Page 226 of Enigma: The Complete Collection
“Good?”
I lock my eyes with the dark-haired man before nodding. He takes my appreciation as a sign to offer an introduction. “Lance.” He offers me his hand to shake.
“Isabelle,” I reply, accepting it.
“You’re breathtakingly beautiful.”
I blush. I appreciate that he’s not hiding his intentions, but throwing out direct compliments like that is awkward for all involved.
“Thank you,” I answer, trying to mask a cringe.
His smirk merges to a full smile when horror crosses my face. “Oh, be still my beating heart. It’s rare to find a woman who doesn’t realize the captivating beauty she has.”
The heat on my cheeks amplifies. Lance has dashing charms and mouthwatering good looks, but I’m not interested. No man will ever spark an interest out of me the way Isaac can.
Several long minutes pass in silence. It’s highly uncomfortable, although Lance doesn’t seem to notice. He thinks he’s in with a chance. I’m not so inclined to agree.
Thankfully, the dinging of a phone interrupts the uncomfortable silence. “It isn’t me.” Lance gestures his head to my clutch purse. “It came from in there.”
I dig my phone out of my clutch, curious to discover who is texting me. My first guess is Brandon. I haven’t seen him for the past two weeks, but we’ve kept in contact via dozens of text messages every day.
The screen on my iPhone displays that I have one message from an unknown number.
Unknown Number:Lose the date.
Although the number is unrecognized, I know who it’s from. It isn’t just my intuition being activated but my libido as well. My heart wallops against my ribs as I return my eyes to Lance. He’s eyeing me with a spark of interest in his heavy-lidded gaze, blindly unaware of the volatile situation approaching him.
A vein in my neck works overtime when my phone dings again.
Isaac:Last chance, Isabelle. Lose the date.
Stupidly, my eyes scan the crowd. Even with the club being packed, a man with an aura like Isaac stands out, so I’m certain he isn’t here. I just can’t help but check.
My eyes freeze halfway across the bar when my phone pings with another message.
Isaac:Look up.
My pulse quickens when I spot a black security dome mounted on the ceiling. I should have realized he’d be watching me. He’s always watching.
Idiotically, I reply to his text.
Me:Leave me alone. I’m not your possession anymore.
Seconds feel like hours as I await his reply, but my heart ceases beating once it arrives.
Isaac:That’s where you’re wrong, Isabelle. You are MINE!
Feeling spiteful, I lift my gaze to the camera, smile brightly, then dump my phone into the ginormous cocktail the lady next to me is consuming.
“Hey,” she shouts, her mouth forming an ‘O.’
I cringe when her nasally voice shreds my eardrums, then cringe some more when I realize I just ruined my brand new way-more-than-I-can-afford-to-replace phone.
Lance chuckles, impressed with my rebellious tantrum. “Some friends and I are hoping to secure a booth in the VIP section. Would you like to join us?”
“I already have a booth with some girlfriends. You and your friends are more than welcome to join us if you’d like?”
I know I’m digging my own grave, but jealousy is rearing its ugly head, clouding my judgment. Besides, Isaac is also in Ravenshoe, so Lance isn’t in any immediate danger.
