The Billionaire's Touch (The Sinclairs #3)(59)

“It’s not about the money. It’s about being better, being successful. The old man never thought I’d do it, but I can.” Evan was breathing heavily as he downed the rest of the drink and tossed the glass on a table beside him.

“You already have,” Jared answered furiously. “You don’t have a damn thing to prove to anybody anymore, Evan. That battle is over and won. It only still exists in your own head.”

“Is everything okay?” a feminine voice interrupted.

Jared stepped aside, revealing Randi and her dance partner. “Fine,” he said amiably. “Evan and I were just discussing . . . business.”

“Would you like to dance another one, Randi?” Liam asked politely, his hand resting on her bare back.

“No, she wouldn’t,” Evan growled, his temper finally snapping.

He stepped forward and grabbed the front of Liam’s starched white shirt that he was wearing with a gray suit and tie. “Take your hands off her,” he rasped, his rage now beyond being contained.

Jared reached out and pulled Randi to the side, causing Liam to lose any connection with her. “Stop it, Evan. People are starting to stare,” Jared advised.

Evan didn’t give a shit whether the entire world was watching. He stood toe-to-toe with his rival, a homicidal look on his face. Without letting go of Liam’s shirt, he said in a low, dangerous voice, “Don’t look at her. Don’t think about touching her. Don’t ever even imagine yourself with her or your ass is mine.”

Jared jerked Evan backward, forcing him to let go of Liam. “Randi, can you take Evan somewhere to cool off? He’s . . . overheated. I’ll talk to Liam.”

Randi grasped Evan’s arm and whispered fiercely, “What in the hell was that about?” She started to lead him away from the crowded ballroom.

Evan followed . . . well . . . just because he’d follow her anywhere.

He let her lead him down the hallway and away from the ballroom, stepping into a smaller room some distance away from the crowd.

She closed the door and locked it behind her, and then pushed him into a padded chair that seemed much too small for him.

“What in the hell just happened?” she asked, sounding more puzzled than angry.

“I didn’t like the way he was touching you.” Evan’s response was angry.

“We were dancing,” she answered reasonably and propped her hands on her hips.

“I know. I hated it.” His answer was blunt as he struggled to regain his usual control.

“Then you should have asked me to dance,” she said softly. “You are my date.”

“That’s another thing I never did right for a Sinclair. I suck at dancing,” he confessed. “I wish I would have done it anyway. I don’t do it perfectly, so I rarely dance. Would you have cared?”

Randi’s expression softened as she looked down at him. “No. I wouldn’t have minded at all. In fact, it would make you more human. Nobody is perfect at everything. You don’t have to be perfect at everything, Evan. You’re already disgustingly close.”

Then why can’t you love me? Why can’t you love a man like me?

He wanted desperately to ask her, but the answer was obvious. Love just . . . was. There was no explanation for it, no way to rationalize it, and no way to pick the perfect partner and feel those kinds of emotions. He was starting to understand that love wasn’t a choice, it just happened. He definitely never thought it would happen to him.

“I think you owe Liam an apology,” Randi remarked matter-of-factly. “He was being charming and polite.”

“He wasn’t charming.” Evan’s response was disgruntled. “He wants to get you naked.”

“How would you know?” she asked.

“Because I want the same damn thing. I recognize the look, but he’s not nearly as pathetically desperate as I am for that right now.” He stood and grasped her around the waist. “I want it every time I see you or hear your voice. I want it when you smile at me. I want it every fucking minute of the day. If I’m not with you, I want to be.” His breathing labored, he added, “I. Need. You.”

Evan shuddered as Randi wrapped her arms around his neck and placed her soft cheek against his slightly whiskered jaw. “I need you, too. I’m not interested in Liam, Evan.” She sniffed and then asked him quietly, “Is this the alcohol talking? I can smell it. Have you been drinking?”

“Two drinks. I’m not drunk, Randi. I’m emotional, something that never happens to me.”

“Jealous?” she questioned.

“Yes,” he answered promptly, honestly. “I don’t want any man touching you except me.”

“You’re leaving early in the morning. We can’t be this intense right now,” Randi warned him in a husky voice.

“Right now is what we have,” Evan said angrily, unable to process the thought of leaving her side, much less putting any more distance between the two of them. He’d lose it entirely.

He watched as the gold in her beautiful eyes seemed to erupt into tiny, sparkling particles. She gazed up at him with a look of longing that made Evan feel like he’d been punched in the gut.

“Then fuck me, Evan. Here. Now. One last time,” she begged breathlessly. “I know we can’t have a relationship, but you’re right. We have right now. I’ve learned that sometimes that’s all a person will ever have.”