Especially after watching her dance with the asshole. Closely. Thighs touching. The man’s arms wrapped around her waist, his hands resting exactly where Tommy’s had been a few hours before.
He wanted her back in his embrace, with her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, her body pressed to his, just as she was holding Brody now. And why shouldn’t he? She had promised him a dance.
After placing his wineglass on a nearby table, he strode across the dance floor and tapped Brody on the shoulder. The other man glanced back. When his eyes connected with Tommy’s, amusement immediately brightened the man’s gaze. God, Tommy seriously loathed this asshole.
“Hey, man. What brings you by?” Brody said, tugging Julie to his side and under his arm.
The show of possessiveness boiled Tommy’s blood, and he curled his fingers into fists.
“Julie promised me a dance,” he said, relieved that his voice sounded normal and not coated in hostility. He glanced past Brody to his best friend. Wide eyes gazed up at him and she stole his breath for the second time today. “Isn’t that right, Julie?” This time there was a huskiness to his tone he couldn’t hide.
Her brows lifted, but he held out his hand. When she sent Brody a questioning glance, as if asking permission, Tommy clenched his teeth. Patience. The asshole wouldn’t be around much longer. Not if he had anything to say about it. Which he did.
“Go dance with your friend.” The other man kissed her on the cheek and Tommy about cold-cocked him. “I’ll grab us some drinks while I wait for you.” Then he sauntered off, like he didn’t have a goddamn care in the world. Like another man wasn’t trying to swoop in and take his girl.
Confident fucker, wasn’t he?
They’d see how long that lasted.
As another slow song started to play, Julie slipped her hand in his and Tommy tugged her close, wrapping one arm around her waist until he had her pressed against the full length of his body. Unlike before, when she’d relaxed into him, she seemed to strain away from him now.
Leaning back, he frowned down at her. “What’s the matter with you?”
The smile she gave him was also strained—like, bared-teeth strained. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
Earlier at the house, she’d seemed happy to be in his arms, might have even accepted his kiss.
Now it was as if, were he to release her, she would bolt in the opposite direction. What the hell had happened?
The rest of the dance didn’t go any better. She refused to look at him, her attention on anything and everything but him. When he’d ask her a question, all she gave him was a short answer, an “Uh huh” or “Mmm.” When the song was over, she patted him on the biceps and with that same strained smile, said, “Thanks for that dance, Tommy. I’m going to find Brody now.”
And she strutted away, those hips swaying side to side, in search of another man.
Jealous fury made Tommy suck a breath through his teeth. That had been a disaster. What was up with her 180-degree switcheroo? Was it because Brody was here? That seemed logical…
But it didn’t matter, he told himself. She may be out with the asshole right now, but she’d end the night with Tommy.
…
A bald head grabbed his attention. Nerves hit his stomach as he spotted his former coach grabbing a drink from the bar. He’d been keeping his eye out for Mike all afternoon, but he hadn’t been at the ceremony. Tommy had worried that maybe he wouldn’t be here at all. Now that he’d spotted Mike, he made a beeline over to him.
Still a towering combination of muscle and intimidation, the other man had on a pair of khaki slacks and a white button-down shirt he’d left unfastened around the wide expanse of his neck.
Tommy guessed this was as dressed up as Mike was willing to get. His old coach’s eyes narrowed when he saw Tommy approach.
That wasn’t a good sign.
“Mike.” Tommy held out his hand, which the other man took.
“Tommy. Good to see you.”
“Listen, I’m going to cut to the chase here and not waste your time. I’d like to apologize for my shitty behavior after I won the title.”
“And the night you lost the title?” Mike asked, his expression unreadable.
Rage immediately erupted within Tommy as the punk kid’s jeering circled in his head.
Threatening to get Julie alone…to hurt her. “Sorry. I won’t apologize for that.”
A grim smile curved one corner of Mike’s mouth and he nodded. “That’s what I thought. And just for the record? Nobody expects you to apologize for that. In fact, most of us were stunned he didn’t end up hospitalized when we found out what he’d said.”
“He’s just lucky he crumbled after the first punch and his friends decided to jump in to keep me busy.”
“I owe you an apology, too, Tommy. Had I known that the brawl was over what that asshole said about Julie, my reaction would’ve been different. But you never said anything, so I just assumed it was another one of your out-of-control moments.”