would want to hear. Or possibly even believe. “It’s nothing, West. It’s not a big deal.”
“It’s a big enough deal that you had to bring it up.”
“No, you started it with your checking-up thing.”
“Just tell me what you meant!” Mattie was aware that their voices were rising and tempers flaring. It felt...exhilarating. The way West’s eyes flashed in the dim console light fascinated her. His anger sent a little thrill through her.
Oh, now ain’t I twisted?
“Emeline has a whole ‘nother life you don’t know about, West.”
“You’re just saying that because you don’t like her.”
“Believe that if you want to, West. I’m not a vindictive person. Yet another McKendrick gene that I missed out on.”
With an exasperated sigh, West ruffled his hair and headed for the club. “Emeline wouldn’t do anything to hurt me, Mattie.”
“Honestly, West, I don’t think she even knows what would hurt you or not. She’s extremely self-involved.”
“You don’t know her!”
“I do! I know a hundred other girls just like her. She’s shallow and selfish and can’t see beyond the tip of her perfect little nose.”
“That is so wrong.”
“Fine. Tell me what wonderful, charitable things she’s done.”
West shook his head, slouching down further in the driver’s seat and focusing on the road. “I’m not even going to answer that.”
“Cuz you can’t.”
“Shit, zip it, Mattie.”
Mattie smirked but obeyed, turning so she faced forward. West navigated the big, sprawling city until he was back in the club’s parking garage.
“Text her and let her know we’re here.”
“Why? Why not just go in and see how trustworthy she is?” West shoved the door open and slammed it hard. Mattie had to jog to catch up to him as he stalked toward the elevators to take them to the street level. The doorman let them in without charging them another cover. The music and lights and crush of people assaulted Mattie once more. West kept a firm grip on her arm, grounding her, as he zigzagged through the crowd, looking for Emeline. He pulled Mattie upstairs to the open mezzanine.
Couches and chairs formed cozy little private areas, all populated by couples making out or groups of friends having a good time. Waitresses circulated with trays full of drink orders.
West surveyed the wide open space, eyes narrowed as he looked into dark corners from a distance.
“There,” Mattie said, pointing. “By the wall.”
West took the lead, slowing down as he realized Emeline wasn’t alone. Mattie’s heart thumped in her chest. To the right, there was a guy next to Emeline, kissing her so deeply that he seemed to be vacuuming out her esophagus.
His hand was up her dress. Way up her dress. The guy on her left was making out with her neck, one hand busy on her teeny-tiny breasts. “God, West.” Mattie put her hand on his arm. He glared at her with enough fire in his eyes to scorch her skin. He jerked away from her and marched toward the trio. “Might not be her,” he grunted.
“Yeah. Maybe not. Those fluorescent green dresses are pretty popular right now.” The look he shot back at her killed all her fun. He really was hurting! “West!” She caught his arm and stopped his onward march. “Listen, she’s not worth it. I told you. She’s only interested in whatever she can do to pleasure herself. West, come on, let’s get out of here.”
West turned broken-hearted eyes on her and nodded. All the anger was gone, leaving him deflated. Mattie took his hand and led him back down the stairs and through the crush of people, out into the night air. He walked a few feet before sitting down on a bench. He rubbed his face with his hands. For a second he looked so much older than his twenty-five years. “West?”
“Just leave me alone for a minute, Mattie, okay?”
“Okay. I’m here if you need me.”
“I’m good.”
“Yeah, I’m not sure
“It’s a big enough deal that you had to bring it up.”
“No, you started it with your checking-up thing.”
“Just tell me what you meant!” Mattie was aware that their voices were rising and tempers flaring. It felt...exhilarating. The way West’s eyes flashed in the dim console light fascinated her. His anger sent a little thrill through her.
Oh, now ain’t I twisted?
“Emeline has a whole ‘nother life you don’t know about, West.”
“You’re just saying that because you don’t like her.”
“Believe that if you want to, West. I’m not a vindictive person. Yet another McKendrick gene that I missed out on.”
With an exasperated sigh, West ruffled his hair and headed for the club. “Emeline wouldn’t do anything to hurt me, Mattie.”
“Honestly, West, I don’t think she even knows what would hurt you or not. She’s extremely self-involved.”
“You don’t know her!”
“I do! I know a hundred other girls just like her. She’s shallow and selfish and can’t see beyond the tip of her perfect little nose.”
“That is so wrong.”
“Fine. Tell me what wonderful, charitable things she’s done.”
West shook his head, slouching down further in the driver’s seat and focusing on the road. “I’m not even going to answer that.”
“Cuz you can’t.”
“Shit, zip it, Mattie.”
Mattie smirked but obeyed, turning so she faced forward. West navigated the big, sprawling city until he was back in the club’s parking garage.
“Text her and let her know we’re here.”
“Why? Why not just go in and see how trustworthy she is?” West shoved the door open and slammed it hard. Mattie had to jog to catch up to him as he stalked toward the elevators to take them to the street level. The doorman let them in without charging them another cover. The music and lights and crush of people assaulted Mattie once more. West kept a firm grip on her arm, grounding her, as he zigzagged through the crowd, looking for Emeline. He pulled Mattie upstairs to the open mezzanine.
Couches and chairs formed cozy little private areas, all populated by couples making out or groups of friends having a good time. Waitresses circulated with trays full of drink orders.
West surveyed the wide open space, eyes narrowed as he looked into dark corners from a distance.
“There,” Mattie said, pointing. “By the wall.”
West took the lead, slowing down as he realized Emeline wasn’t alone. Mattie’s heart thumped in her chest. To the right, there was a guy next to Emeline, kissing her so deeply that he seemed to be vacuuming out her esophagus.
His hand was up her dress. Way up her dress. The guy on her left was making out with her neck, one hand busy on her teeny-tiny breasts. “God, West.” Mattie put her hand on his arm. He glared at her with enough fire in his eyes to scorch her skin. He jerked away from her and marched toward the trio. “Might not be her,” he grunted.
“Yeah. Maybe not. Those fluorescent green dresses are pretty popular right now.” The look he shot back at her killed all her fun. He really was hurting! “West!” She caught his arm and stopped his onward march. “Listen, she’s not worth it. I told you. She’s only interested in whatever she can do to pleasure herself. West, come on, let’s get out of here.”
West turned broken-hearted eyes on her and nodded. All the anger was gone, leaving him deflated. Mattie took his hand and led him back down the stairs and through the crush of people, out into the night air. He walked a few feet before sitting down on a bench. He rubbed his face with his hands. For a second he looked so much older than his twenty-five years. “West?”
“Just leave me alone for a minute, Mattie, okay?”
“Okay. I’m here if you need me.”
“I’m good.”
“Yeah, I’m not sure
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