be upset was me. The two men walked away, neverlooking back in my direction. I saw Kael lead him toward the back of therestaurant, disappearing around a corner and out of sight. The next thing Iknew, Alexa was standing beside me, doing her best to make sure I was okay. Ifyou didn’t know the whole situation, it would have looked like we were all simplyhaving a conversation. But Alexa knew every little detail of our drama, so shewas right there to offer her support. Yet again.

“I want to go home, Lex.” I closed my eyes to hold back thetears. The last thing I wanted to do was break down in the middle of therestaurant.

“Don’t let him win, Sara. Don’t let him force you out of here. Normally,I would agree with you and take you home myself, but you’re going to have toget used to running into him. And as much as you won’t like it, you have to beable to deal with him and not let him dictate where you’ll be or for how long. Don’tlet him have that control over you. Don’t give in. Don’t let him win, Sara,”she repeated.

As much as I wanted toargue with her, I knew she was right. I couldn’t let him command anything in mylife anymore. With that realization came an unwavering resolve to toughen up,if only for one night. When the bartender finally refilled my drink, we madeour way back to the table, our arms linked in unison.

The next hour flew by in a blur. I tried my absolute hardest toignore Alek, but he was staring at me from across the room.

Because I wanted to goad him, I shamelessly flirted with James bytouching his arm and allowing him to grab my hand whenever he wanted.

At one point, I thought Alek was going to run at him, but hedidn’t. Then I saw the reason he restrained himself.

It was Kael, talking in his ear the entire time.

~25~

Alek

I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Being unable to think straightaround her had become my new normal. So conflicted with guilt and pain, Ifailed to tell her why I’d initially pushed her away. Needing to explain myselfdrove me to invade her space. She was stubborn, though, and I knew she wouldn’thear me out unless I found a way to force her to listen to me.

When I’d made the decision to back away from her, I thought itwas the best choice, the responsible choice…for her. But it was killing both ofus—me more than her, I thought. She had obviously moved on, not having a carein the world as to whether or not she flaunted another man in my face. Who washe? Was it serious? At first, I thought she was involved with that Braden guy, butI came to find out he was with Alexa.

I was relieved at first, until I learned there was someone new Ihad to worry about. Well, he wasn’t really competition for me. If I could garnerher attention, entice her to come over and talk to me, if I could show herthere was still an undying connection pulsing between us, I think she would begame for giving us another chance.

Was I being delusional? Probably.

Did I care? Not really.

The question was how could I draw her away from her table? If Iapproached her again, Kael was going to no doubt punch me. Not that I wasafraid of him, but causing a scene was the last thing we needed on openingnight. I wasn’t that much of a dick, no matter how much pain I was in.

“Hi there,” the redhead next to me purred. I was so focused on myagenda I hadn’t even realized anyone was next to me. She rubbed my arm, tryingto draw my attention.

I was nothing if not polite. “Hi.” My greeting was simple butcurt. I smiled but didn’t want to lead her on. Moving my arm away from her, Isignaled to the bartender. When I happened to look down at the other end of thebar, I saw Sara. She was leering at me.

She was pissed, a scowl making her lips turn down in disgust. Whatwas she upset about? I was leaving her alone like she asked.

The woman next to me didn’t catch on to my subtle hint, insteadplacing her hand back on my arm. As soon as she made contact, I witnessed thesour expression on Sara’s face again. A lightbulb went off. She was angry someother woman was flirting with me, and she thought I was flirting back.

Looks like I found my newammunition.The thing I found funny was the fact she thought it was okay toallow some guy to paw at her but the first time she saw another woman vying formy attention, she didn’t like it.

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