Page 95 of Kiss & Collide
Inside the museum, the lights had been dimmed, and throbbing techno music was being piped into every room. The crowd was pretty sedate, but at least there was a crowd. And champagne. She plucked a flute from the tray of a passing server as she made her way through the room.
“Hey, look who it is!” Zak’s eyes lit up when he spotted her. She didn’t miss the quick perusal he’d made of her body. She’d thought she’d caught a vibe from him earlier, and now she was sure of it.
He wasn’t bad-looking. Decently tall, with thick dark brown hair and a square jaw. He was a bit sporty and laddish for her taste, but he’d be a distraction, at least.
“Couldn’t stay away,” she said.
He reached out to wrap a hand around her upper arm as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. The warm rasp of his palm and the pressure of his fingertips sent an unpleasant jolt through her body, and suddenly she had to fight down the impulse to yank her arm back.
“You’re looking stunning tonight, Violet.”
Her throat closed up around any witty reply she might have made, so she just forced out a smile and threw back the rest of her champagne.
Surely this would get easier? She was just out of practice after no one but Chase for all these months.
Chase.
Suddenly it was hard to draw in a full breath, like her chest was caving in on itself.
Zak had moved closer, all into her personal space. “What do you say we get out of here?” he murmured in her ear.
Hot, moist breath on her neck, his fingers caressing her arm … a shudder ripped down her spine and she squeezed her eyes shut against the sensation, against the almost overwhelming urge to run away from Zak, run away from this party, run away from—
“Violet?”
Her eyes snapped back open. “Will!”
He was standing a few feet away, one hand casually stuffed in his pocket, the other gripping a champagne flute. The stupid flood of relief she felt at the sight of him was unreal.
He glanced between her and Zak. “You okay?”
Zak held his hands up and grinned. “Sorry. Didn’t realize I was poaching on the world champion’s turf.”
Another shudder of revulsion rippled through her. Honestly, what thefuckwas she thinking?
“I’m notturf.He’s my friend’s fiancé.”
“Oh, well then—”
When he reached out for her again, she sidestepped him, grabbing for Will’s arm instead. “Glad I found you, Will. Something to … um, discuss.”
“Sure thing,” he said, turning them both away and propelling them through the crowd.
“Hey, Violet—”
Zak’s protest was swallowed up by the crowd.
“Thanks for that,” she muttered.
Will shrugged. “You looked like you needed a rescue.”
Had she? She could always handle herself with men. Why had that suddenly felt so different? So wrong?
“Um, is Mira here?” Maybe she just needed to spill her guts to Mira and get her take.
“She’s at an event with her dad tonight. Do you need me to call her for you?”
She shook her head and forced out a smile. “It’s not that serious.”
