Page 39 of Wanted

“You might be surprised.” Though he waggled his brows, his intent expression never changed. “I know that it can be easier sometimes to look for distractions rather than face what you can’t control. Including yourself.”

She forced out another laugh. “I’ve never been prone to wild emotions. Except desire,” she added, hating the constriction in Cale’s jaw almost as much as her growing sense of anxiety.

This was supposed to be fun, dammit. Just a rockin’ good time had by all. So why couldn’t she forget the way Tony had looked at her earlier? As if he was disappointed.

He’d expected more from her and she hadn’t delivered. Surprise, surprise.

Cale brushed his thumb over her lower lip, shifting her so that her hip rode against his semihard cock. “As much as I want you, there’s something I want for you more. For you and Tony both.”

“Oh yeah? What’s—” Her cell rang in her purse and she cursed, wishing she’d remembered to turn it off. Now shehadto look. “Excuse me,” she muttered, jerking the phone to her ear.

Before she’d even said hello, a hiss of air exploded over the line followed by a high-pitched whine. “How could you do this to me?”

She covered her opposite ear to try to hear better. Though it was much quieter up here, there were still way too many people talking and laughing. And moaning. “Leigh?”

“Who else?”

Marcia frowned and checked the time. A quarter to ten. “What’s wrong? And how did you get my number?”

“From your damn brother.”

“Oh yeah, you’re on the date.” Marcia grinned. “How’s it going?”

“Not too well, considering I’m in the bathroom about to rip out my hair. He’s so egotistical!”

“Well, yes, Adam has a healthy sense of self-esteem. He’s a good guy, really he is. He just likes talking about himself sometimes.”

“Sometimes? For the past hour he’s alternated between staring at my breasts, talking about his old track and football days and bragging about his latest land deals. He’s a complete boor.”

“Invite him back to your apartment. That’ll shut him up.”

“Yeah, that’s another thing. I live with my aunt. He’s staying with Spencer. So even if I wanted, for some godforsaken reason, to see if any part of him is worth investigating further, someone would be right down the hall. Not going to happen.”

Marcia tightened her fingers around her phone. Man, this advice business was harder than it seemed. But she wasn’t giving up without a fight. “Don’t panic. You can go over to my place.” She winced and plugged her ear as the couple to her right started groaning enthusiastically. “Adam knows where I hide my spare key. I have a stash of condoms in my medicine cabinet. Oh, and lube. If—”

“Oh my God, Marcia, are you serious? You really think I’m going to borrow your condoms and lube to have sex with that dud?” Before Marcia could reply, Leigh screeched the answer. “Hellno. I’m getting a piece of Rardin’s raspberry pie to go—though I bet that won’t be any better than the meal—and then I’m out of here. I’m sorry, I know you tried to do me a favor. But he’s just…ugh!” The line disconnected.

“Great.” Marcia sighed. “Fucking great.”

Cale laughed as she lowered her phone. “Problem?”

“Just fits with the rest of the night so far.” She glanced over her shoulder. Where the hell was Tony?

Her cell went off again. She groaned when she saw Adam’s number. Time to listen to her baby brother rant and rave. He didn’t do it often but when he did, it wasn’t pretty. “Yeah?” she snapped into the phone.

“Marsh, I owe you big-time.”

“Huh?”

“Leigh is just…wow. Wow. She’s hot as hell.”

Marcia pursed her lips. Yep, she hadn’t expected this. “So you’re getting along okay?”

“Well, she hasn’t said much yet but yeah, I think so. She has this wide-eyed thing going and it’s a real turn-on. It’s like she can’t get enough of what I’m saying.”

She let out the laugh she couldn’t hold back any longer. God, Adam was making her feel like a relationship expert. At least she could tell when her date wasn’t enjoying things. “That’s excellent. You kids have fun, okay?”

She hung up and shook her head as she dumped her cell in her purse. “Seriously clueless,” she said under her breath.

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