Page 26 of Drunk on You (Hope Town 4)

"Dangerous."

Not knowing how to respond, I just blink up at him. He just looks at me, not moving, and then presses his lips to mine. When he leans back, I'm not sure who is more shocked by the impromptu kiss--me or him.

When we get inside the restaurant, I have to mentally remind myself not to look around. I hold his hand with mine while curling the other around his thick bicep, keeping my body pressed tightly against his. Aside from telling the hostess it was just the two of us, his attention doesn't waver from mine. I want so badly to look around, but I resist. Somehow. To the outside, there is no way someone would think this was our first date.

"Right this way," the young girl says before grabbing some menus and gesturing with her hand to the room behind her.

I give myself a second to take in the room, each of the hibachi cooktops seemingly full of people. She weaves around the room, coming to a stop in the back corner. Shane holds out my chair for me, the one on the end, before taking the other one to my left. I make a mental note to thank him later for taking the spot next to a stranger.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me," someone hisses, not trying to keep their voices from floating toward us.

My eyes go from the menu to the direction where I heard that. My gaze clashes with the angry woman across from us at the U-shaped cookt

op. Shane's hand drops to my knee, and I know exactly who that is. I had never really gotten a good look at her because I only saw her through the smoke and darkness of Dirty. I knew about what she looked like in build and such, but I hadn't gotten a good look at her face until now. She's beautiful, no doubt about it, but something is nasty about her that takes all those good looks and dashes them out.

Evil. That's what I imagine is roaring through her veins. Pure, nasty evil.

"Lacey," Shane drawls, nodding his head at the same time his hand starts rubbing my leg to soothe me. I don't let myself analyze that, keeping my eyes on the woman across from us.

She doesn't respond. Her face contorts to an even nastier scowl.

"Hannah," he continues. I see the woman next to her nod.

Thankfully, the only other people at the table seem to be with them, so we're keeping our show to a somewhat minimal audience. My stomach flutters, nervous bubbles making me question the sanity of what we're doing.

"This is rich, Shane," Lacey snidely says to him. "Even for you."

"Don't," the girl next to Hannah says, leaning around the friend between them to look at Lacey.

"Don't what? Him bringing his new slut here was no fucking accident. Just like you, Shane, to parade your toys around. You going to tie her up on the table and fuck her here? Rub it in that you have someone new."

"Your language is atrocious," I speak up, locking eyes with hers, unable to keep the thought to myself. Blue against blue, one spitting fire and the other--hopefully--calm. Shane's grip is the only other thing that registers. I bet I have a bruise, but oddly, I kind of hope I do. What in the world does this man do to my mind?

"Oh yeah, slut? You going to do something about it?"

I lean forward, looking around Shane's body, and make eye contact with the other people sitting with us. Even if they're clearly here with her, her behavior is embarrassing for everyone. They seem to be coming to the same conclusion, looking uncomfortable that they're stuck at a table, and between something nasty. "I'm really sorry for her disgusting behavior. I've never met her before, but please accept my humblest of apologies that you're having to witness something so unstable."

"You fucking bitch," she hisses. "That's my fiance you have your hands on."

I look from the wide-eyed couple next to us and up at Shane, hoping he can see that I have a lot to say about that bombshell. He doesn't look away. I nod once before looking back at her. "Whatever he might have been to you at one point, you weren't smart enough to keep him in your life. Your loss, my gain, and honey ... I won't be stupid enough to let him go. Isn't that right, pumpkin?" I look over at him with my brow arched. I'll pay for that pet name, but right now, whatever that punishment will be is one hundred percent worth it to see the look on her face.

However, the desire in his eyes is telling me he isn't at all upset with my continuing the pet name game in public. His hand leaves my leg, arm arches over my head, and he drapes it over my shoulder.

If looks could kill, I imagine his charming ex would have murdered me a few times. I ignore her, placing my order when the waitress comes over. After handing over my menu, I place my hand on his muscular thigh and lean my head against his arm, turning to look up at him with a smile while I slowly drag my hand up toward his crotch, stopping just shy of the bulge in his slacks. He doesn't outwardly react, but the second I flex my hand against his leg and feel his hardness against the side of my hand, his erection jumps. I know that no one can see, but it makes me feel deliciously naughty.

"Maybe not on a really hot surface like this, but I wouldn't mind the whole tying me up later situation."

Twice in one day, Shane gives me something I have a feeling few others have experienced from him. His full-out, blinding smile as he laughs loudly with his whole body. I feel my own grin grow as I continue looking up at him. When he looks down, his chest still moving with silent laughter, I feel like a little piece of me has just become his forever.

Luckily--or rather, unlucky for me--I didn't have too much time to think about what that meant for me because the second his lips touched mine, I was drenched with the drink that had just been placed in front of the woman across from me.

"HAVE YOU LOST YOUR FUCKING mind?" I growl at Lacey.

What the hell did I ever see in her?

Easy. She was easy.

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