“I’ll be back.” I slip off my bar stool and catch myself as a wave of dizziness comes over me. Oof, too much to drink between the wine at Madison’s and the cocktails here. The crowd isn’t any less thick, so I work my way to the bathroom and wait in a short line.
After washing my hands, I take a breath before facing the crowd again.
When I open the bathroom door, the noise overwhelms me. As I make my way slowly through the bar, a tall man steps in front of me.
I look up and it’s some guy around my age. He smiles. “Hey.”
“Excuse me. I’m trying to get back to my friends.” I gesture behind him, hoping he’ll move out of my way.
“I could be your friend.” His gaze drops to my cleavage in my V-neck t-shirt with a dirty grin. Ew, no.
“Not today. Thank you.” I go to move around him but he blocks the way.
“Come on. At least give me your number.” He gives me a pouty face that does absolutely nothing except annoy me.
“Look, I have someone.” Actually, three and a potential fourth. Not really looking to add to that number. How would that even work? My brain stumbles on it, but then I make myself return to here and now.
“I don’t see him.” The guy grins and puts his hand on my arm. “I’m here.”
“There you are, sweetie.” An arm wraps around my waist and I’m drawn into the side of a really tall, really good-smelling beast of a man.
The guys in this bar are grabby tonight.
I try to pull away. “You must have me?—”
“Yes, I must, darling. But later.” He kisses my temple and I once again try to pull away. “Excuse us.”
His attention is on the guy in front of me. The guy with his arm around me is dressed in a business suit with a black shirt unbuttoned at the collar. He has a closely shaved beard, wavy brown hair, and stunning blue eyes.
“Sorry, man.” The guy backs off without an apology to me. What an asshole.
The business man doesn’t release me as he maneuvers us through the crowd. When I see he’s taking me in the direction of the girls, I give up and let him lead. After all, he did save me from that guy, and he slices through the crowd like a hot knife through butter.
“Mr. Duncan.” Madison straightens as we reach her. Oh, good, someone she knows and not some random stranger.
“Heath, love.” Heath removes his arm from me and smiles. “I found this one being accosted by a young stud. Figured I could be of service. Last time I saw her was on the arm of your Noah.”
Heath Duncan. The name is familiar, and now that I look at Heath, I recognize him from social events. He always has some vapid, gorgeous woman clinging to his arm.
Madison blushes. “This is Kayla Wagner, Blake’s sister.”
Heath takes her hand and kisses her knuckles. “A pleasure.”
“Indeed.” Kayla winks at him.
His laugh is loud and boisterous.
“Hope Williams works at Morrigan with me.” Madison presents Hope.
“Williams?” Heath takes her hand and holds it for a second before glancing at Jason behind the bar. “Those blue eyes. You wouldn’t be one of Troy’s kids, would you?”
Hope blushes and tries to draw back her hand, but he holds it. “Yes, Troy Williams was my father.”
He grins and lifts her hand to his mouth. “Huge fan. He was one of the legends of boxing.”
He kisses her knuckles. His gaze never drops from hers.
She nods and finally gets her hand away. His gaze remains fixed on her for a few seconds longer than normal. There’s an intensity that makes me uncomfortable.
