Fever (Breathless #2)(102)

“Just don’t make yourself sick,” he said. “I want you girls to have fun and not to worry about anything else. When you’re ready to go, I’ll get you all home.”

“Thanks!”

“Let’s dance again, Bethany!” Mia yelled.

Gabe groaned. “Got to tell you, baby, that dancing you’re doing? Should be illegal. I’m going to have to beat every man’s ass who’s staring at yours.”

Mia grinned and then snagged Bethany’s hand, dragging her toward the dance floor again.

For the next hour, they danced, drank and then danced some more. And then drank again.

The last time they left the dance floor and got to the table, Bethany knew she couldn’t tolerate another drink. She was fuzzy and completely enveloped in a warm haze. She laughed at everything, whether it was funny or not. Gabe wore a perpetually amused look and Brandon grinned when he checked in on them again.

“I think I’m done,” Bethany said breathlessly. “But I don’t want to ruin the night for the rest of you.” She stared up at Gabe, who was holding Mia upright. She had her own tight grip on the table, worried that if she let go, she’d hit the floor with a resounding thud.

“No, I’m ready too,” Mia said. “You ready, baby?” she asked Gabe.

“Been ready,” he growled.

She giggled. “We have to get Bethany home first. I imagine Jace is fit to be tied by now.”

“I texted him,” Gabe said dryly. “He knows what to expect.”

“Let me go grab the others,” Mia said. “Caro is hanging out until Brandon gets off work.”

“I’ll call for the car,” Gabe said. “You’re not walking out of here without me. You’ll fall on your faces.”

Bethany grinned and waited, still holding on to the table, while Mia rounded up the rest of the group.

“Tonight was fun,” she hollered at Gabe. “Thanks for getting me home. Mia is great.”

Gabe smiled, his eyes warm and affectionate. “Glad you had fun, Bethany. And yeah, Mia is the best. No problem on getting you home. No way I’d let you go home by yourself. Jace wouldn’t allow it either. If I hadn’t come to get you, he would have.”

Mia returned a moment later with Chessy, Trish and Gina. They were all as drunk as Mia and Bethany were and giggling like lunatics. Gabe rolled his eyes and then motioned for Brandon.

Brandon appeared with one of the other bouncers and they guided Chessy, Trish and Gina toward the exit while Gabe put an arm around both Mia and Bethany.

Bethany teetered and then giggled when Gabe’s arm tightened around her.

“Jesus, how much did you two drink anyway?”

Mia looked innocent and then held up her hand, trying to count. After three attempts of staring at her fingers in confusion, she threw up her hand and said, “A lot.”

“I’m getting that,” Gabe said with a chuckle.

He guided them out to the waiting car and stood patiently while Brandon and another bouncer got the other three girls inside. Then Brandon flashed Gabe a sympathetic grin.

“Good luck, man. Looks like you have your hands full.”

“No shit,” Gabe muttered.

He got Bethany and Mia seated and then slid in to sit beside Mia.

“You’re aces,” Chessy said, flashing a grin in Gabe’s direction.

“Absolutely,” Trish and Gina both chimed in.

“We told Mia if she ever lets you get away, she’s an idiot,” Trish said solemnly.

Chessy nodded just as solemnly. “But just so you know, if she ever is that idiot, I’m more than willing to step up.”

The girls dissolved into laughter while Gabe sent his eyes heavenward in a seeming plea for help.

They stopped off at each of the girls’ apartments and Gabe patiently escorted them in and made sure each was safe before returning to the car.

“He really is terrific,” Bethany whispered to Mia as they watched Gabe return from escorting Chessy up.

“Yeah,” Mia whispered. “I’m so lucky to have him.”

“We’re just lucky bitches,” Bethany said. “Gabe and Jace rock.”

“Yeah,” Mia said again. “But then, so do we.”

“We do, don’t we?”

“Absolutely.”

Then they both broke into laughter again, still giggling like fiends when Gabe slid back into the car.

He shook his head. “Don’t know what I’m going to do with you two, I swear.”

A devilish gleam entered Mia’s eyes. “Well, if you don’t know what you’re going to do with me . . .”

“Didn’t say that, baby,” he said gruffly. “Got plans for you.”

Mia sent a knowing grin in Bethany’s direction that clearly said, “I told you so.”

“Jace is meeting us in the lobby,” Gabe said when they neared Bethany and Jace’s apartment building.

Bethany’s heart fluttered with anticipation. She hoped like hell that Mia hadn’t been wrong. Now she was suddenly nervous and her mouth went dry.

Mia reached over to squeeze her hand. “Trust me.”

Bethany squeezed back and Gabe sent them both a suspicious glare.

When the car pulled up, Gabe got out and then helped Bethany extricate herself from the backseat. She wobbled unsteadily on her heels as they started toward the entrance to the building.