A wave of possessiveness unlike any he’d ever felt carried him forward through the crowd. The place was filled with all kinds of beautiful women. Several even eyed him unabashedly as he maneuvered his way past.
He paid them no attention and wasn’t the least bit tempted to look their way. He was too focused on the man dancing with Talia…and the hands that had just started to wander.
Not in this lifetime, buddy.
Jagger approached the guy from behind, his wheels spinning to come up with a plan. By the time he reached them, he’d had an idea. One that hopefully wouldn’t end in a testosterone-driven brawl.
His target was a few inches shorter, which made his plan that much easier to put into play. When he got to him, Jagger leaned down close to the other man’s ear. Making sure his voice was loud enough the guy could hear, he kept on eye on Talia’s back to make sure she couldn’t.
“I’ll give you a hundred bucks right now if you turn around without a word and walk the other way.”
The guy’s shoulder’s jumped half-a-second, turning but never once stopped dancing. Jagger’s gaze slid to his partner, relieved to find Talia still facing the opposite direction. He held up the crisp Benjamin to show the offer he’d made was legit. Without hesitation, the man in the baggy pants snagged the bill and walked away.
For a moment, Jagger considered silently sliding up and taking the other man’s place. But the whole reason he’d gone to her house in the first place was to attempt an apology for having deceived her.
No more lies or half-truths.
That was the promise he intended to make. Since there was no time like the present, Jagger filled his lungs with a stealingbreath. He released it slowly, reaching a hand to her bare shoulder and giving her a gentle tap.
“Mind if I cut in?”
He already had, but that was beside the point.
Talia turned his way, and from the look on her face, it was obvious he wasn’t the one she’d expected to see. In fact, Jagger was pretty sure he was the last person she ever thought would be there. And from the way her widened eyes just narrowed, his presence atDisConnectedwasn’t exactly welcome.
“What the…” Her stare grew hard with anger. “Did youfollowme here?”
Despite the loud music, he had absolutely no problem deciphering the loaded question.
“I did.” Jagger nodded. “But it’s not what you think.”
Gorgeous eyes lined black and shadowed in a smoky, sultry way lasered deep into his. “What Ithinkis that I’m leaving.”
He watched as Talia spun around on her stilettos with the obvious intent of becoming lost in the sea of dancers. Before he thought better of it, Jagger snaked a hand out with the intent of gently taking hold of one of hers.
Apparently, fate had other plans because, at that very same moment, a woman who looked to him to be all of twenty-one lost her footing and fell fully against him.
“Sssorry…” she slurred before smiling up at him through a set of glassy, bloodshot eyes. “Oh, wow.” The young woman blinked. “You’re really cute, you know that?”
“So I’ve been told.” Jagger flashed her a friendly smile.
Placing his hands on the top of her shoulders—and keeping them visible to those around them at all times—he carefully eased her from his chest and waited to make sure she wouldn’t fall before releasing his hold and walking away.
“Excuse me,” he mumbled kindly, making his escape while he could.
Jagger scanned the faces for the one he’d come here to find. His pulse quickened when, for several long seconds, he thought she’d gotten away.
There!
Talia was at the club’s door, not looking back as she vanished into the night. Caring a little less about the slight jostles and inadvertent bumps along the way, he moved faster and with purpose until he was finally back outside.
“Talia, wait!” he called out when he caught sight of her at the parking lot’s edge.
With a quick glance in either direction, Jagger took off in a jog across the otherwise empty street. He caught up to her with relative ease almost exactly halfway between her car and where he’d parked his.
“Go home, Jagger,” the pissed off woman ordered without so much as a glance in his direction.
“Not until we’ve had a chance to talk.”
