Page 66 of The Boy I Hate

He leaned in close, so close she could feel his breath against her neck. “We just spent four days driving cross country together. If we don’t talk, people will getsuspicious.”

Her pulse quickened for the second time, and she couldn’t help the smile that teased at her mouth. “You’re right.” But the alcohol had hit her harder than she thought, and she stumbled forward, requiring Tristan’s hand to catch her atherhip.

She looked up into his eyes, feeling his fingers press into her skin. “I don’t like watching girls hang on your every word. Itannoysme.”

He laughed, but glanced her over from head to toe before settling his eyes on her lips. “I don’t like watching you parade around half naked when I can’ttouchyou.”

She laughed wholeheartedly and resisted the urge to pull him against her. “Younoticed.”

His eyes heated, and he looked her up and down again. “I’m pretty sure everyone in this dammed placenoticedyou.”

She grinned again, moving around him to place her paper on his back. “Nameplease?”

His muscles tightened, and he reached around to grip her upper thigh to yank her forward. “You should know it. You were screaming it last night,” hewhispered.

She bit her bottom lip. “And how do you know thebride?”

“Whatbride?”

She turned around to offer him her back, and instantly felt his fingers trail down the column of her spine. “What do you say we get outofhere?”

She pulled in a breath, wanting nothing more, but turned around to take his paper and place it onthebar.

He frowned. “I guess that’sano?”

She took another sip of her martini and filled out the paper. “Later,” shepromised.

He leaned in close to her ear, his perfectly shaved cheek like silk against her skin. “Later.”

And then hewasgone.

* * *

The game passedby in a rush. By the end of it, the agenda had been completed. Everyone was laughing and talking, and much looser than before. Samantha stood at a cocktail table by the dance floor, deliberately selecting the spot because she had a perfect view of Tristan. He was still surrounded by women, but for some reason she didn’t mind as much now. He was hers, and she knew he’d come to her the moment she curved herfinger.

Mark came to stand beside her then, holding a beer in one hand, and martini in the other. “You look thirsty,” he stated, placing her drink in the middle of the table. “Are you still trying to pretend not to care about that blond dude over in thecorner?”

She pulled in a breath, shaking her head, and turned to face him “I don’t know whateveryoumean—”

But he winked at her, interrupting her words. He took a swig of his beer. “Samantha, your secret’s safe with me. But I find it hilarious you think no onenotices.”

She bit her lip and glanced over at Mark. “Is it thatobvious?”

He took another swig of beer before answering. “Yeah…it kinda is. Though don’t worry, most people are too drunk to notice—plus, they’re not as perceptive as I am.” He then stepped closer, hunching down to whisper in her ear. “But my question is this, if he could have you, why is he making out with that brunette overthere?”

Samantha whipped around, her eyes finding Tristan immediately, standing in the same spot she’d left him, with a blond woman by his side. But his eyes were narrowed and focused onSamantha.

She hit Mark’s arm and shook her head. “You’re trying to make himjealous.”

Mark laughed. “Or make him realize what he’s missing. There are two sides toeverycoin.”

“True,” she agreed, as a deep voice broke through the musicagain.

Phin was up on the stage this time, his arm around Renee, and the microphone in his hand. “Now that you’ve had a chance to get to know one another, we haveanothergame.”

The crowd erupted with laughter, and he held his finger to his mouth to shush them. “As I’m sure you’re aware, Renee and I met at the Hamilton Ballet. We’ve since moved in other directions, but the company will forever have a special place in ourhearts.”

Mumbles began coursing through the crowd, and Phin motioned with his hands for them to settle down. “We’re going to play a game,” he said again. “One we learned not too long ago in an improv class and we’d like you to join us. There are only two rules.” He grinned. “One, you have to have a partner; and Two, never stoptouching.”

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