Page 91 of Legally Mine

"We're not close," I said. "It was sort of an accident that she was coming to this thing anyway."

"So...Sterling stood you up, huh?"

Now the elephant had been addressed. Great.

I leaned back so I could grin at him, hoping to pivot away from the question. "Do I stick out that much?"

"Well, yeah, but in a way that probably wouldn't be polite to talk about in public." Jared swung me around for another turn.

I shrugged. In my drunken state, the compliment felt good. Better than being stood up, that was for sure.

"So, why didn't you call me after our date last winter, Skylar?" Jared asked, changing the subject once again.

I raised an eyebrow. "I don't remember you being this direct."

He gave a good-natured wink. "I have nothing to lose. So what happened?"

I sighed. I considered the awkward night when Jared had run into Brandon and me at the symphony, on Valentine's Day, no less. I had blown him off to see Brandon, and Jared had discovered us there. Not my finest moment.

"I'm sorry about that," I said. "I...got wrapped up in...you know."

Jared nodded. "Yeah. I guess I can see that," he said, not without some bitterness. "The way my sisters talk about him, you'd think he was the second coming or the devil himself, depending on whether or not Miranda's around."

His hand tightened at my waist as he pulled me just a bit closer, so that my breasts grazed the front of his chest. Still not enough to be indecent, but the subtle maneuver didn't escape me.

"I'll say it again," he said into my ear. "He's an idiot for standing you up. If I got to be your escort tonight..." he leaned back again with a look that was more sharp than gentle. "I'd never leave your side."

We stared at each other for a moment, no longer moving with the music. Jared's brown eyes suddenly seemed more intense than I'd imagined him capable of. Safe, sweet Jared was gone. For the first time all evening, I didn't feel like abandoned trash, but I wasn't sure I liked this attention either.

Jared smirked. Then he closed his eyes and leaned in.

Wait,what?

I leaned back a solid six inches away from his face. I was drunk, but I wasn't that drunk. Jared opened his eyes, now darkened with something I didn't like at all.

"Whaaaat are you doing?" I asked, trying and failing not to slur my speech.

"That's an excellent question, Red."

At the sound of the familiar deep voice, I dropped Jared's hand and stepped away like he was made of fire. I whirled around, which made the room spin like a top. When it stopped, there was Brandon, standing in front of us, looking like every penny of his net worth.

"Hi," I said weakly, and fell into his strong arms.

~