Page 15 of Clinch'd

He nods at me before giving instructions to the driver who continues around the block while I sag with relief. Thank fuck. Lorri would kill me if she thought I stole Beast from her and telling her the damn truth is out of the question.

When we emerge, we're in a back alley and a guy tapping his fingers against the fabric of his nice suit waits with a frown on his face. He’s older, balding, and completely unfriendly, the latter of which reminds me of Beast.

“What’s going on?” he says as soon as Beast emerges, leaving me to get out of the damn vehicle myself. Dick.

“Nothing just not in the mood,” Beast growls but the guy isn’t impressed and grunts, “This was a good PR move.”

“You’ll get your press pics later,” Beast says, grabbing my arm and pulling me along behind him.

I wince feeling shitty for ruining his opportunity which is why I whisper as we walk along the dim hallway, “I’m sorry.”

He just grunts and I roll my eyes skyward. He truly is a beast with his monosyllabic answers.

We traverse another long hallway before a waiter greets us with a nod and opens a back door into a ballroom.

The scene inside takes my breath away. I’ve never seen anything so fancy, and it feels almost Cinderella-like until Beastgrunts again and stalks off. Maybe more like Beauty and the Beast, although I’m no beauty. Ha!

Bewildered, I stare after him before following behind. The vast space is covered in tables with tall crystal vases and pretty candles, over a deep red linen cloth and interspersed with deep red roses.

A symphony plays in a far corner as fancily dressed patrons mingle near the dance floor, and I clench my sweaty hands together because I knew my efforts would not compare and I was right.

Fuck me, but I’m dismayed to see that I’m the only female here with my knees bared. Shit.

I feel like a cheap hooker next to these women in floor length gowns and dripping in jewels.

When Beast stops halfway to the bar, and turns back, I scurry after him. While he orders a drink that I don’t catch, I survey the crowd in a panic, skating over dress after dress, none of which are cocktail length.

“Here,” Beast says gruffly, handing me a glass.

Absently, I sip it, choking on the harsh taste, but I persevere because I’m going to need at least two of these stat.

“Why do you look so weird?” he asks, and I turn to him blankly.

“What?”

“Are you okay? Why’s your face all red?”

“I’m-I’m fine,” I mutter, setting the glass on the bar and taking several deep breaths.

“Shit. You’re not gonna pass out, are you?” he asks with wide eyes.

If I weren’t so freaked out, I’d be amused. The big bad MMA fighter is afraid of a woman with vapors.

“No,” I say.

He sighs and turns away and I take another quiet breath before gulping down what I suspect is high priced whiskey.

I’m not sure whether to be relieved or annoyed when he stalks off without a word, but I do look after him, once again bewildered at his rudeness. Is he like this all the time or am I just lucky?

With nothing better to do, I slide onto a stool, order another drink and people watch. A woman in a majestic dark blue gown tips her head back to laugh but covers her mouth at the last minute. A man two groups over leers at the woman standing beside him, her face turned away.

Following her gaze, I suck in a painful breath to find Cooper standing in another group with the same solemn expression on his face as before. So far, he doesn’t seem to enjoy much of anything, which begs the question as to why he does it to begin with.

He looks amazing in a tailored charcoal gray suit and white button down although he skipped a tie. The top button of his shirt is open revealing the tan column of his skin.

Inexplicably I want to run my tongue over that skin and taste the warmth there. Would he be slightly salty? Squirming, I'm about to turn my no doubt flushed face away when he glances up and meets my gaze as though he could sense my stare.

His mouth curves up the slightest bit before he runs his eyes down my glittering dress, over my bare legs now trembling in the heels and back, his gaze alight with new fire.

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