She picked the glass up and handed it to me. “Compliments of the gentleman.” She pointed in the direction of Turner.
Keegan was nowhere around him. I didn’t give any thought to where she could have run off too. Instead I found myself watching him as he eyed me from across the room. I tentatively took the glass from her hand and didn’t bother saying thank you before she walked away. I watched with a raised brow as Turner lifted his own drink in the air as if to toast to me, then sipped it with a smile. I felt irritated that he was presumptuous enough to have a drink sent over to me. Only overly cocky men did this kind of crap. When he brought his glass away from his mouth, he regarded me, waiting for me to take a drink of my own. I had two choices. I could down the drink and try to act smooth and unfazed. Or I could hand it over to one of the girls, giving him the brush off, and try to ignore him for the rest of the night. Option two seemed appealing, however the shot I’d taken from earlier mixed with the Xanax was making me feel a little braver than normal. Option one it was. The ice clinked in the glass as I brought it up to my lips. Taking a small sip, a cold citrus flavor washed down my throat, bathing my tongue in a delicious tropical mix. Mmm, it was good. Damn it! Maybe if I drank it slowly enough, the ice would melt and dilute it. I already had that warm sensation your legs get when you know the alcohol is doing its job. I took another sip of the little blue cocktail and decided I liked it.
I didn’t want to down the drink too quickly. Not just because I needed to keep my wits about me, but also because I wanted to savor it. There were a dozen women in this room that would fall over backwards if Turner gave them the slightest bit of attention, and for whatever reason, he was giving it to me. I knew the reality of the situation. I was a challenge. I’d turned him down. I was like Mount Everest and he saw me as something to conquer. Men loved a good game. It didn’t matter though. I wasn’t the hungry, little fish ready to devour the worm. If he thought I was, he was in the wrong damn pond. So I’d take his drink, allow the delectable flavor to wash through me, and I’d go about my business. Meeting his stare, I tipped my head in thanks, then turned away. I refused to give him any other acknowledgement.
Funny how that was my resolve, but over the course of the next half hour, I’d swallowed the last drop and I found myself dancing in a sea of people I didn’t know. GDFR was playing entirely too loud and sweaty bodies were bumping into mine. I didn’t mind though. I was in my own little world. The heat and the alcohol burning in my veins made for a concoction that had me swaying my hips. I felt amazing. And damn it if Macie didn’t do good when she made me change into this dress. I was feeling sexy and confident.
“Keep it up, Annabelle, and I’ll be taking you out of here and somewhere more private where not every male eye is on you,” a deep voice near my ear hissed.
Twisting around to see who it was, I was slightly unbalanced. A strong hand gripped my upper arm and prevented me from falling over. Turner was gazing down at me with heat in his eyes. Those baby blues looked straight down at my exposed chest. Honestly, I’d lost track of where Turner was in the crowd and was only concerned with feeling good in the moment. Seeing him this close, and feeling him touching me startled me.
“Excuse me?” I tried to sound stern but it just came out breathy.
He clenched his jaw and his eyes roamed my barely covered body. “You heard me. You’ve only had two drinks since you’ve been here. Did you drink before you came?”
I jerked my head back and tried to regain my footing so I wasn’t leaning into his hand. “No. And how do you know I’ve had two drinks? You only sent me one.”
“I saw when you came in.”
“Really?” I said with mild irritation.
“Yes.”
Hmmm, what does one say to that? I was slightly overjoyed that he noticed when I came in. With all the attention he’d been getting it’s a wonder he even saw past the swarm of . . . what did Macie call them? Oh yes, flies.
I pulled my arm out of his hand and stood as tall as I could. “Well, thank you for your concern, but I’m fine. Just enjoying the music.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “I can see that.”
“Is that a problem?”
“It is when you’re dre . . .” Turner wasn’t able to finish his sentence before a blonde with long wild curls stepped in front of me as if I wasn’t standing there.
“Hey there, handsome. What’s a guy like you doing all alone?”
He looked at her as if she was a nuisance he would shoo away. “Actually, I wasn’t alone.”
She smiled up him with wonder in her eyes. Turner was apparently the answer to her loneliness for the night. Did she even hear what he just said? By the way she was inching closer, I’d say no. It didn’t take long before another blonde approached but didn’t say anything. I didn’t understand how these women couldn’t read his expressions. His face was puckered, like he’d just bit into a sour lemon.
Lifting her glass, the presumptuous one said, “I’m running a little low. Mind buying both of us a drink?”
My mouth dropped open. Turner gave her a slight head shake. “Nah, I’m good thanks.”
Well, at least he was being polite.
“Awe, c’mon. Maybe it’ll loosen you up enough to dance.”
“I don’t dance.”
The one who’d remained quiet up until this point piped in, “Everybody dances with enough liquid courage.” Her smile looked like it came straight from a temptress in hell.
He wasn’t backing down. “Not happening.”
Poking my head around the mess of curls from the first woman, their temporary distraction gave me enough time to absorb the sheer beauty of Turner. Standing this close, he had the most perfect shadowing of facial hair I’d ever seen. It was a darker color which complimented the sandy blonde hair he’d styled. Closing my eyes for a brief moment, I swear I could smell him. It was something I’d never smelled before. Definitely some sort of aftershave, which was weird because he clearly hadn’t shaved, but not a cologne my nose was recognizing.
Interesting.
“Run along girls, he’s not interested,” I stated in an overly bold manner, getting them to realize I was there.
One with wild curls turned and sneered at me. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” I was never one to cause a scene, but my annoyance had reached its peak.
The other blonde had the nerve to laugh. “Wow, since when did Warehouse let uptight bitches in?”
I could sense the tension flowing off of Turner and he was about to step in. No sir, this chick was making it personal now. “Probably about the same time they let easy bitches, with bad roots in. Now run along, I’m sure there are a dozen other men who are desperate enough take you ladies home tonight.” I leaned forward, just to push my point. “Make sure they have their beer goggles on. Between you and me, you’re both prettier from far away.”