Page 22 of Adoration: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 2)

“Is this a fucking sign or what?” Layla screamed as Jason Aldean’s “You Make it Easy” flowed through the speakers.

I laughed hard. “There is no way,” I stopped them both. “We are in England. They don’t play country songs here.”

“They do now,” Lena smiled widely, and all three of us sang along, screaming our hearts out.

“Stealing kisses, baby. You are my sunshine,” we sang drunk, butchering the words, as we danced.

Lena twirled me around, just like she did when we were learning to dance. Mom taught us both to dance to her favorite country song. One twirl, two twirls, three twirls… and I had to stop or risk losing my balance. Lena was laughing behind me, and I had to close my eyes, waiting for dizziness to pass. I slowly opened my eyes and my smile faltered.

Alexander Caldwell was sitting at the table in front of me, his piercing blue eyes watching me. My body heated up, and just like on the first day I saw him, my heart raced. My thoughts were scattered, alcohol making it hard to react or think.

“I’m positively drunk,” Layla slurred behind me.

“Livy, where are you going?” Layla and Lena were calling for me, but I kept going till I found myself in front of his table.

“What are you doing here?” my voice was wobbly.

“Hello, Miss Smith.” His voice sent warmth through my body. Our eyes locked, I tried to imagine those cold eyes burning with desire, those big hands on my hips, holding me in place as he thrusted into me. My face flushed, and I wasn’t sure if it were the alcohol or images coloring my mind.

“Hello,” the woman's voice interrupted the moment and I slowly turned my gaze to her. She was beautiful with her long blonde hair and snobby blue eyes.

“I can’t stand you,” I spat, ignoring the woman and turning my gaze to Alexander, slightly swinging on my feet. “You will ruin my night. You need to go. Monday through Friday with you is bad enough.”

“I beg your pardon,” his date exclaimed, undignified.

I giggled. “I beg your pardon,” I mocked her. “So preppy. You two are a perfect match,” I slurred through my giggles, and then, I looked at Alexander again. “You are like an ice parade for fun.”

His only response was a raised eyebrow and possibly a quirk of his lip. Although I wasn’t sure, it could have been a frown. It was hard to interpret it under influence.

“No, no, no,” Layla slurred, giggling uncontrollably. She came up to me and wagged her finger. “No men,” she exclaimed and nearly fell backwards.

I grabbed her wrist and held her upright, swaying on my feet too.

“Hey,” started Lena equally slurry. “I think we know you.”

“It’s the iceman,” I said, swaying slightly.

All three of us fell into giggling fits, laughing at my joke that wasn’t really that funny.

“Fucking iceman,” Layla blurted and then announced unnecessarily. “Livy doesn’t like you.”

My head tilted to the side, watching his broad shoulders, those strong arms. I wondered how he looked naked. Probably just as preppy. But my body loved the images of him naked. He wasn’t my type at all. I liked easy going men. Not an intense, stiff man with cold blue eyes. My body liked him though. I couldn’t deny that.

“I really don’t like you,” I stated and bursted into a fit of giggles, and kept giggling, tears coming to my eyes.

“What’s the matter?” Lena asked, her words tumbled on each other.

I shook my head, couldn’t stop laughing. My head kept repeating the phrase, stiff man, stiff man, stiff man.

Her hand took mine, shaking it lightly.

“Livy. Talk.” Lena tried to do something but under our condition, we were all pretty much wasted.

I pointed one finger to Alexander Caldwell and slurred my words out.

“I don’t want to do six months with a stiff man.” My words came out whinny. “It’s a punishment. I’ve been good. Why do I keep getting punished? First mom, then Callen, and now this. What did I do?”

“Oh,” was all that came out of her lips.

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