Beyond Me (19 page)

Rich frowned. “So you did fuck her.”

“No.” The idea of them tainting our connection by talking about sex made me nuts. Better to get them off the scent. “We never slept together. But I’m into her and hoping for something more permanent.”

The guys looked like I had announced I was gay. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Fuck off. I’m done with you guys.” I made a motion to leave, but they jumped in fast.

“Okay, okay! Fine, we’ll back off. We just never heard that from you before, bro. Had no idea you wanted more than a night here and there. You gonna follow her back to her home? Try and be her boyfriend? Get a job and all that shit?”

The words hit my reality barrier and got me nervous. What was I going to do? Jump on a plane and cheerlead her on in her final year of college? Get work in Chicago? Meet her dad? It all swirled together in a burst of images I hadn’t really thought out. Or at least, I hadn’t wanted to. She had studies and two jobs. A father. Close friends.

I had nothing.

I gritted my teeth and tried to be cool. “We’ll work it out.”

“Sure, man, sure.” Adam and Rich stared at me, their expressions saying I was fooling myself. They knew me well. Knew my background as the mayor of Loserville and playboy extraordinaire. No wonder they were skeptical.

“I’m gonna get Quinn her drink.” I reached into my pocket for my wallet and some dude behind me—Jack was it?—bumped into me, laughing hysterically and clutching at my jeans to steady himself.

“James! Sorry, sorry, you buying us another round? You’re the man! Here, let me help.”

“I got it.” I tried to push him away, but he grabbed for my wallet and a flimsy piece of white lace got torn out with the black leather. I tried to shove it quickly back in my pocket, but Adam spotted it and with a low whistle, tore it out of my hands.

“What’s this?” He held up the thong and hooted with laughter. “Holy shit! Nice work, Hunt! Why you denying you scored when you got the proof in hand?”

In slow motion, I watched the events unfold and slide out of my control. “Hey, give them back now.”

He threw them to Rich, who cheered and stretched them out. “Nice! I guess you’ll be having an appointment with Whit Bennigan after all!”

“I swear to God, if you don’t give them back, I’m going to kick your ass,” I said coldly. Rage shook through my body. How could I have chosen friends like this? They had no character or motivation for anything better in life.

“Calm down, dude. It’s not like your girlfriend is being faithful anyway. She’s completely into the bartender.”

“What?” His answer distracted me, so I whipped around and found her stretched over the bar. Laughing. The bartender whispered something in her ear that made her blush a bit, and then he slid her a drink. They spoke in an intimate manner, heads close, and she nodded.

The room faded. All I could see was the woman I loved flirting with some tattooed bartender. What the hell was going on? Why would she be putting herself out to a stranger after what we shared? Was this a joke to her? A spring break fling, while she whispered words of love and laughed her ass off on the plane to her girlfriends
? Poor little rich boy, so desperate for affection
. He actually believed they’d have a long-term relationship, and she felt bad enough to jolly him along. At least she got a good fuck out of it. Or two.

All of my weaknesses, insecurities, and fears reared up like a sleeping dragon and roared. Fire hit and spread, burning away the last of my illusions.

I was a pussy. Stupid. So stupid to believe in her.

I turned around. My friends were still talking.

“You won the bet fair and square. God knows she’s a cold fish, so you must’ve warmed her up a bit to hit her next conquest. No worries, James. We got your back. You don’t want to get attached to a girl like that.”

Ice crystallized my voice. “I’m done with all of you and your sick games. Fuck you.”

“Why are you being such a pussy? You nailed her, you won the bet fair and square, and I’m gonna pay up.”

“Give me the goddamn panties now,” I commanded.

“Now that you satisfied your curiosity, can we move on? We can hold another party Saturday night. It’s not too late,” Adam called out.

“So it was a bet?”

The room tilted. The rush of noise grew still.

I slowly turned around.

Her husky voice stroked me, like her warm hand sliding over my dick and making me come. Those gorgeous brown eyes flashed with raw pain, but turned cold and hard so fast I thought I had imagined the switch.

I knew I had fucked up.

“Quinn, this isn’t what you think.”

And as the words spilled from my lips, I knew it was too late.

I
LEFT
the guys glaring at my back and wondered how much longer we’d have to stay. I couldn’t understand how such assholes were James’ close friends. He was so much better than that. My thighs brushed against each other and the decadence of not having panties shimmered through me. Who would’ve thought such things as removing underwear would be so frickin’ erotic? I loved how James didn’t allow my shyness to hold me back. With him, I became the woman I’d always wanted to be: confident, sexy, smart. Not the practical, nice workaholic who put everybody else first.

I squeezed in by the bar and tapped Cassie’s shoulder. She turned and gave me a hug and kiss. “I haven’t seen you since Tuesday. You good?”

“Very good. Just wanted to let you know I’m hanging over there with James and his crew.”

She narrowed her gaze. “The Ivy Leaguers, huh? They like their beer and tequila.”

I laughed. “Yep. Have you seen Mac?”

