The Scheme

I’d kissed a lot of men in my life, but I’d have to rate Brian’s the best kiss ever. If he ever entered some sort of kissing contest, he’d win the trophy by a landslide.

When I finally caught my breath, I flipped around and noticed I’d lost Dr. Klein’s attention. A new group of girls was now congregating in front of him.

Seriously?

My stomach dropped to my toes as my disappointment from earlier turned into pure a

Why?

He was a walking contradiction.

I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest.

But the psychic had predicted he was it for me. And she’d been right about everything else so far, so I had to believe her. If I wanted any semblance of a normal life, her prediction had to come true.

Maybe I needed to give this more time.

Dr. Klein stood with his entourage of guy friends and headed out of the bar with the group of girls. I didn’t know if they had known those girls from before, waited for them, or had just met them. Either way, they strolled out together before I could even bat an eye.

I peered up at Brian, who had ‘I told you so’ written all over his face. I spun around, not wanting to hear him gloat about how stupid I was.

“I hate him,” I muttered, but there was no bite in my voice.

I stared at the door where Dr. Klein and his friends had just left, huffing in frustration at another wasted outfit and ruined Saturday night.

I just didn’t get it. Evangeline had said it as clear as day that I would get over my past relationship and the guy who gave me the moon was the one I was meant to be with. We’d end up happy. Together.

I should’ve asked her how to win the man of my dreams and how long it would take. I wished she had an eight-hundred number that I could put on speed dial. I hated how this was her last unresolved prediction about my life. It made me feel unsettled, unfinished somehow.

“Hey,” Brian said. “Are you religious?”

I glared at him, already in a foul mood. “What?”

He angled closer, a glint of humor in his eyes. “Because I think you’re the answer to all my prayers.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me, trying to get me to laugh, which worked.

I decided I could let this whole failed night depress me, or I could start anew tomorrow. And my happiness was worth fighting for, even if it had just walked out the door with another woman.

I shook my head to break me from my sour mood. Tomorrow would be another day, and tonight was not to be wasted. “Let’s get out of this joint and have some fun. I’ve got my dancing outfit on.” I shimmied and gave Brian a hopeful smile.

Brian flipped up his collar. “Dancing? Do you know how crazy awesome a dancer I am? I’ll have you pulling me into the alley after one song.”

His goofy face had me cracking up again. The man definitely made me laugh. That was a quality worth marrying. For someone else, of course.

The bartender placed my gin and tonic on the table.

“After this drink,” I said, tipping back the glass to chug it. I felt the burn at the back of my throat and welcomed it. Maybe it would dull the rejection. “I plan to get butt-ass wasted tonight and shake my tail feathers.”

At that, we clinked our beverages, my glass to his beer bottle. I probably wouldn’t remember what happened tomorrow morning anyway. Maybe that was a good thing.

EIGHT

BRIAN

We ended up in the Meatpacking District at Enclave Night Club. The line stretched out the door and down the block, but Kendy used her ever-charming voice and hot body to get us in, totally bypassing the line.

She knew how to work it. She oozed sex appeal, but it was subtle, not a

We rushed straight to the bar, me leading her through the crowd to a spot where we could both fit against the masses. An hour later, we had downed multiple drinks. I’d lost count of the exact number. She kept ordering, and I kept buying. We laughed, chugging back and repeating. I didn’t mind, as long as I kept seeing that smile on her face and her mind far away from Stiff.

I tossed out my one-liner jokes, her laughter fueling me to keep them coming. I didn’t even know where I was coming up with half of this shit, but it was working, and that was all that mattered.

After a couple of hours, her eyes were glossed over. “I’m going to get my dance on,” she said¸ downing her drink and moving through the crowd.

She ended up on the raised box by the DJ, dancing next to another woman. Without a doubt, Kendy outdid this woman in looks, stature, and with her moves. I watched a group of guys congregate below her, their tongues practically hanging out of their mouths as the strobe lights hit her face and showcased her alluring body. My jaw tensed as an overpowering jealousy surged through me.

Her eyes fell shut as she swayed and moved to the music. The men were like moths to a flame, and slowly, she had her own fan club of dudes vying for her attention.

The music was bumping, and I leaned against the bar. The black skirt she was wearing clung to her body like saran wrap, inching up her thighs with each bounce.

I tipped back my beer and ordered another. When I turned around, a guy had made his way behind her, forcing the other woman down from the small box. They were grinding to the music as their bodies meshed together. I watched the strobe lights flicker across her face. The glow made her look like she was the star of a show. My jaw locked when she molded her ass against the man behind her. He seemed to enjoy it. Who wouldn’t?

But when his hands made their way around her ass and to her i

Suddenly, Kendy froze and her eyes popped open in shock. She shifted toward him, looking like she was spitting words at him as I barreled through the crowd. I could read her face as the strobe lights flashed on her angry features.

When she hopped off the box, he jumped behind her and grabbed her wrist. She jerked her hand away, and I was a foot away and about to step in between them when I saw something I’d never seen before.

I widened my eyes when Kendy reached down, grabbed him by the balls, and twisted.

His face registered pain.

“Bitch!” he yelped.

“Pinky dick!” she yelled back. “I can’t even cop a feel down there.”

Just before he took a step toward her, I blocked his path. “Get the fuck away from her, asshole.”

I gestured for him to leave, but he stood there for a moment, looking indecisive. I fisted my hands at my sides, ready for action if he decided to try to take me down. No way in hell was there going to be a repeat of the stitches incident.

His eyes met mine, sizing me up. A second later, he must’ve thought better of it, because he cast her a glare and turned to walk away.

Pussy.

I shook my head and glanced back at her. “Get a good feel there?” I was trying to make light of the situation, but I hated to think what would’ve happened had I not been here.

I doubted Kendy’s reaction would’ve been any different.

“Yeah, fucker thought he could touch what wasn’t his. I was going to rip his dick off and feed it to him.” Her angry eyes narrowed and flickered toward the guy who was now making his way to a new target.

I didn’t want to lecture her, but the words flew out anyway. “I know you can take care of yourself, but don’t be too brave when you’re alone.” Maybe it was the big brother in me, or maybe it was the adrenaline spike. I couldn’t tell. All I knew was I didn’t want anything to happen to her.