I checked my watch while keeping an eye on Tessa in my peripheral. It was a little after ten which meant I could take her out for coffee and have her back in time for them to be home by the midnight curfew. No way could she stay the night here with the rest of us. I couldn’t possibly keep my hands off her. “You guys leaving before midnight to make curfew?”
“That’s the plan,” Nadia answered. “My dad offered to pick us up though if we lost track of time. We might take him up on that and stay the night at my house.”
Then how late would they stay at the party? I groaned, realizing things did not look good for me — more temptation than I could handle. “Your friend here told me she can read minds. I don’t think she should drink anymore.”
Nadia laughed. “I think you’re right. But I’m busy.”
“Yeah, dude, she’s busy,” Skyler chimed in. “You can take care of Tessa.” The traitor winked at me.
What the hell was I supposed to do with her now? “We should all go for coffee.”
“Sure.” Nadia sighed. “Delia’s is open.”
“Let’s go.” I motioned for them to follow.
“Too bad we can’t take your car. Next time, buy one with more than two seats, then the rest of us can enjoy it too. We’ll be back,” she told Skyler. “Unless you want to come?”
“Sure,” Skyler replied.
We went to find Corinne who was near the back door, beyond several drunken bodies swaying unsteadily to the boom of a hip-hop song. After a brief debate, Corinne opted to stay at the party, so we headed down the driveway to Nadia’s car. At the last second Skyler wanted to make a bathroom stop. I loaded Tessa safely in the passenger’s side then closed the door and turned to Nadia. “Skyler’s okay but…” Should I tell her? “He’s probably going for a hit and ditch.”
“That’s so flattering, Hayden.” Nadia’s tone oozed sarcasm.
I realized then that my warning sounded like I didn’t think Skyler wanted her as a girlfriend. I felt like a total ass. “Sorry. I just thought someone should give you a heads up.”
“I’m offended that you think I’m so dumb that I’d fall for Skyler’s scamming. I plan ahead for guys like him. Don’t worry about me.” She patted my cheek and handed me her keys. “You’re driving.”
Chapter Twelve
Tessa
Sitting in the car just watching Hayden and Nadia talk bored me to distraction, especially since I couldn’t hear what they were saying and couldn’t participate. At least it gave me time to sober up. Mostly.
I stuck my head out the window. “Hey, are we leaving or not?” Not that I wanted to, but I wanted to do something.
“One second.” Hayden held up a finger and continued talking to Nadia in a hushed voice. He still wasn’t wearing a shirt and when his arm had moved, his bicep flexed. And I loved the way the muscle at his hip flanked six-pack abs just above the waistband of his jeans.
When Skyler returned a couple minutes later, it occurred to me that I’d spent that entire time happily studying Hayden’s body. The horror of that knowledge cleared my head the rest of the way, but the anxiety didn’t return. I felt good, relaxed. Being at the party was a piece of cake. I just needed to avoid Hayden.
Wait. I’d told him I could read minds. Worse, I’d admitted to imagining kissing him. How embarrassing. God, I needed another drink to carry me through the humiliation. Never mind — that’s what landed me there in the first place. But what’s done is done and I couldn’t change any of it. Hayden would never like me seriously anyway, so why worry what he thought?
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Coffee,” Hayden said, getting inside and closing the car door. “Figured you’d feel better with some caffeine in you.”
“To sober me up?”
“Yes,” Hayden answered.
Grabbing my purse, I opened the door on my side and got out before he could start the car. “I’m fine now,” I told them through the window. “But if you guys want to go, I’ll wait here with Corinne.”
“All sobered up, are you?” Hayden asked, eyes narrowed.
“Yes, completely.” I backed up so he didn’t have to worry about hitting me with the car. “I’ll see you guys later.”
As if waiting for me to say that, he jumped out of the car and slinked toward me like a panther — never taking his eyes off me. The look on his face was anything but mild. Uh-oh. What was up with that? He’d been pretty cool all night, hadn’t flirted and had only touched me to lead me somewhere.
Hayden didn’t slow down as he passed me. Instead, he gripped my hand again and dragged me along. Leaving the partiers behind, we went back up the driveway, and into the garage. He left the door slightly ajar, letting in a sliver of light so we didn’t have to fumble. He finally stopped in a secluded spot in the far corner of the garage and leaned against a work table. “I’m going to kiss you now.”
Refusing never occurred to me. Like a pliant doll, I lifted my chin and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him to me. He swooped and covered my mouth with his, his hot tongue assaulting mine.
Oh, crap. It was perfect — like his fantasies had melded with mine.
Except this was better.
I drowned in the feel of his lips, and his hands brought shivers as they skated up my back. When his mouth deserted mine, his eyes seemed to absorb the details of my face, his hands planted firmly on my hips. Then, in one swift move, he lifted me up onto the work table and kissed me again. Harder, hungrier…
I set my purse aside to free my hands. They skimmed his bare arms, moving on to explore his naked chest, my thumb sneaking into the waistband of his jeans.
What was I doing?
I couldn’t let him get any more than he’d already gotten from me. With my palms flat against his chest, I shoved him away. “Uh… I have to go.” Jumping off the table, I bolted.
“Tessa, wait.”
Once out of the garage and into the safety of the crowd, I halted. “Yeah?”
He caught up to me. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re smart enough to figure it out.” I put my hands on my hips.
“I thought we were having fun.”
“If I remember correctly, you promised several days ago that you wouldn’t hit on me. I’m pretty sure that includes kissing.”
“I assumed that only applied to school, when I was on duty.”
I flinched. Sadly, he made sense in a weird way.
“Besides, I may have said I was going to kiss you, but you kissed me.” He grinned.
I wanted to slap the smugness right off his face.
“I’ll make you a deal. If they play a slow song, you dance with me. And I won’t try to kiss you again tonight unless you want me to.” He paused like he was thinking. “If you refuse the dance, I’ll pursue you relentlessly all night and tomorrow too.”
“Put on a shirt and it’s a deal.”
A corner of his mouth lifted. “Not on your life.”
“Fine. But they’ve been playing fast stuff since I got here. Good luck getting something slow on.” It was my turn to gloat.
“I know the DJ. Let’s go inside.”
Damn.
Sure enough, Hayden made a beeline to the DJ and as soon as that song ended, a slow one began.
“A deal’s a deal, McClean.” He pulled me against him and began moving slowly to the music.
It wasn’t only my stomach anymore, but the rest of my insides and limbs that felt it. Tingling, burning, yearning. If he’d been fully dressed, I wouldn’t be in this situation.
Oh, who was I kidding? I would have made out with him, dressed or not.
“I don’t think we should do this.” I withdrew slightly so I couldn’t feel his every movement or his thighs against mine. Maybe my thinking would be clearer if he wasn’t touching me. I wasn’t drunk on vodka anymore, but instead I was drunk with lust for Hayden.
He nodded slowly, searching my face. “You think if you keep your distance, you’ll get over wanting me.”