Misbehaving (Sea Breeze #6)(47)

“Stop flirting with Dewayne,” Rock said, annoyed.

“I’m enjoying it. Please, let her continue,” Dewayne said, leaning back to look at me through half-hooded eyes as he smoked a cigarette.

Maybe I should be careful with him. He seemed like he might just be more than I could handle. “Fine. I’ll go dance by myself,” I told them, taking a long swig of my drink before turning and walking out to the dance floor.

I made sure to swing my hips just enough to draw attention. I wouldn’t dance alone for long. This was what I was good at. I had watched my momma control men my entire life. It came easy to me.

“Heard you and Krit are over,” a deep voice said as warm fingers circled my arm. I turned to see Justin Monroe. He had been the senior quarterback in high school my freshman year.

“Yeah, we are,” I replied with a flutter of my eyelashes and a slow smile. “But I just want to dance.”

Justin grinned. “Lead the way,” he said.

I walked us into the center of the crowd. Luckily, this was Green’s song. He sang the solo on it, so I didn’t have to hear Krit singing while I adjusted to my life after Jason Stone.

Justin rested his hands on my hips, and I moved to the music while smiling up at him. He was a safe distraction. Nothing dangerous. He’d been engaged to the preacher’s daughter in town once, but that had fallen through. Not sure why. I didn’t hang out in their circle, and they were older than me.

Green announced a break, and I stopped dancing when the radio took over playing music.

“Need a drink,” I told him, and then I left him there while I went back to the table. I didn’t ask him to come with me. It had just been a dance, and he’d be one of many.

Rock was shaking his head at me when he saw me coming.

I picked up my drink. “What?” I snapped.

“You’re stirring up trouble,” Rock said.

I rolled my eyes and took a drink. “I’m dancing,” I replied.

“And here he comes,” Dewayne drawled.

I glanced back, expecting to see Justin, but Krit was headed our way instead. Hadn’t expected him. He normally had quickies backstage first.

Krit’s hand wrapped around my arm and he pulled me to him. “We need to talk. Now.”

I shook my head.

“I’ll cause a f**king scene,” Krit warned.

“We discussed this. What’s wrong with you?”

Two girls came up to Krit and grabbed on to both his arms and started telling him how good he sounded. He shrugged them loose. “Thanks. Now go,” he said, pulling me again. “I need to talk to you, love. Don’t make me do it here.”

The girls walked away, scowling at me. I pointed my glass at their retreating backs. “You should go get them. I bet they’ll do a threesome,” I said.

“Fuck, Jess,” Rock groaned.

Krit got in my face, and I felt Rock move behind me. “Back up,” Rock warned him.

“Is that what you want, love? You want me to leave and go f**k someone else backstage?” He wanted me to say no. I could hear it in his voice. But he needed me to say yes.

“Yes, that’s what I want,” I replied, and he stepped back like I had slapped him.

He wiped his thumb over his bottom lip and shook his head in disbelief. “That’s it, love. That’s it. I’m done.” He threw his hands up and stalked off. I didn’t watch him go. I turned back to the table and met Dewayne’s eyes.

“He’ll get over it. You did the right thing. He ain’t for you,” Dewayne said.

“I just hope we can be friends again one day.” I did. I shouldn’t have let things get out of hand with him. I also shouldn’t have come here. I didn’t belong here. I didn’t want this anymore. I set my glass down. “I’m gone,” I said.

“You okay?” Rock asked.

I looked up at him. “Yeah. No. I don’t know. I just . . .” I looked around at the place. “I don’t want to do this anymore,” I told him. “I want more now.”

Rock pulled me into a hug. “You’ll get more,” he whispered into my hair.

I pulled back and forced a smile. “I hope so.”

Turning to leave, I walked to the door and ignored people who called out my name. I just needed fresh air and time alone. Right before I reached the door, it opened and Jason Stone walked in. His eyes locked on me, and we stood there staring at each other. I hadn’t spoken to him all week. Not since his call.

He stepped back and opened the door for me. I walked through, keeping my head down. Should I say something? Or was he going to stay inside without a word?

The door closed behind me. I spun around to see Jason outside. He nodded toward the parking lot. “Can we talk?”

All I could do was nod. Even if I should be leaving here and protecting myself.

We walked over to his Hummer. This time there was no limo, no driver. Just him. He opened the door for me, and I climbed in, realizing that this was something Krit had never done. Opened my car door. I had missed it.

I thanked him, and he just smiled before closing the door and walking over to the driver’s side. The Hummer smelled like him. I breathed in deeply and enjoyed it before he opened the door and climbed in.

“Were you leaving?” he asked.