Chasing Shadows (First Wives #3)(24)

The DJ changed the song to one she liked.

“I’m an engineer . . . What do you do?”

This was not a conversation she wanted at the club.

“What?” She pretended not to understand him, and he shouted the question again.

Avery looked over the crowd of people and waved across the room like she knew someone.

When Gary turned to follow her gaze, she put more room between the two of them.

“I see a friend. Thanks for the drink.” And she was gone, swallowed by the dance floor and everyone on it. She lifted her drink above her head and moved to the other side. If Gary was watching her, he’d lose sight of her before she reached the hall to the bathrooms.

It wasn’t long before she downed her drink, left her glass on a side table, and joined the crazy. She circled her hips and let her legs do the talking. It didn’t take long to attract someone more her speed. Someone hot, firm, faceless, and young. This guy didn’t try to talk, they just danced. On the second song, she felt his hands on her hips. She didn’t dust him off but kept some distance to avoid being groped before knowing his name.

Not that she cared.

Four songs in, he tugged her arm toward the bar in the back of the club. “Can I buy you a drink?”

She looked him up and down.

“How about shots?” It would take a few shots.

“Oh, sexy. I like that.”

She hated cheap liquor, and after the second shot, she gave up trying to drink. But her buzz was decent enough to keep the night going.

The music grew louder, and the dance floor was a smash of bodies, making it impossible to dance without touching everyone around her.

Shot Man kept a hand on her while they danced, every once in a while dipping down her hip to her thigh. When she felt him dragging his hands under her skirt, she felt a chill.

Do I really want this?

A year ago she’d have already left with this guy. No strings, no names.

She dislodged his hand with a twist.

He took her gesture as a challenge and attempted to come at her from the other side while they danced.

This time she knew it wasn’t going to happen.

He was practically panting.

With hands on her shoulders, his lips touched her ear. “Let’s get out of here.”

“I don’t think so.”

He stopped dancing, and the smile he’d been flirting with all night disappeared. “Seriously?”

“Yeah.”

He looked at her as if she’d grown warts. “Fuckin’ tease.”

Avery watched him walk away and took the other direction. She reached for her purse to see what the time was and realized she’d left her phone at home.

She made small talk with the women in line for the bathroom and realized it was after one. No wonder she was tired.

This wasn’t going to happen.

Picking up a nameless bed toy had lost its charm. Not that she couldn’t, she reminded herself. She should just go home and drink good liquor until she dropped.

Back into the crush of dancers, she squeezed through the club, ignoring several one-liners delivered by men standing in groups of other men. One reached out like he had the right and stopped her by holding on to her arm. “Hey, baby.”

She froze, looked at his hand and then into his face. “I’d let go if I were you.”

“C’mon. Sexy thing like you shouldn’t be leaving alone.”

His buddies laughed.

College kids. She’d be surprised if this one was even old enough to be in the club.

When he tugged her arm, Avery reacted.

Quick.

Decisive.

Don’t hold back.

She pushed in, twisted, found his gut with her elbow, and then brought the same elbow to his chin.

He let go with a curse.

The laughter from his buddies grew.

“Bitch.”

Avery squared her shoulders. Those close enough to see what happened gave her a wide path.

On shaky legs, Avery stepped outside and once again realized she didn’t have her cell phone to hire an Uber. She could walk home, but at that time of night, and dressed like she was, it wouldn’t be surprising if someone stopped her and asked how much.

The line at the door was still there, but the staff had changed.

She crossed the street in an effort to get a taxi headed in the direction of her complex. Two blocks up, she waited on the busy corner.

She shivered.

What was she doing?

Showing Liam. Only he wasn’t there to see her standing on the corner, waiting for a cab to drive by.

Someone in a passing car whistled.

Avery rolled her eyes.

At least she felt armed enough to ward off unwelcome hands. In fact, the adrenaline of doubling over the dude who grabbed her was higher than when Shot Man wanted to show her a good time.

Maybe next time she went out she’d skip the high heels and mini.

She wrapped her hands over her bare shoulders and looked around. The streets held a few die-hards returning to their cars or walking in and out of the open bars.

Avery stepped into the street and waved at a lone cab.

The short ride to her complex with a cabbie who obviously smoked, and either didn’t bathe or did so in garlic, reminded her never to leave home without her phone again.

She paused outside her complex and looked around.