by Jenny Siegal
“Iris, there’s a guy over there watching you,” I shout in her ear. She spins around quickly to see who I’m talking about, and I hang my head in despair. She is so obvious.
“Where?” she asks excitedly, her head craning around to look. I grab her shoulders and force her to face me.
“Iris, relax. Look behind me, subtly,” I instruct. “Do you see the guy with the brown hair, cut short, jeans, and a blue shirt?” She peers behind me, not quite as obvious as before. Her blue eyes focus back on mine, shining with excitement as a smile slowly spreads across her lips.
“Yes,” she says, sounding out of breath. “He’s cute, but are you sure he’s watching me?” Her eyebrows knit together, and I laugh softly, shaking my head.
“Yes, Iris, he’s been checking you out since we got here. You should go and talk to him.”
A look of sheer terror settles on her face. “No, I can’t do that.”
“Why not? You just have to go over and say hi. I can’t imagine there’ll be much talking anyway.” I give her a wry smile. She shakes her head and starts to back away, but I grab her hand to stop her.
“Okay, don’t panic,” I say soothingly. “We’ll just stand here and listen to the music.” I can understand why she’s freaking out. She’s never been around boys, growing up as an only child and going to an all-girls school. I still don’t know how she convinced her parents to let her come here.
In a total change of direction her eyes light up. “Let’s dance.” She pulls excitedly on my hand, trying to move me toward the group of people dancing.
“I don’t dance,” I say flatly and the excitement in her eyes diminishes. I hate to lie to Iris; I love to dance, and in my old life I would have been up there like a shot. That’s how I would get myself in trouble, flirting and dancing with guys, and that’s when the problems started. Too much alcohol, some dirty dancing, and then going home with a random guy whose name I wouldn’t remember in the morning.
“Charlotte,” Iris whines, still tugging on my hand.
“What? You go and dance, I’m fine here.” When she hears the finality in my voice she has the good sense not to push it. Her foot taps in time with the music as we stand watching the band.
The guy who’s been checking her out decides he’s waited long enough and walks toward her. She glares at me, confused by my wide smile, and when I nod in the direction of her approaching admirer, her lips part slightly.
“Can I get you a drink?” he asks, standing beside Iris, who looks up at him in wonderment. I think she’s forgotten how to speak. Even when I kick her ankle, she doesn’t pay me any attention.
“She’d love one, wouldn’t you, Iris.” I kick her again, and she nods as if in a daze, and before finally moving towards him and follows him through the crowd. I watch her with amusement for a moment then turn my attention back to the band.
Not only do they look good, but Supercharged sounds really good, too and it’s no hardship standing there enjoying their music. From the corner of my eye, I catch a few guys looking over, checking me out, but I pretend not to notice. I’m not interested.
Their set lasts nearly two hours and when they finally make it off the stage, the crowd goes crazy, clapping and cheering, especially the girls at the front. The lights stay dimmed and recorded music starts to play over the speakers.
Iris has disappeared with that guy, and since I can’t leave without her, I go to the bar and order a Diet Coke. An arm snakes around my waist, pulling me close, and my own body tingles in response. I turn my head in surprise to see who’s touching me, about to tell them ‘hands off’, and I’m rewarded by Dominic’s wide smile.
“Charlotte, I’m glad you’re here.” When I turn around to face him, he pulls me into a hug, and I freeze against his hard body. My hands tentatively reach up his back and settle there, feeling the muscles through his slightly damp T-shirt. He pulls away to look at me, brushing hair from my eyes, and I swear I hear the air sizzle when his finger brushes against my temple. Bringing his hand down to rest on my shoulder, his head dips toward mine. Crap, he's going to kiss me and that can't happen. Startled I pull back just as his lips brush against mine making them tingle from that brief contact.
“Not so fast.” I press a hand to his chest and offer some resistance. Pressing his fingers to his lips, he leans back a fraction to stare down at me before flashing me a sexy smile.
“Do you want a drink?” he asks, still not letting go of me, and I relax slightly, getting used to his closeness and the fact that his arm is still around my waist.
