Coming Home(46)

“Oh Jesus.” Danny laughed, giving him the once-over. Even from all the way up on the balcony, he could see the meticulously gelled blowout and the blatantly fake tan the guy was sporting. Not to mention the button-down shirt he wore open.

With nothing underneath.

He sidled right up to the smallest friend, reaching out to swipe the hair out of her face as he said something to her, and she jerked backward with a look on her face that had Danny flinching for the guy while fighting laughter.

Without answering, she walked around to the other side of Leah, putting some distance between her and her admirer, who was clearly unfazed by the rejection.

Because he went right for friend number two.

Danny watched the guy put his hand on her shoulder, massaging it creepily as he said whatever line he’d been saving up for her. This girl was a little gentler, it seemed; she kept her expression in check as she held up her left hand, pointing at it with her right.

Danny was too far away, but he assumed she was showing him some type of wedding ring.

“Tough break, pal,” he said with a laugh, shaking his head.

The guy took a step back, looking like he was going to admit defeat, but then he turned, smiling at Leah as he said something. She smiled politely back before she turned her attention back to the dance floor, and he moved to her side, resting his elbow on the bar as he leaned close to her ear, saying something else.

Danny’s smile dropped.

Her expression was smooth as she answered him, never taking her eyes off the dance floor, and the guy smiled, taking the tiniest step closer to her.

And just like that, Danny’s decision was made.

Friends. They could be friends. Friends texted each other.

And friends hung out at bars together.

He turned and walked quickly toward the stairway. She seemed to be handling herself just fine, and she had two girlfriends down there with her, but he didn’t give a shit. That douchebag had ignited something visceral in him, and he wanted her by his side tonight.

He rounded the corner after passing the bouncer at the bottom of the stairs, scanning the crowd until he spotted her again.

Jersey Shore was still nestled up beside her, using the noise of the bar as an excuse to lean close to her whenever he spoke. She leaned away just enough to be noticeable, but not enough to be rude, forcing a smile and answering briefly before she looked at her friend and widened her eyes.

Just as Danny approached them, he heard the guy say, “Come on, hon. Let me buy you a drink. You’re too pretty not to have a drink in your hand.”

Without thinking, Danny snaked his arm around Leah’s waist, resting his hand on her hip as he pulled her into his side.

“Thanks, but she’s all set,” he said.

As the guy’s eyes met Danny’s, his seductive expression faltered.

“Sorry, bro,” he said, holding both hands up in a peace offering before he turned and made his way to the other side of the bar.

Danny watched him until he was far enough away that he knew he wouldn’t be coming back, and then he looked down at Leah.

“I hope I didn’t just blow that for you. Were you planning on taking My Cousin Vinny home?”

She smiled as she turned her body to face him. Danny kept his hand on her so that when she turned, it traveled along her lower back, coming to rest on her opposite hip.

“Take him home?” she said in horror. “No way. I was probably just gonna bang him in the bathroom and then bail.”

Danny laughed loudly, and she grinned, her chin lifted slightly as she looked up at him.

Someone cleared her throat loudly, and Danny turned to see the two girls from before staring pointedly at Leah.