“Nope, but her hottie is working at the bar.”

I looked over and caught tat guy—Austin—slinging drinks and chatting with the customers. “I’m gonna check with him, maybe he knows where she’s been. She’s not answering her texts.”

Cassie frowned. “You think she’s in trouble?”

“Nah, she would’ve called. I think she’s up to something and got distracted. Maybe she’s writing a song or something. She always loses track of time when she’s writing.”

“Good thinking. You like him?” Cassie jerked her head toward James.

I smiled. “Yeah. A lot. Tell you later.”

“Deal. Just be careful, okay? Remember, no drinks from someone you don’t know.”

I rolled my eyes. “Cass, I was the one who warned you when we first came on the trip, remember? Besides, we pinky promised. You’ve been fine, right?”

She hesitated just a moment, her gray eyes flashing with an emotion I couldn’t name. “Never better. Go talk to hot guy and get back to yours.”

“Thanks.” I shifted down to the middle of the bar where I saw an inch of a gap to make my move. Using my elbows, I got close and held up my hand.

Damn. Mac’s man was quite good looking, especially with the ink. The fact he could sing was also perfect. I opened my mouth to introduce myself, but he must have recognized me. His eyes lit up and leaned over the bar, ignoring the other patrons. “Quinn, right? Mac’s friend?”

“Yes! Austin, right?”

“You got it.”

“Listen, I haven’t been able to reach Mac. She okay?”

Something flickered over his face, but he nodded. “Yeah. She’s been holed up in her room for a bit.”

The meaning of that was quite clear. Mac was having fun in more ways than one. Nice. “Got it. Can you just tell her to call me when she’s got a chance? I’m not at the hotel—I’m staying somewhere else tonight, so I don’t want her to worry if she comes to my door.”

His brows drew together. “With that guy?” He motioned toward James and his friends. “I may have to cut them off. Never went through so much tequila in my life, and they get a little over the top when they get together.”

Embarrassment shot through me. I hated that Austin assumed James was an idiot. “I think that’s a good idea. But don’t tell them I confirmed.”

He leaned in really far so he could whisper in my ear. “Smart girl. Thanks for the heads-up.”

I grinned. He really was a charmer. If I wasn’t so gaga over James, I probably would have swooned. “Welcome.”

“Listen, Quinn. About Mac.”

My heart dropped. “Is she okay?”

He looked uncomfortable, as if debating whether or not to tell me. “There was some trouble. Paps found out about us. She needs you.”

I cursed viciously. What the hell? My eyes narrowed. “Was it you?”

He glared right back. “Fuck no. But believe what you want. I don’t need this shit.”

He turned away, but I grabbed his wrist and stopped him. “I’m sorry. I—I believe you. Is she at the hotel?”

“Yeah. Surrounded by the press. We were on TMZ. Fucking shit.”

“Crap. Okay, I’m heading over there now to check on her.”

“Why do you believe me?”

I looked into his face and I didn’t know. Just a gut instinct. Maybe because it was the easiest thing to believe. Didn’t necessarily make it true. “Don’t know. Just do.”

“Thanks. Wait here.” He disappeared for a few moments, then came back with a Sex on the Beach. “Take one for the road. Mac said it’s your signature drink.”

“Thanks.”

He lowered his voice to an intimate pitch. “Thanks for believing me.”

Yep. Swoonworthy. I nodded and headed back toward James. I’d need to meet him at the house later maybe, depending on what Mac needed. Poor thing. She deserved to lead a normal life and not deal with this endless bullshit.

James had his back turned toward me and was hissing furiously at his friend. Whoa. He was really pissed, and didn’t seem to be fooling around. I tried to capture his words, but the music was too loud, so I got only snatches as I moved closer.

“—won the bet—fair and square—”

“cold fish—must’ve warmed her up—next conquest—”

“attached to a girl like that—”

“—fuck you—”

Worried, I hurried faster and had just reached the table when a flash of white caught my vision. Adam was waving it over his head, grinning, and Rich and James were going at it, cursing and arguing over something. Why did that thing Adam was holding look so familiar? Delicate, lacy?

Oh. My. God.

My thong.

The true dialogue swarmed around me in a world close to
Alice in Wonderland
.

The blood drained from my body like a husk from a fatal vampire bite. The room swayed under my feet. And at the same time, the inner voice whispered to me that I should’ve known. Should’ve known. Should’ve freaking
known
. It had all been too good to be true.

“So it was about a bet?” I asked.

All the guys turned. Adam lowered my panties and gave them back to James, looking a bit humbled. Rich stared. And James pinned me with his hot blue gaze, piercing past my defenses and touching my core.

But this time, my core was icy. Numb. Better this way, I told myself. The pain would come later, and that would be a bitch to get through. “Quinn. This isn’t what you think.”

I tilted my head as if we were having a philosophical conversation. I whipped out my hand and took back my panties, studying them with fake curiosity. “Are we revisiting
Sixteen Candles
? Did you need proof?”