Off the Record (Record #1)(78)

“Did you know he was bringing someone else?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said with a sigh, “but not until last night.”

“And why wasn’t I informed of this?” Liz asked testily.

“Because he thought you might back out, and he wanted you here.”

“Well, at least he knows me.”

“Come on,” he said, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “Let’s get a drink.”

Liz sighed and shook her head. “No. I don’t think I can do that. I can’t stand around and watch him with her.” She brushed his hand off of her shoulder and started walking toward the door. She had fallen hard for Brady Maxwell, but he couldn’t parade that woman in front of her. He couldn’t get away with not telling her the truth, not being up front with her, when he demanded it of her.

“Liz…” Chris called, following after her. “Don’t leave.”

“I have to. He doesn’t take this seriously.”

“He’d be stupid not to take you seriously after that last comment.”

Liz shot daggers at him. “Why are you even siding with him?”

“He’s my best friend. Look, just come with me for a minute.” Chris reached out and stopped her. “Don’t leave yet.”

“Chris, come on. I’m just going to go.”

“One minute,” he pleaded.

Liz grumbled expletives softly under her breath before nodding. “Fine. Where are we going?”

“Somewhere quiet,” he said, walking toward the back wall.

“For what?”

“Just act natural.”

Liz shrugged and decided to see where he was taking her. It was better than sticking around the party and watching the stupid beauty-pageant chick follow Brady around like a lapdog.

They walked through a door on the other side of the room, which led them through a service hallway. They turned a corner and Chris jiggled the handle to the first door on the right. It twisted and pushed inward. Liz peered around him and saw that he had opened a door into a family bathroom.

“What the hell is this?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

Chris looked up and down the empty hallway. “Just go inside. Brady will meet you in a minute.”

“In a bathroom?” she asked incredulously.

“Yes. Go,” he said, pointing at the door.

Liz looked at him as if he were mentally insane, but walked into the bathroom and shut the door. She felt really ridiculous. She was standing in a bathroom, for Christ’s sake. Who did this? What if Brady left her in there all night? Not that she would stay longer than like fifteen minutes…okay twenty…maybe longer.

She sighed, feeling even more ridiculous. How the hell could Brady bring someone else to this event? Why even invite Liz if he was going to flaunt someone else around in front of her the whole time? After blowing up on her about Justin and not wanting anyone else to get their hands on her, he had the audacity to show up with someone else. As if she wanted anyone to get her hands on him!

Just the thought was getting her even more riled up. And she didn’t want to calm down.

The door handle rattled as someone wrestled with the stuck knob. It popped open a second later and Brady stood silhouetted in the doorway. Alone.

Liz smiled at the sight of him. Then she remembered she was angry and wiped it away. He moved inside quickly, shut and locked the door. He took one look at her before crossing the small space, taking her face in his hands, and kissing the breath right out of her. Her eyes closed for a second as he took what was his. He was the most intoxicating substance on the planet. Their kisses were like fire scorching through a burning building—hot and destructive.

She didn’t want him to stop. She couldn’t possibly want that. She wanted to do this for the rest of eternity. Who cared if he burned a hole right through her heart?

Then she came to her senses, and she pushed him back with every ounce of force. She probably didn’t move him back more than an inch, but the shock of her stopping him made him stumble a few feet backward.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Brady asked.

“Stopping you.”

“What have you been doing since you got here?”

“What have I been doing?” she asked, her eyes going wide.

“Yes. What have you been doing? Flirting with my brother, making a scene when I come to see you—what is wrong with you?” he demanded.

“I’m not sure I can even justify that with an answer!” she said, shaking her head.

“Is this because of Amber? Because if it is, then you need to get your shit together. Did you forget that I’m on the campaign? That I have an election to win?” he asked gruffly.

“How could I possibly forget?” she demanded.

“I don’t know, but you’re f**king acting like you have. I thought you knew what we were doing.” He clenched his hands into fists.

“That’s right. What we were doing,” she said, trying to brush past him to get to the door.

“What the f**k does that mean?” he asked. He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into him.

“We aren’t doing what we started out doing anymore. If you want the girl who you met in May, then sorry…she’s long gone,” she told him, staring up into his dark, intense eyes.