“No thanks, I’m good.” I hold up my glass of Coke and give it a little shake. Dominic orders a beer and when it’s handed to him right away, he lifts it and sips slowly, watching me. His stare is so intense that I feel the need to say something.
“You were all really good.” It sounds a bit lame, but I don’t want him to think that it was only him that I couldn’t tear my eyes away from. Plus, the way he watches me is scrambling my brain and it was all I could come up with.
“Thanks. So, you’re glad you came?”
“Yeah, you’ve certainly got plenty of fans. Especially female ones.” I flash him a smile and to my surprise, his own smile falters.
“Yeah,” he mumbles before changing the subject. “There’s a party afterward. How about you come with me?” he asks, and I bite the inside of my cheek to stop from laughing.
“No thanks.” I wince at how blunt my response sounded; it wasn’t my intention.
He frowns momentarily before a sly smile spreads across his face. “Maybe Iris would want to come.”
I gasp. “You wouldn’t.” That wiped the smile off my face. “You know she’ll make me go.”
“Exactly. I want you to come with me so I’ll just go and ask her.” He moves away from the bar, about to make his way to find Iris. I reach out and grab his hand, shocked at the electricity that crackles up it, dancing over the fine hairs on my forearm. Dominic feels it too because he meets my puzzled frown with one of his own.
“Okay, okay,” I give in, “but I’m not staying long.”
He moves closer, his fingers linking with mine as he runs his thumb over the palm of my hand.
“We’ll see.” His whisper sends another shiver down my spine.
“I’ll find Iris and tell her we’re leaving.” Frowning, I drop his hand and push away from the bar to go track Iris down.
“Good, I’ll wait here. I’ll get a ride with you.” He gives me a dazzling smile. My answering eye roll only succeeds in making him smile wider. Why is this happening? I’m trying my hardest here and yet temptation dangles in front of me in the form of Dominic Hudson.
Making my way through the crowded dance floor looking for Iris takes a while. When I finally find her, she’s with the guy from earlier, making out in a dark corner. Even after I tap her on the shoulder, it takes them a while to break apart.
I nod a hello at her new friend and tell Iris, “Dominic has asked if we want to go to a party.”
Her eyes light up. Thanks to her strict upbringing, I doubt she’s ever been to a party before. She was probably hoping she’d end up with a wild roommate to introduce her to all the things she missed in high school. Too bad she got stuck with me.
“Can Bryan come, too?” She indicates the guy whose arm is around her waist.
“Sure, I’ll meet you outside.” I turn and disappear into the crowd, fighting my way back to the bar, arriving just in time to see a girl pressed against Dominic, whispering in his ear. To be fair, she’s most likely just talking and has to be that close so he can hear her. His hand rests lightly on her back as he leans down. It’s no surprise that he gets a lot of female attention, but I don’t like the way my stomach twists when I see them together.
His eyes light up when he sees me over the girl’s shoulder and a lazy smile spreads over his face. He’s not paying her any attention. Honestly, why does he have to be so gorgeous? He makes his excuses and leaves, much to the girl’s visible annoyance. Wa
lking over to me, he puts his arm around my waist and my eyebrows arch quizzically. Dominic laughs quietly at my expression, but the girl doesn’t look amused; she crosses her arms over her chest and glares at me. Great.
Iris and Bryan are waiting for us outside and when she sees me with Dominic’s arm around my waist, she throws me a questioning look, I’m going to have a hard time explaining this to her. Dominic greets Bryan with a fist to his shoulder.
“Hey, Bryan. I didn’t realize you knew Iris.”
“I didn’t until tonight.” He beams at Iris, pulling her closer and places a kiss on her temple. They actually look quite sweet together. Dominic smiles at him and nods his understanding before they start to talk about the band. As usual, my keys are at the bottom of my purse and I root around trying to find them. Dominic folds his arms over his chest and watches me in amusement.
“Which car is yours?” He scans the parking lot, his tone mildly patronizing, and I can imagine what kind of car he thinks I drive. When I catch Iris’s eye and wink at her, a slow smile spreads across her lips.
