Page 70 of Hate You, Maybe
And the room goes absolutely wild.
Everyone’s hooting and hollering and cat-calling while Hogan’s on the ground in front of Sayla. He drops her hand to wrap his arm around the lower half of her body. A sheet of hot jealousy rinses down my insides like a waterfall set to boiling. Then his palm drops to grope around a bit before finally landing a little too close to her … harness area.
Someone shouts, “Get a room!” I think it’s one of the pharmaceutical guys. But I don’t bother to look. I’m no longer waiting for a direct sign from Sayla.
I’m on my feet, crossing the room.
Grabbing the mic.
“Hey, I hate to interrupt,” my voice growls through the speakers. “But I’m gonna steal your girl now.”
Chapter Twenty
Sayla
“Are you for real, man?” Hogan staggers to his feet, glaring at Dex. “I’m in the middle of my song.”
“You’re done, my friend,” Dex grunts. Meanwhile, the music continues in the background. It’s the part where Hogan should be belting out “baby, baby” over and over.
Oops.
Dex turns to me, and when we lock eyes, heat bolts into my throat. “I really need to talk to you alone,” he says. “It’s an emergency.”
Hogan scoffs. “You good with this, Sayla?”
I nod a quick yes. “Yes, I’m good.”
Dex scowls at Hogan. “You and I are a different story.”
A shriek of feedback bursts through the speakers, and Dex addresses the rest of the room. “Nothing to see here, folks.” He offers everyone a quick wave. “Carry on!” He forces a chuckle, then thrusts the mic back at Hogan. Hogan takes the mic and drops his arm in defeat. The cord hangs at hisside, but at least our conversation isn’t being broadcast over the speakers anymore.
Still, my pulse is racing.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
Without answering, Dex slides an arm behind my back to usher me across the room. Meanwhile, Hogan does his best to pick up in the middle of the chorus, stammering through the song’s final verse.
When we’re almost to the exit, Dex pauses. Squeezes my hand. “Sorry to do that without warning. Are you okay?”
A wave of trust washes over me, and I’m not sure why, but I feel safe. Like I trust that whatever’s going on, Dexter’s on my side.
“I’m okay,” I tell him. Then I throw my gaze to Tori, who’s scurrying over to meet us.
“That was so romantic,” she gushes. “I knew you’d step up, Dex.” She sends me a knowing smile. “You are one lucky woman.”
“I guess I am.”
Dex puts a hand at the small of my back. “Let’s go.”
He guides me out the door, steering us along the building and over to a table at the far end of the lodge. The almost-full moon casts a glow on his broad shoulders. The stars wink at us through the tree branches.
“What’s the emergency?” I ask.
Dex collapses onto the bench, then he tugs me down next to him. He’s so much taller than I am, I have to tip my chin up when I turn to face him.
“I just had to get you out of there.” He lets out another grunt. “Hogan was getting a little too handsy.”
For a long moment, I sit there, quietly appraising him. “That’swhy you interrupted his song?”
