was the problem, wasn’t it? Everyone had moved on while she stayed in her rut. This was what she had been reduced to: poor little Adrian Blake crying her eyes and her heart out over a boyfriend who’d tossed her aside like old garbage.
She half-closed her eyes, but she could still see the sun, bright and relentless. Was she really going to stay home and cry herself to sleep? She’d bet Jason hadn’t given her another thought. He’d be with Stephanie tonight.
Her smile was now fierce. “Yeah, I’ll go with you.”
Watch out, boys and girls, she thought. Adrian Blake had taken a savage beating, but by God, she wasn’t down and out. The world was going to be so very, very sorry.
CHAPTER SIX
She sauntered into the backyard with Travis as her escort. The white jean skirt rode low on her hips, grazing the tops of her thighs. It didn’t have a hem, so the trailing strings drew attention to places she normally didn’t want it to be drawn.
Her top wasn’t any better. The bright red halter was so low cut that she hadn’t been able to wear a bra, the neckline plunging into a V. It was sheer lace everywhere except the bust, but even then it gave the impression that you could see more than you should. The outfit was completed by tall, strappy sandals and a hip necklace that accentuated her cleavage. And there was a lot of it.
She had no idea who lived here—Travis had reeled off a name that held no meaning for her, probably one of the senior jocks—but even though the ranch-style house was one of the smaller houses on the block, the backyard more than made up for it. There were dozens and dozens of people milling around. Even better, the yard was fenced with only one gate that everyone had to use, so she couldn’t have wished for a more perfect spot to showcase herself.
The noise level seemed to drop considerably as people turned to look at her as if they’d never seen her before. They’d spent the last few days gossiping about her or pretending she didn’t exist, but now they were staring openly.
“Who the hell is she?” someone said.
Her smile blossomed slow and arrogant. Oh, you’re about to find out.
Another time, another place, she might have been appalled by her behavior since this wasn’t something she would normally do, but tonight, there were no rules. Maybe if she stopped thinking, she wouldn’t hurt so much.
“Show me around, Travis,” she purred. “Let’s have some fun.”
Undeterred by everyone’s attention, Travis was bouncing up and down on his toes. “Okay, let’s get some beer first.” He guided her to the kegs. “See, I told you this was a good idea.”
It really was. If not for him, she would have gorged on ice-cream and pigged out in her oldest sweats, but now she was poured into an outfit that would make eyebrows rise.
This is what you’re missing out on, Jason. I don’t need you; I never did.
A few people drew back from her as if she had cooties. “Who invited her?” one of them said loudly in Adrian’s hearing.
Her smile hardened. If they wanted to kick her out, they were free to do so, but she hadn’t seen any gold-plated invitations. Until then, they would just have to live with her presence.
The kegs were situated near the rectangular pool, not that far from the house, but in order to get to them, Adrian had to walk around the backyard with Travis. If the vultures wanted a show, she’d give them one. She looked good, and she damned well knew it. So she sauntered toward the guys manning the kegs, as if she didn’t have any care in the world, her hips swaying in a dangerous motion.
“You want anything?” one of them said when she approached.
She lazily drew a finger from the base of her throat down to the V of her halter. As if by magic, the guy’s eyes followed the progress. “Mm, I want a drink. It’s so hot here, don’t you think?”
“Um, yeah.” He fumbled with the drink. “Uh … you want anything else?”
“Maybe later, baby.” The
Deborah Hale
Mia Caldwell
Elizabeth Alix
Evan Ronan
Sherryl Woods
Lily Graison
James Axler
Lynda Waterhouse
Craig McDonald
Maddy Barone