Page 17 of Slide

Soon she was singing and dancing with an extremely hot guy. His smile was bone-meltingly sexy and he smelled divine. This was exactly what she needed.

Right. If that was the case, why wasn’t she the least bit into him? Instead she was on high alert, every part of her tuned to Adam sitting a short distance away. Occasionally she glanced over at their table, and every time those blue eyes were on her. What was he playing at? Was this some kind of game to him?

Shay suddenly hopped up out of her seat and waddled over to join her, with Darcey instantly hot on her heels. Joe stayed where he was for all of thirty seconds before he came and grabbed Darcey to dance with her. Hugh, on the other hand, stayed where he was, looking like he was sucking a lemon. Her big brother did not dance. Ever. He was also possessive as hell and it was obvious watching Shay dance surrounded by guys, even though they weren’t touching her, was killing him.

Lucy leaned into Shay. “Hugh looks like he’s about to blow a fuse.”

She smirked. “He’s been refusing to practice for the wedding.”

Lucy laughed. “You may look sweet and innocent, but you’re an evil mastermind, Shay Freestone.”

And sure enough, Hugh dragged his butt out of his chair, and looking like he was about to be drawn and quartered, joined Shay on the dance floor. The poor bastard hated every minute, standing there barely moving while Shay twirled around him giggling like crazy, unlike Joe, who was swinging Darcey around the dance floor and grinning like lunatic while she laughed her ass off.

Lucy suddenly felt alone.

There were people all around her, her family, the people she loved most in the world, and she felt like the only person on the planet.

The next song was slower, and the guy with her offered her a smile then opened his arms, asking permission without words to pull her closer. She let him. Right then, she needed the closeness, even if it was with a total stranger.

They talked and danced for a few more songs, and it was during one of these conversations she learned all about his partner, Chris. The hottie was gay. So much for taking a page out of Adam’s book. But she was having a great time and he was a lot of fun, so she stayed and hung out with him. Ha! No wonder her brothers left without a backward glance. He’d been working at Abella’s for months and seemed to know Shay and Darcey fairly well. They obviously all knew she wasn’t in any danger of being seduced by the guy. Still, it wasn’t like her brothers to not insist on seeing her home safe.

She leaned in and her new friend, Palo, did the same, his hand going to her shoulder so he could hear her. “I’m getting a drink. You want one?”

He declined and she headed to the bar. She was just about to make her order when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around, expecting it to be Palo.

“Adam?”

Okay, now she knew why Hugh and Joe had no problem leaving without her. Her good buddy was there to look out for her. Neat-o.

“I don’t need you here. You can go,” Lucy said, dismissing him.

His eyes were glittery, kind of wild. “You had enough of rubbing my face in it? Or are you planning on fucking that guy to see what happens?”

“What?”

He curled his fingers around her bicep. “Time to go, baby girl.”

“I beg your pardon?” She knew her mouth was hanging open, but there was no disguising her reaction to his heavy-handed bullshit.

“You either leave with me now…or you go back on that dance floor, that guy puts his fucking hands on you again, and you wait and see what happens.” He bared his teeth. “And here’s a heads-up. It won’t be pretty.”

Lucy had indulged in a few drinks, more than a few if she was honest, and her tequila haze was making it kind of hard to comprehend what in the hell was going on. “What?” she said again stupidly.

He moved suddenly. His chest hit hers, backing her up, and her butt slammed against the bar. “If you let that fucker touch you one more damn time, Lucy, I will lose my shit. Do you understand?”

No. No, she didn’t. Not at all. She opened her mouth, snapped it shut, and opened it again.

Then they were moving, Adam towing her through the restaurant and out the door.