“Daisy is over there.” I point vaguely across the lot, and he starts to walk in that direction. Following him at a slight distance, I wait to see if he can figure out which car is mine.
“You named your car Daisy?” He turns and raises an eyebrow at me, and I nod seriously.
Suddenly, he turns and comments, “Nice car,” leaning against a red BMW convertible that he assumes is mine, crossing his legs at his ankles.
“It is, but I don’t know who it belongs to.” I fight to keep a straight face as Dominic jumps away from it as if the metal was suddenly red hot.
“It’s not yours?”
I shake my head, biting my lip to keep from laughing. “No, this is mine.” I turn on my heel and point proudly to the car next to the BMW. The familiar tingle of excitement travels through me whenever I look at my car, silver with a black racing stripe. Dominic stares, open-mouthed before walking slowly around it, and lets out a low, appreciative whistle.
“This is your car, Daisy?” he asks incredulously as he runs his hand gently over the hood, and I have to look away. If that’s how he caresses my car, imagine what he could do to my body. I quickly shake my head to chase that thought away.
“Yes.” The trance like expression on his face is comical, and I can’t help but smile.
“It’s a Dodge Challenger RT!” he exclaims.
“Yeah, I know,” I say with a snicker.
Dominic looks at me with awe. “How do you own a Challenger?” By now my shoulders are shaking with laughter, I unlock the doors and Iris and Bryan climb in, watching the two of us in amusement. As I slide into the driver’s seat, Dominic is running a hand lovingly over the roof.
“Get in,” I order gently.
He climbs in and fastens his seatbelt, then looks at me as if he’s seeing me for the first time.
“Nice car. Not what I’d have thought for you, but it actually suits you. You’re full of surprises.” He touches the dash, admiring it, while I mull over what he means by his comment.
The car starts up with a healthy growl, and I smile. “My grandfather had an old Mustang that we restored together. When I sold it, I bought Daisy.”
“You restored a car?” He raises his eyebrows, suitably impressed.
“Well, I helped him. I didn’t do it all by myself, but I know a few things about cars,” I say modestly, trying to fight the pink that must be stealing over my cheeks. He has the knack for making me blush at the slightest thing.
“I’m not opposed to getting dirty,” I add, and then frown when I realize the double meaning in my words.
Dominic’s eyes light up. He leans over and his warm breath dances over my neck while I look away, trying to compose myself. “That’s good to know,” he muses in a low voice.
Crap! He must think I’m a foregone conclusion, a sure thing for tonight. He probably blew off the girl in the bar because he thinks he’ll get what he wants with me. Do I really give off ‘sleep with me, I’m easy’ vibes, regardless of how I dress or act? Well, dream on, buddy.
Yes, I’m used to guys wanting to sleep with me, but I didn’t realize they would be so hard to resist. Although Dominic seems to be the only one I’m having a problem with.
“So, what do you drive?” I ask, desperate to change the subject.
“GMC Sierra.”
“A truck? You drive a truck?”
He leans closer. “Yeah. What's wrong with a truck?” he asks and my gaze flits to the rearview mirror to see if Iris is paying any attention to us. Fortunately, she's not. She and Bryan are too busy making out in the backseat. I'm beginning to feel like someone's mom, driving them all to a party while they make out in the back.
Soft minty breath brushes over me, and I can practically taste the gum he's been chewing. The nearness of him distracts me, and I force my gaze back to the road. What was he asking me again? Oh, yeah, the truck. I shrug, trying to play down the way my pulse has begun racing and my heart beat that has kicked up a notch.
“Nothing, I just didn't peg you for a truck man.”
“It makes sense. I have a lot of shit to carry around being in a band. This way I can put it all in the back.”
“Where is your truck tonight?” I cast a quick look in his direction.
“Pete took it home.”
“Why?”
“So I could get a ride with you.” He says it so simply, as if it's the most logical thing in the world.
My mouth drops open but nothing comes out, I have no words. What in the hell? I clamp my mouth shut and my teeth click together loudly.
