I take a much-needed sip as Thad’s eyes blaze into mine.
I straighten my shoulders, ignoring his heated gaze.
“I was just telling your father how much I missed having you by my side at these things,” Thad says, leaning over to kiss my cheek.
I push him away.
“Well, lucky for me I guess that you cheated on her and I’m able to have her on my arm instead,” Danger says, tugging me closer to him.
My father and Thad are both appalled by Danger’s words.
No decorum, and it’s actually refreshing. It’s something I kind of wanted to say too.
“Danger, this isn’t the time or place,” my father says.
Danger’s hand clenches tighter around my hip. “Right, sir.”
“Daddy, why don’t we find a table.”
My father nods, but Danger doesn’t move.
“Come on, Danger.” I tug him a bit.
He turns to face me, his eyes softening. “Why don’t you go ahead and find a seat. I need to talk to Thad for a minute.”
Thad laughs. “I’ve got nothing to say to you.”
Danger steps closer to Thad, dropping his hand from my waist. “I’ve got something to say to you.” He points his finger at Thad. “You stare at my girl one more time tonight I’ll bash your face in.”
Thad laughs, but there’s a little bit of fear behind that laugh. “I’d like to see you try.”
“Enough,” my father’s voice booms. “Let’s find a table.” He wheels away, and Danger and Thad just glare at each other.
Danger smirks at Thad, but follows me to the center of the ballroom to take a seat at an empty table.
“This charity is a good one. Her husband used to race. Do you know him?” my father asks, staring at Danger, pretending the whole incident between Thad and Danger didn’t just happen.
“Yeah, Colton Donavan.” He smiles. “I’ve been a fan of his for a while.”
Thad interrupts, standing right behind me. “Care to dance?” Thad places his hand in front of me as I sit at the table with my father and Danger.
“I… uh.”
My father smiles. “Don’t cause a scene now, Monterey. Dance with the man.”
“Of course.” I smile and squeeze Danger’s bicep as I stand and follow Thad to the dance floor.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask him as soon as we start dancing.
“Why are you with that asshole?” He pulls me closer. “Is it to get back at me?”
I laugh. “You wish.”
“You shouldn’t be with a guy like that.”
“What, should I be with you instead?” I shiver at the thought. As if I’d ever go back to Thad.
“We were good together once.” His blue eyes sparkle in the soft glow, and I try to remember what I ever saw in this man.
The song continues playing on as Thad spins me around the dancefloor in silence. The only reason Thad has any interest in me right now is because of Danger. And he must think I’m an idiot for not knowing it.
I glance over my shoulder back at Danger and watch as he can’t take his eyes off us. This must be killing him, too. Not because he’s into me or anything, but because I’m dancing with his enemy when I’m supposed to be dating him.
We spin around for a few more minutes before Danger appears by my side. “Ok, I think it’s my turn.” He wraps his arm around my waist, practically prying me from Thad’s arms.
“We haven’t finished out the song.” Thad grips onto me harder.
“The dance is over,” Danger says, pushing his hands away from my body.
“Look, there’s some cheap whores over there. Why not run along and get your piece of ass early tonight.” Thad doesn’t budge.
I cringe at Thad’s words, because I know that if we weren’t doing this whole charade, Danger would most likely be over there dancing with the, well, whores.
Danger doesn’t take the bait. He doesn’t even glance over there. “That’s more your style, Thad. And if you’ll excuse me I’d like to dance with my date.”
I step out of Thad’s embrace, pulling on Danger’s arm. “Ok, that’s enough. Let’s dance, Danger.”
Danger nor Thad give an inch, and I try again to diffuse the situation.
“Go away, Thad. I’m here with Danger.”
Thad tugs on my arm, trying to pull me away from Danger. “But, you don’t really know the kind of man he is, Monterey.”
“Monty, knows me just fine.” Danger smiles wide, and then out of nowhere just punches Thad square in the jaw.
It all happened so fast.
“Danger, oh my god,” I exclaim. “What are you doing?”
Many people surround us, and I spot Colton Donavan stepping closer to figure out what’s going on.
His dark eyes assess both men, and he steps between the two of them.
“Hey, let’s take this outside, buddy,” Colton says to Danger.
Danger swings on Colton, not fully connecting, and then Colton stares at him for a second, not sure if that really just happened, and then he brings Danger down with some wrestling move. Danger’s on the ground, and Colton stands over him.
Three men from security, wearing black suits, step closer to access the situation.
“Get him out of here,” Colton says to security.
I follow them out of the ballroom, mouthing an apology to my father.
I can’t believe this.
Chapter 7
Danger
They call me Danger. I took the name after I left home. Kav said I was full of danger one day when I crashed a car into someone’s house. He had laughed as we ran from the scene. And we never even got caught for it.
It’s amazing I’m still alive.
And look at me when life hands me a second chance, I get into a fight with Colton Donavan. I don’t care that I hit Thad, fucker deserved it. But Colton was someone I needed on my side.
Of course the media was all over the scene in the ballroom when I lost my temper.
I can’t lose it again.
Especially when I’m around Monterey.
She’s too good for that kind of life.
I sit in a high wing-back chair in the lobby, waiting for Monterey to smooth things over with security, and I want nothing more than to get away from her. I’m embarrassed, or maybe it’s something more. All I know is watching her dance with Thad turned me into some sort of monster. A monster I recognize all too well.
“Let me take you up to your room.”
“Stay away from me,” I shout, making sure she doesn’t come near me.
“You’re a real jerk, you know that? I mean, what was that in there? Were you defending my honor or something stupid like that?” Her hands are on her hips and I have to say this woman is all kinds of cute right now. The expression on her face calms me down a little.
“I mean,” she pushes my chest, “what the hell did you think you were doing?”
I stare at a few reporters heading our way and I grab her by the wrist. “Media. Let’s get out of here.” I drop my hand a little, interlacing our fingers together. “Follow me.”