I didn't like the tension so I snapped, "You both need to cut the bullshit and pretend to be nice to each other. It will make these encounters a lot fuckin' easier."
"Keela!" Everly snapped.
"What?"
"You're a lady, you shouldn't curse," she said in a snotty tone.
I smiled. "You're a prude and you should mind your own business."
Everly glared at me. "I'm not a prude and just because I don't like putting curse words in every sentence doesn't make me one!"
"You are a prude if any curse word bothers you, and do you want to know why? Because they are exactly that, just words. For example, 'fuck' isn't a bad word and the only reason it is considered a bad word is because society has branded it as one. I could call you a flower and mean it in the meanest possible way, and it will have the same effect as a 'bad word' because I am putting an emotion behind it."
"You're stupid."
I shrugged. "You're a cunt."
Alec face palmed himself while my uncle set his jaw.
"Keela Daley," he growled.
"Don't say my name like that, I'm twenty-three years of age. I not a bloody child and I'm not her child, so tell her not to chastise me."
"You two and Micah will be the bleedin' death of me."
I sighed but I didn't apologise.
"Let’s go greet more people, we still have so many to get around to."
Uncle Brandon narrowed his eyes at me. "We will continue this another time."
"Can't wait."
He sighed as Everly led him away.
"Fuckin' bitch, I can't stand her."
Alec didn't say a word as he took my hand then led me to the dance floor. When I realised what he had planned I widened my eyes and tried to pull back.
"I can't dance."
"Everyone can dance," Alec smiled.
I shook my head. "I mean I can't dance with another person. I've never danced with someone else... I'll step on you or somethin'."
Alec turned to me and smiled as he held out his hand.
"Give your first dance to me, kitten."
I looked up at him, hesitant to place my palm in his.
He smiled at me. "I promise I'll be gentle with you."
Oh damn.
How could I refuse that?
"I'm goin' to make a holy show of meself."
Alec laughed. "You won't, I've got you."
A fast song was playing but as soon as we stepped on the dance floor "Rude" by Magic! came on and Alec grinned.
"Reggae. Nice. We can slow grind."
What the fuck did that mean?
"I don't know how to slow grind."
Alec smirked. "It will be my pleasure to show you, Miss Daley."
I couldn't help but snort, he sounded like a Sir I've read about in books.
I moved close to Alec then raised my eyebrows when he turned my back to him and pulled my body back against his. He put his mouth my by ear and said, "Look at that couple."
I looked to the couple he was talking about and widened my eyes at the girl who was grinding her arse into a fella's groin, but did it while dancing in front of him.
"You think I can move like that?"
"I know you can."
He had more faith in me than I did.
"Okay, sure."
Alec laughed and placed his hands on my hips and ever so slightly rolled his pelvis into my behind. I placed my hands on Alec's and copied what the girl in front of me was doing. No one stopped and stared because everyone was doing their own thing on the dance floor and I quickly fell into a comfortable rhythm.
I smiled when Alec sang in my ear the chorus of the song.
"Why you gotta be so rude, don't you know I human too?
What you gotta be so rude? I'm gonna marry you anyway."
I laughed when he changed the word 'her' to 'you'.
I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against Alec's chest as he sang in my ear. His voice was so relaxing that if he wasn't careful, I would fall asleep standing up.
He seemed to sense this because he took hold of my right hand and spun me out away from his body then pulled me back to him so the front of my body was pressed against his as we danced swaying side to side. I laughed up at him as he continued to sing the song without a care in the world.
He grabbed my hand to spin me out again, but this time it didn't go as smoothly because I stumbled a little in my heels and crashed into a man's back.
Fuck.
"I'm so sorry!" I squeaked and grabbed onto the man's arm just in case I knocked him over.
Luckily the man didn't fall, he actually turned around and laughed down at me.
I stopped myself from letting my jaw drop, not only was this man taller than me, but he was also gorgeous... extremely gorgeous.
"It's fine beautiful girl, are you okay?" he asked.
He was another American, but instead of focusing on his accent, I focused on what he just said.
Beautiful girl?
I felt my cheeks flush. "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you."
The man smiled and stuck his hand out. "I'm Dante Evans."
I swallowed and slowly placed my hand in Dante's. "Keela Daley."
His eyes lit up. "Ah, so you're the infamous Keela Daley."
Infamous?
"Why infamous?" I asked.
The man brought my hand to his mouth and kissed my knuckles before he replied, "You are apparently the reason why my boy isn't in the game anymore."
What is he talking about?
I pulled my hand back from Dante and took a step back only to knock into another person. I was about to say sorry until I felt hands slide around my hips holding me in place.
Dante looked to the hands then looked up over my head and smiled.
"Speak of the devil."
What was going on here?
I tilted my head back and looked to Alec. "You know this man?" I asked.
He nodded his head and without looking away from Dante he said, "He is an old... colleague."
From his escort days?
I looked back to Dante as he chuckled, "An old colleague... is that all I am to you?"
Alec's fingers dug into my hips as he snarled, "Don't."
I looked to Dante as an evil smirk appeared on his face. "Oh, this is interesting... she doesn't know?"
I frowned. "Know what?" I asked Dante.
Alec suddenly moved and pulled me behind him. "I'll kill you."
Dante laughed. "For telling your girl who you really are? Why haven't you told her? Are you ashamed?"
I could feel the anger radiate from Alec.
"I'm not ashamed."
"Then why not tell her?"
"Because I just met her a few days ago and we hit it off really fucking well. It's not something you spring upon a partner."
What the fuck were they talking about?
I moved from behind Alec and got back in front of him. I fisted his t-shirt in my hand and pulled to get his attention.
"What is goin' on? What are you keepin' from me?"
Alec looked nervous, very nervous.
Dante laughed from behind us. "Go ahead Alec tell her, and while you're at it tell her who I am to you."
"Was," Alec snarled.
"Fine, tell her who I was to you."
"Somebody better tell me somethin' because I'm gettin' mad."
Alec looked down to me and sighed. "I'm sorry to do this here, I tried to tell you earlier," he said as he lowered his voice, "Before we had sex but you wouldn't listen."
I swallowed. "You don't have an STD do you?"
We used a condom, but I still had his junk in my mouth without one!
Alec frowned at me while Dante laughed behind me.
"No, I don't."
Thank God.
"Then what do you have to tell me? Who is Dante?"
Alec licked his lips and said, "Dante used to be my partner on jobs."
"How so?"
Alec sighed. "Can we go upstairs and talk?"
"No, I want to talk here."
"Okay, fine," he murmured but took my hand and lead me from the dance floor and to the side of the room.
"Dante and I... we used to be involved."
"I don't understand, how were you involv-"
I cut myself off and widened my eyes when realisation hit me and I took a step back. Alec began to look distressed so he took a step forward and held me close to him.