Page 17 of Art of Love

“Oh yeah, I knew you’d be fun.” He chuckled.

Then she shifted and he winced. “Tommy, you’ve got about three seconds to let go of me before you find out what I spent five years learning in self-defense classes.” She smiled brightly.

His eyebrows lowered. “Like I said…”

“One,” she started, and his smile grew.

“I like…”

“Two.” She tilted her head and moved her knee slightly to the right, causing him to wince again.

His hand dropped to his side.

“Maybe some other time.” He abruptly turned and walked away.

“Here you are.” The bartender set down her shot and a beer.

Dylan downed the whiskey, enjoying the burn for a moment before taking a sip of the cold beer.

She glanced around, wondering how many more times Tommy would hit on her that evening. The guy had never been one to take no for an answer. Something told her he hadn’t changed all that much.

Standing by the bar, she scanned the crowd as people settled at tables or stood around sipping drinks while they waited for the wedding party to finish taking photos.

No sign of Abe yet.

After a few moments, she took her beer and skirted the edge of the room, avoiding the dance floor entirely, and made her way towards a quieter corner near the outdoor patio. From here, she could watch the crowd of people come and go without being seen.

She was scanning the faces when a familiar voice rumbled behind her.

“Do you want me to break the guy’s nose?”

Dylan turned slightly to her right, meeting Abe’s inquisitive gaze.

Just the sight of him had her heart jumping in her chest. Damn, she had better get that under control.

He looked… different. Not just because he’d ditched the jacket and tie and had unbuttoned a few buttons on his shirt. There was something unreadable in his eyes.

She smirked, tilting her head, and tried to play it cool. “Which guy?”

His lips quirked. “The one who wouldn’t take his hands off you at the bar.”

So he’d been watching her and had witnessed the scene with Tommy?

Dylan let her eyes drift over him, lingering just long enough to make it clear that she’d noticed his attention. “No. I can handle myself.”

“Is he an old boyfriend?”

She couldn’t help the burst of laughter that escaped her lips. “He wishes.” She took a sip of her beer.

“Did you come here alone?” he asked, glancing around.

She nodded slowly. “What about you? Is there someone waiting in the wings?” She made a show of looking around too.

He smiled. “Nope, all alone.”

“I bet if you wait a few minutes, there’ll be plenty of women lined up to fill your dance card.”

He chuckled and then glanced around, his expression unreadable until it landed on her again. “I think I already spotted something I like.”