She hadn’t danced in ages and hadn’t expected to, but why not? After all, this was a celebration. She pushed her chair back, he reached out a hand and helped her up, and they made their way through a tangle of people getting their groove on rightthere beside their tables. At last, they entered the packed dance floor. Dancing together was fun. She couldn’t stop smiling. Blake seemed to be having a good time, too. Now and then, they joined others and danced as a group. The lack of space meant occasional jostling with people and a ton of laughter.
Sometime later, hot and spent, she was ready for a break. “I need to use the ladies’ room. I’ll meet you at the table.”
“Are you as thirsty as I am?” Blake said. “I feel for the servers. They’re running all over the place. While you do your thing, I’ll get us a couple of waters and fresh drinks at the bar. I don’t see much of a line there.”
In the bathroom, Vi splashed water on her hot face, freshened her lip gloss, and combed her hair. It sure needed combing. Tonight with Blake was so much fun, and she smiled as she left the bathroom.
As she looked for him at the bar, a heavyset male bumped into her. With a shock, she realized she was face-to-face with Devin.
“Hey, Vi,” he drawled with a cocky grin. “Never figured I’d run in to you in Port Simms. Lookin’ good.”
He sure didn’t. Besides a double chin, he’d aged quite a bit more than most guys his age. His hair was short but rumpled, and his cologne was so strong she wanted to gag. He looked her up and down with an intrusive, lecherous gaze. He was swaying a little, too. Drunk, she realized.
“Excuse me,” she said and attempted to move around him.
“Wait.” He reached out and grasped her arm with meaty fingers. “What are you doing here tonight?”
“Please, let go of me.”
Ignoring her words, he held on. “Aw, c’mon. We haven’t seen each other in years. Don’t you want to catch up?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Get your filthy hands off me now.”
CHAPTER 19
Blake eyeballed the scene unfolding near the women’s bathroom. Who in hell was holding onto Vi like he never wanted to let go? “I’ll pick up the drinks in a minute,” he told the bartender. He strode toward her in time to hear her order the harasser away.
The man held up both his hands. “Cool down, Vi. I?—”
“Back off,” Blake threatened, his fists primed to throw a punch.
“Blake,” Vi said with obvious relief. “I’m so glad to see you.”
The man, obviously drunk, squinted at him. “Who’re you?”
The answer fell out of Blake’s mouth without missing a beat. “Vi and I are together.” Tonight, they were. He put a protective arm around her. She didn’t seem to mind, sank against him willingly.
The man’s jaw dropped. Not counting reeling some, he didn’t budge. “You’ve had too much to drink, buddy. Get lost, or I’ll call security,” Blake warned.
“All right, all right, I’m going. See you around, Vi.”
“Not if I can help it,” she muttered when he was out of earshot. “Thank you, Blake.”
He felt her tremble and tightened his arm around her. “Wish I’d come sooner. Who was that jerk?”
“Believe it or not, Devin.”
Oh, man. “The cretin from the grounds crew.”
“Unfortunately. I was coming out of the bathroom and he bumped into me. He looked at me like I was a piece of meat.”
She shuddered, and Blake wanted to deck the guy. “You okay? I can go after him.”
“He’s not worth it. I can’t believe how bad he looks. I’m doubly grateful I haven’t seen him since college. How did you know he?—”
“While I waited at the bar for our drinks, I glanced toward the restrooms and there you were. With him.” The thought of those hands on her…
“Don’t squeeze me so hard.”
