“Are you happy?” she asked abruptly.

“Am I happy?” he repeated with a laugh, pulling his brow together, and Andie was suddenly reminded of something her mother used to say to her when she was young.

Anyone who repeats a question when they’re asked one is just buying time.

“Of course I’m happy,” he said with a smile, reaching over the console to take her hand. He brought it to his lips, kissing it gently before he flashed her a smile, bringing his eyes back to the road.

She sat there, her hand clasped in his, noticing that he didn’t ask her the same question in return. She wasn’t sure if it was lack of caring on his part, or the automatic assumption that she was happy which prevented him from asking, but to her, in that moment, both things were equally as offensive.

CHAPTER TEN

Chase watched the woman sitting next to him as she plucked the toothpick out of her martini glass and brought the olive to her lips. She lifted her eyes, making eye contact with him as she opened her mouth, her tongue slowly running along the bottom of the olive as she slid it off the toothpick and into her mouth. She chewed slowly, her eyes still locked on his, a small, seductive smile curving her lips.

What the hell was he doing here?

He had met this woman a few weeks ago at some tawdry open mic night, and before he’d left, she had given him her number. He thought she was sexy as hell in a dirty, provocative sort of way, and the way she had touched him as they spoke that night was a clear indicator of exactly why she was giving him her number. And although he had kept it since then, he never had any real intentions of calling her.

Until tonight.

He watched her twirling the toothpick between her fingers in a conspicuous attempt at being sexy, and he felt almost nauseated. Few things turned Chase off more than blatantly obvious attempts at being seductive. A girl who was inadvertently sexy, one who was totally unaware of her appeal, of the power that she wielded, that was what could drive him crazy with desire. Girls like that could bring him to his knees.

Girls like Andie.

He dropped his head slightly as he closed his eyes. Here he was with this beautiful woman who was clearly interested in giving him whatever he desired from her, and yet he could not get his mind off of his friend’s girlfriend.

He had decided to ask Colin to switch places at the last minute, a choice he questioned the entire plane ride home and throughout the week that followed. At the time he had convinced himself it was the smartest move; after what had almost happened between him and Andie on the dance floor the previous night, he thought it was in everyone’s best interest if they didn’t spend any more time alone together, at least not until they had some time away from whatever it was that had started to brew between them.

But when he forced himself to go upstairs and say good-bye to her—struggling under the pretense that everything was fine—the second he laid eyes on her, he wasn’t sure he’d made the right decision.

He could see in her eyes that she was confused, that she was hurt, although she tried her hardest not to let it show, and he wanted so much to reassure her, to let her know this had nothing to do with being upset with her, or not wanting to spend time with her.

It was exactly the opposite.

But there was no way for him to make it better. Colin was right there, within earshot of any conversation they might have. And even if he wasn’t, what could he say? I think I’m falling for you, and I know I can’t have you, so it’s probably better if we don’t spend any more time together?

He opened his eyes and took a slow sip of his drink, vaguely aware that the woman next to him was speaking, but he couldn’t find it in him to focus on the words. This date was supposed to distract him; on some subconscious level, Chase knew that he called this girl tonight because she was Andie’s exact opposite: jet-black hair that fell to her waist, tan skin, bedroom eyes, clothes that fit her like they were painted on. Everything about her screamed seductress; this girl was playing a game, dancing a dance that she had perfected, and they both knew it.

He had thought he was safe in choosing Andie’s complete antithesis, yet ironically, everything this woman did reminded him of her. When she cursed outright, the boorish words falling from her tongue with ease, he couldn’t help but think of how the corners of Andie’s mouth would turn down in disapproval and that little crease would appear between her brows whenever she heard someone use unnecessary profanity. When this woman looked at him with contrived doe eyes, trying to appear innocent while expressing her sexual prowess, he was reminded of how Andie could effortlessly disarm him with a simple look, her eyes wide and clear, hiding nothing. When this girl ordered a shot of bourbon and took it without so much as a shiver, he was reminded of Andie’s appalled reaction to the Lemon Drop, and he couldn’t help but smile.

And once she was in his head, it was virtually impossible to get her out; the floodgates would open, and he’d be assaulted with memories of her. The way she looked laughing and dripping wet as they climbed out of the lake, her clothes clinging to every curve of her body. The way she felt in his arms, pressed up against him as they danced. What it would have felt like if she’d put her mouth on his.

He let that fantasy go a little further, continuing to ignore the insipid, faceless girl who sat next to him, completely lost in his own thoughts.

It wasn’t long before he felt himself getting worked up, and he cleared his throat as he shifted in his seat, attempting to regain control of his thoughts. His date caught this awkward maneuver, a slow smile spreading over her lips. She was obviously quite pleased with herself, having no idea what it was really all about.

He had spent most of the night so far allowing her words to run right through him; he was grateful she had nothing of substance to say, because it required him to contribute very little to the conversation. A nod, a smile, a laugh here and there, and she was totally appeased. Now, he turned to face her, trying hard to focus on her face, on the present.

He watched her mouth moving, the words not really registering, and he sighed to himself. Hadn’t he told Andie that he prided himself on doing what he wanted, when he wanted? Hadn’t he told her that he refused to live his life for other people? That he learned to do what would make him happy, regardless of what others expected of him?

But this was different.

Fuck. Why did it have to be different?

This was Colin’s girlfriend. He couldn’t do this. Chase was fully aware that he sometimes came off as an asshole to people who didn’t know him, but the truth was, he wasn’t. Right now though, he wished he was. He wished he didn’t give a shit what kind of pain he’d cause Colin, because he wanted her. In every possible way that a person could want another.

The girl next to him paused in the conversation, and Chase nodded and smiled, causing her to laugh shrilly and flash him one of her seductive looks again.