Wes was hot. Like super attractive. Yet, even though he stood close to her, the scent of him clean and sharp, she wasn’t in the least attracted.
It wasn’t because she knew of his reputation as the boy to stay away from. Make that the one all the girls wanted.
He’s hot. Which was why she couldn’t understand, when he turned an intense gaze on her, which was only enhanced by the slight smirk on his lips, she hardly felt a thing. Mild interest at most.
Her lack of attraction made her bold. “Why didn’t we ever hook up?” she asked.
She took him off balance—she could see by the widening of his eyes—but he had a ready retort. “Because you were dating Caleb.”
“And after?”
“You left.”
She rolled her eyes. “And I came back. This is like, what, the third time we’ve run into each other? Each time you do a little flirt, and yet you’ve never asked me out.”
“I don’t like to waste my time. Any idiot can see you’re still pining for Caleb.”
“I am not.”
“Really? Then prove it.” The smile that tugged Wes’s lips held a challenge no one could resist. Not even her.
Because I have not been pining for Caleb. She could and would date whoever she wanted. Even a Mercer!
“You’re on.”
Leaning on tiptoe, she heard Wes murmur, “Oh, this is going to create some chaos.”
Maybe it would. Maybe it would throw Caleb into a tizzy, but that was okay. It was about time he got some payback for leaving her.
Let him feel something. Let him realize just what he’d lost.
Renny’s lips met Wes’s, and there was no electrical spark, no kaboom of the senses. It was…nice.
It thankfully didn’t last long.
“I hope I’m not interrupting.” The right words, but given Caleb spat them out through gritted teeth, not all that pleasant.
Renny pulled away from Wes, only to stiffen at the possessive hand Caleb dared place on the middle of her back. The fabric of her dress prevented skin-to-skin contact, and yet, awareness ignited in her.
Gosh darn it. An actual kiss did nothing, but Caleb thinking he could claim her in public had her wetting her panties.
It wasn’t fair. She tried to move away from his touch, sidestepping left then right. Caleb simply followed her, never relinquishing his claim.
His stubbornness didn’t endear him to her in the least. “Hands off,” she hissed over her shoulder.
Caleb completely ignored her, focusing instead on Wes. “If it isn’t my old school chum.”
“Chum? I believe the trending word these days is frenemies. How have you been, snaggletooth? Did you run and leave behind a whole other bunch of people before coming here?”
At Wes’s audacity, Renny sucked in a breath.
The tension in Caleb rose a notch. His jaw hardened. “I didn’t run. I served my time with the military and left with an honorable discharge.”
“Ah yes. The military. Can’t say as I ever felt the urge. I much preferred to stay behind and enjoy the benefits of home.” Renny bit her lip instead of giggling as Wes winked, so obviously baiting Caleb.
Caleb, though, didn’t think Wes joked. “Stay away from Renny.”
Jealousy. Oh my, there was no denying it. Caleb was jealous. A spurt of warmth curled low in her body. No. Don’t give in.
Fight the attraction. Fight it with anger. “You can’t decide who I see.” This time, she managed to completely evade Caleb’s touch and stood apart from both men, arms crossed over her chest.
Wes outright laughed. “You’ve been told. Hope you don’t lose too much sleep thinking about how badly you’ll fare when she compares me against you.”
His smug assurance irritated her, too. “You might be cute, Wes, but I am not interested in dating a sexist thug.”
“Thug?” Wes arched a brow. “I haven’t had an arrest since I turned eighteen.”
“Doesn’t mean you’re walking the straight and narrow,” Caleb pointed out. “Every one knows the Mercers are dirty.”
Wes lost his happy smile. “Maybe everyone should pay more attention before casting out insults. Now, while it’s been just fucking grand catching up, I’m going to have to ask you what you’re doing here.”
But Caleb just flipped the query around. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here as part of the security detail for this party.”
Something Renny had known, but she could see how Caleb might not have, especially since Wes was dressed just like one of the guests. Dark slacks, a dark mauve button-up shirt, the material filmy and light, and a dark gray tie.
“You’re a guard?” Caleb let loose a derisive snort. “Isn’t that kind of like letting the gator into the henhouse? Also, since when does a Mercer have a real job? What, did you run out of contraband to smuggle? Lost the recipe for your grandpa’s moonshine?”
Rather than flaring Wes’s temper, Caleb’s outburst served only to bring back his cool smirk. “I see serving time with the military didn’t improve your sense of humor. And being a veteran doesn’t give you an automatic invite to this party. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”