Page 33 of Up All Night

“Yes,” she said adamantly.

I gave her a nod. “Okay, you’re on.”

Her face lit up in excitement. “Bring it.”

She stood up, but before walking away, she leaned down on the table, bringing her face closer to mine. “Eat your heart out, Vanderhall.”

And with that she walked away, her hips sashaying in a seductive way. A way that had me mentally slapping myself for ogling her backside.

What had I just done?

Hadn’t I learned by now that Halle was a fierce competitor?

I took a long drink, trying not to cough at the intensity. If I was going to make it through this, I was going to need a little bit of liquid courage. There was no way I was going down without a fight, though. If Halle wanted to play this game, I’d play to win.

As she sat down on one of the stools at the bar next to a beefy looking guy, his face instantly perked up at the sight of her. They immediately started talking, a flirty look on her face, and when she ordered her drink, I watched as the guy checked her out, his eyes lingering on a few spots.

My hand tightened on the drink I was still holding. What a perv.

Never mind that I had let my eyes linger earlier, too. I, at least, had no ulterior motives.

I hurried to release the death grip I had on the glass, surprised by my reaction. What had just happened? I was acting like I was…

I shook my head. No, that couldn’t be it.

I continued to watch as she placed her hand on his arm and laughed.

My jaw clenched.

Why was my jaw clenching?I worked to loosen it.

This was insane. I wasnotjealous.

It probably had more to do with how she was already about to get a phone number and I hadn’t even started yet.

Yes, that made more sense. A lot more sense.

I stretched my neck from side to side. I could do this. It had been a while, but I figured it would be like riding a bike.

Getting up, I put on my game face and strode toward the blonde who was still at the end of the bar.

12

Halle

Iwasn’t annoyed that West was still talking to the blonde. Although being annoyed where West was concerned had become a normal feeling for me.

It was that we were supposed to be playing a game of how many numbers we could get, and while I was on guy number three, he hadn’t talked to anyone else besides this woman. She kept putting her hand on his arm, laughing at whatever he said as she leaned toward him. I knew West wasn’tthatfunny, so she had to be totally faking it.

I should have been paying attention to whatever this guy was saying. I was attempting to get his phone number after all, but I couldn’t focus. The current of frustration going through me was humming so loud, it was drowning out the guy’s voice.

I glanced over at West again. Did he like her or something? She was pretty and they seemed to be getting along. Was she an early-to-bed type as well? Were they about to pull out their phones and synchronize their perfect schedules? Did she have some perfect job where they could talk about their corporate lives together over an expensive bottle of wine at some uptight fancy restaurant?

West leaned down on the bar, bringing his face closer to hers as a smile lit up his face.

Whoa. If their stimulating conversation hadn’t won her over, that look he was giving her would do the job. I may have been across the room, but even I could hear her ovaries screaming for joy at West’s interest.

I’d always thought West was attractive, even with his attitude problem, but seeing him put on the moves? Yeah, his looks were sigh-inducing, making you melt into a puddle at his feet, hoping he’d pick you up in the strong arms he was very nicely showing off in the t-shirt he wore.

---