Page 86 of Devotion: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 1)

Chapter Twenty-Six

We were in Edinburgh after the sunset, parking the vehicle and walking towards a bar called Brewdog. As we walked, I was aware of glances coming our way. I hated being noticed but I ignored them.

Maybe there is some truth in that phrase ‘fake it till you make it.’

Because I was faking it all the way.

As soon as we entered, the loud music of the bar assaulted my ears but I welcomed it. It made it hard to hear my own thoughts. And right now, that was what I needed.

Ainslee’s friends flagged us down and they looked just as amazing. After quick introductions with Isla and Lucy, we ordered a round of shots. It burned down my throat and I started coughing.

Ainslee smiled. “You ok?”

I nodded, raising my hand. “Yes,” I told her. “I forgot how it burns going down.”

We both laughed and another round of shots were brought over.

“Already?” I asked, raising my eyebrow.

The waiter pointed to the group of gentlemen on the other side of the bar. “Compliments of the group. They wanted me to tell you, you ladies look grand.”

As he walked away, probably used to doing this all the time, I asked the table. “Did he say grand?”

We all shared a look and burst into a laugher.

“He did say grand,” Isla shouted. “We are not grand. We are fucking smoking hot.”

To cheer to it, we all downed another shot. It was definitely getting warmer. I went to take my jacket off but then realized I didn’t have it. I only had a dress. All of us smiled stupidly as we flagged the waiter back for another round.

“We should dance,” my words came a bit slurry and I mumbled a curse.

“Yes, yes,” Ainslee took my hand. Two of us hand in hand, Isla and Lucy hand in hand, we made our way to the dancefloor. Nobody was dancing but everyone cleared for us.

“Why do I feel more dizzy than you look?” I asked her, my words stumbling over themselves.

“You are lightweight,” she responded giggling. Okay, maybe a little bit drunk.

After dancing on the floor, we ordered another round of shots. The buzz made us even bolder and more carefree. As the music blasted on the speakers, we climbed on the bar, attracting a large group of people. We got the whole bar fired up.

I wasn’t sure how long we were there but the bar was getting more and more crowded and we were cheered on as we kept dancing on the bar. In the back of my mind, a little worry lingered but I couldn’t quite catch on what it was about.

I noticed Isla and Lucy got off the bar and Lucy hurried off to barf in the corner. I glanced at Ainslee and pointed to those two, but she shook her head indicating all is good. So we took another shot and continued on with a crowd of Scottish men cheering us on. My body and mind were relaxed, more relaxed than I could ever remember but then, I couldn’t quite remember much right this second at all.

Ainslee leaned against the support beam on the side, smiling stupidly. And I returned the smile, mine being just as stupid. I closed my eyes, dancing sensually to the music, tuning out the loud noise of wild men cheering on and tuning out a little voice whispering to stop.

Then I felt a man’s hand grip my one leather-covered ankle. I stopped moving and opened my eyes to see Lachlan staring at me with fury in his eyes.

“Down,” he practically growled the words at me. “Now.”

The whole bar had gone silent although the music still pumped in the background. I stood there watching him, furious that my body heated up in response to him.

“Last warning, love,” he said through clenched teeth. He was furious.

Holding his gaze, I slurred my words. “You can’t tell me what to do.”

A little piece of my brain told me that sounded so bratty and immature but I was too far drunk to recover.

Through the drunk haze, I knew he had enough. A single, precisely timed tug and he titled me off balance. As I fell, he caught me and threw me over his shoulder.

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