Maryellen
It was an accident. I didn’t mean to do it. Garrett got pushed from behind, and to avoid my wine spilling on us both, I needed to lean back.
Right against Chase.
The heat of his body felt so familiar, even though it had been so many months.
He froze when our bodies touched. We both did. It was hard wanting what I couldn’t have. But I’d been dealing with it. Seeing him in these social situations, though, made it even more challenging.
This was reminiscent of our first night together. I was sure he was thinking the same thing.
I could have turned around and apologized, but I didn’t. Instead, I reveled in the feel of his muscular back against mine for the lingering moments that he stayed in place.
I felt his arm move next to me, and I heard a glass land on the bar. That same arm came between us and searched out my hand at my side. He gently grazed my finger before tugging on it, a tiny gesture he used to do all the time.
My heart swelled and sank at the same time. It was amazing how a tiny touch could make me fall apart so quickly. Allowingmyself to fall deeply for this guy in the first place was my problem. Trying to forget him has been near impossible. Tears welled up and I turned my head away from Garrett.
Chase moved his hand, grabbed the glass on the bar, and walked away.
I immediately missed his warmth against me.
“You OK?” Garrett asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “It’s these work things. Ya know how they are.”
He nodded, but for a different reason entirely.
“We should head back to the table, looks like dinner is coming out,” I said.
Thankfully, Chase wasn’t in his seat when we returned. He was on the other side of the table, talking with Cal, Harper, and his brother. Being able to sit without the feel of him next to me, even for a few minutes, would be a relief.
“Maryellen,” Gage said with a wave. “Come on over. Introduce us to your guest.”
Shit.
Garrett was more than eager to talk with Gage. I could tell in the way he walked ahead of me around the table. His hand extended to my boss before I even reached the group with a self-introduction. They were engrossed in a conversation I had no interest in.
“We can let them talk shop.” Harper looped her arm through mine. We walked toward the dance floor and sat on a small couch next to it. “So, your date is cute. Tell me about him.”
“Oh, not much to tell. This is only our second date. We met in a bar last week, went to dinner the other night, and that’s the extent of it, literally. He seems nice. I mean, I still barely know him, and it’s nice of him to come to this with me.”
She nodded in agreement. “This one isn’t so bad, at least there will be music. The worst ones are the dinners only events. Thank God I’ve only had to go to one of those so far.” Then sheleaned into my ear. “You still have another admirer, ya know.” Her eyebrows gestured to Chase. “Don’t look, because he’s staring right at you.”
It was hard not to look. I wanted that connection with him again.
“Have you guys hooked up since last summer?” she asked.
“No!” I whisper-yelled. “No.”
My gaze casually scanned the room as if I were simply looking around the party. Sure enough, as I glanced toward our table, my eyes connected with his.
Looking back at Harper, the horror set in. “Wait, you knew about us?”
She chuckled. “Let’s just say I was pretty observant at The Plaza party, but you guys weren’t very discreet, either. I mean, Amanda knew what was going on, too.”
Amanda.
His date to that party. At least I watched him say goodbye and put her in a car before we left. I would have felt even worse if he hadn’t done at least that. But I was sure she resented me for that night if she knew he went home with me.