• • •
Dominic keeps his eyes on me as I drive. Having those intense green eyes on me is wreaking havoc with my concentration. I follow his occasional directions until we pull up outside a two-story house where the lights are blazing, music is blaring, and people are funneling in and out the front door. A big black truck sits in the driveway.
“Your truck?”
Dominic chuckles. “Yeah, that's her.”
I arch my eyebrow. “Her?”
Leaning even closer, he whispers, “What can I say, I'm a ladies’ man,” with a wink and points to the house. So I've heard.
“Pull into the drive,” he instructs, and I do as he says before I cut the engine.
Dominic lets Iris and Bryan out and they walk hand in hand straight into the house, leaving me to hover by the car. Maybe this isn’t such a good idea. I hate being the only one not drinking. Drunks get on my nerves, and I have no patience for their ramblings. Unless, of course, I’m also wasted, but that isn’t going to happen.
“Come on, babe.” Dominic sees my indecision and pulls on my hand, leading me into the house. My hand feels nice encased in his. Warmth travels up my arm as his calloused thumb brushes over my knuckles, silently reassuring me.
The music assaults my ears before we even walk through the door. The bass of some mind-numbing dance track vibrates through my body, and I’m relieved when Dominic leads me into the kitchen, where it’s slightly quieter. Almost immediately, he’s accosted by a brunette who pulls him away when we step into the kitchen. He throws me a helpless look over his shoulder. I grit my teeth and move to stand awkwardly next to Iris and Bryan, feeling like a third wheel and hating it. Someone hands me a beer that I don’t want, but it’s easier to pretend that I do.
Dominic and the brunette are right in my line of vision, but it’s not like I’m keeping tabs on him or anything. What do I care that my stomach dips every time I look at him with her or whenever his eyes meet mine?
Bryan leads Iris through to the living room, leaving me on my own, and I groan inside. How much longer do I have to endure this? It is pure torture. I hate being the only sober person at a party full of drunken people.
Some classmates drift over to speak to me and I’m saved from looking like I don’t have any friends. One of the guys tries to get me to go outside with him, but I decline. He’s cute, but I don’t think i
t would be a good idea. If I’d been drinking, I’m sure I would have felt different. In fact, maybe if I had just stayed sober in high school, I wouldn’t have had such a bad reputation. I’ve come to the conclusion that I had to have been drunk to find any of them attractive. With the exception of Dominic, I’m not interested in any of the guys here, but it’s really a moot point.
Dominic’s eyes meet mine and a familiar jolt passes through me; I’m starting to get used to the way I react when he looks at me. He winks and gives me a lazy smile, which I return with my own sarcastic one. The girl who dragged him away is oblivious to his lack of attention and looks at him adoringly.
Oh, my God, no wonder he’s such a player—they make it too easy for him. Don’t they have any self-respect? She lays a hand on his forearm, a seemingly innocent yet flirtatious gesture, and my stomach tightens again.
That’s it, I decide, I’ve had enough. I’m not a jealous person, so why am I bothered if he’s with another girl when I’ve only just met him? Could it be because when I’m with him, I experience feelings I never have before? Ugh, I don’t understand this and it’s making my head spin, with or without alcohol.
Why did I decide to be a good girl now, of all times? But I know if I sleep with him then I’d just be another one-night stand. I’ve heard all about his reputation from Iris; it’s worse than mine ever was, and I’m not ruining everything for that.
My head pounds ferociously as my headache begins to take hold. I set my full cup of beer down and stalk across the kitchen to find Iris. As I pass, Dominic’s hand snags my upper arm, stopping me in my tracks. I look pointedly at his hand and then up at his face, surprised when his eyes flash heatedly.
“Where are you going?” His voice is tight as I try to pull away, but he doesn’t let go.
“I’ve had enough.” I let out an exasperated sigh and my shoulders sag in defeat. “I’m going to tell Iris I’m leaving.” His grip on my arm eases and his face relaxes into a smile, the anger melting away instantly.
“Okay, I’ll see you outside.” He turns back to the girl still standing next to him, who is now glaring at me. What was that about? I stand for a second longer before walking away, shaking my head.