Friends With Benefits (18 page)

“That’s all?”

“That’s all.”

She sighed. He was right. She needed to relax. Who would know?
“OK.”

He smiled. “That’s my girl. Why don’t you go get ready? I’ll let Connor know we’ll head out in about an hour.”

* * *

“Heads up.”

Angie did a quick side step to avoid a blonde on a mission with a tray of drinks.

The bar rocked tonight. The crowd dancing expanded beyond the boundaries of the floor itself. The hardwood pulsed with the beat of the base. Lights of different colors swirled overhead. Varying scents of perfumes in varying degrees of intensity wafted past her nose with every turn.

“Relax, babe.” Tyler smoothed his thumb back and forth across her wrist.

Angie settled into her husband’s embrace. One of his hands rested at the small of her back, the other held her hand tight against his chest. He pressed his lips to her forehead. This was normal, comfortable. They swayed to the music, taking small, slow steps in a tight circle.

“Hey, Scott and Tammy are here tonight too.”

“They are?” Angela lifted her head and glanced around the room, searching for her friends. Tyler had met Scott through work a few years ago. On impulse, they’d gone out to dinner one night and hit it off. Since then, they got together at one home or the other on a regular basis. She and Tammy had become close, sharing insights, recipes, and shoe-shopping sprees.

“They’re over in the corner with friends. I told them we’d stop by their table later to say hi.”

Angela leaned around Tyler, eager to spot Tammy. In this crowd, it was no small task. Unless you were dancing or sitting nice and close, with your mouth to your partner’s ear, conversation could only be accomplished by yelling. Lots of blank stares, fake smiles, and nodding heads appeared to be the norm around the room.

Through the crowd, Angela finally managed to spot her friend and waved. Tammy smiled and waved back, a small glass of something halfway to her lips.

Angela swiveled her head to look over at where Connor sat at their table. She’d become used to his dark, expressive eyes. Tonight he kept his gaze on her but his thoughts to himself.

“I love you, you know.” Tyler’s low, husky voice purred in her ear.

“I know. I love you too.”

“Are you doing fine with all of this?”

“Yeah, I am. At home anyway. This…this is a little uncomfortable.”

“It’s not like we’re going to spread you out on the floor and go at you like animals in front of everyone.” He pulled his head back to wink at her. “It’s a little crowded here tonight. Not enough room.”

She chuckled. “I’m being silly aren’t I?”

“Just a little, sweetheart.”

Laying her cheek to his chest, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, forcing herself to settle down, to enjoy the moment with her husband.

“My turn.”

She jerked her head up and drew in a quick breath. Connor stood behind Tyler. His eyes hid nothing now. They glowed hot with desire. Tyler placed a quick kiss against her lips and backed away so Connor could take his place.

Angela held her breath as he stepped in close—so close not a piece of paper could fit between them.

“Connor, this isn’t the time or place—”

“For what? I’m just dancing with you.” He wrapped his arms around her waist, his hands resting against her ass, a firm and possessive touch. His knees bracketed either side of hers as he started to move with the music. She had no choice but to move with him. She inhaled deep through her nose, pulling in the light musk of his cologne. His head dipped and he blew against her ear. A shiver raced over her skin.

“Connor,” she swallowed, “we’re in public.”

His tongue traced the shell of her ear. She glanced around the room. Nobody was paying them any attention. But, who knew who they’d run into? People from work? Acquaintances? Neighbors? A popular place like this attracted lots of people. Angela and Tyler came here often, and so did Scott and Tammy. What would her friends think?

Oh, God. This was a mistake, a major mistake. What had they been thinking?

A tall, middle-aged, pretty brunette made eye contact with her and smiled. Angela turned away and focused on the collar of Connor’s shirt, feeling the flush of embarrassment on her cheeks.

“Connor, I think we’re drawing attention.”

“Don’t worry. It’s dark, and we’re near the back.”

“But when we walk back to the table, my hard nipples and your hard-on are going to clue people in.”

“Only if they’re paying attention.”

She nudged him.

He heaved a heavy sigh, but loosened his hold, putting a little space between them. “OK.”

Throughout the next few numbers when his hands weren’t on her ass, they were moving in sensuous circles up and down her back. Every now and again, he leaned down to tease her ear with his warm breath.

When Angela looked up again, she realized she’d snagged the attention of a large man standing near the bar. On another turn, she snuck a peak in his direction again only to find him still watching her and Connor.

When the music switched to a faster beat, they turned to move single-file back to the table. Conner let a couple pass between them and in that moment a hand snapped out and grabbed Angela’s arm, tugging her to the side and out of Connor’s path. She slammed up against a hard body. Whiskey breath filled her face.

“Hey, babe. It’s my turn for a dance.” The slurred words were as far from sexy as you could get, and belonged to the behemoth by the bar.

Stunned, she allowed herself to be held for a moment. Then her common sense kicked in. She put her hands against his chest and pushed. “Let go.”

“No way. I want my turn.” He yanked her close again, one paw squeezed her rear, the other her waist.

“I said… Let. Go.” Sounds dimmed as a slight bite of panic began to settle in, but she forced it back and stomped on his instep.

“You bitch.” He released her with a little shove, and she stumbled back a few steps.

She suddenly found herself looking at Tyler’s back, blocking the view of her would-be dance partner. From behind, Connor’s arm wrapped like a protective shield around her shoulders.

“Keep your hands off my wife.”

“
Your
wife? It wasn’t you I just watched her snuggling up to, bud.” The man’s loud retort snared everyone’s attention, and then all sound rushed back in, as the music picked that exact moment to stop, followed by all conversation. “I just figured I could get in on the action. She seems to be in the mood to share.”

Angela heard muttering and gasps in the darkened room around her. She closed her eyes, trying to block it all out. But, if anything, it only enhanced her hearing.

“Is she really here with
two
guys?”

Angela spun to the right, trying to locate the person behind the voice. She saw a woman sporting a sneer.

“That’s disgusting.”

“Good for her.”

Angela spun in the opposite direction to see the brunette wink at her.

“I’ll trade places with her.”

“Slut.” This came from a young college-aged woman who’d crowded behind the brunette with her drinking buddies. The eagerness on her face betrayed her venom, as did the crotch-length school-girl skirt and amount of cleavage she bared. She shot Angela a nasty look and then feasted her eyes on Tyler and Connor. “The one facing off with the jerk is her husband. I think I recognize them. I’m pretty sure they’ve been here before. But not with that other guy.”

This was Angela’s worst nightmare. Right now would be a perfect time for the hardwood floor beneath her feet to simply slide open and swallow her whole.

Connor tugged on her wrist and tried to pull her closer to him, as if to shield her from what was happening, but she shrugged him off and felt him stiffen in response.

“There’s no
action
to be had.” Tyler’s quiet voice threatened the man who had grabbed her. Anyone paying attention understood. Apparently the man who accosted her didn’t.

“From where I was sitting there was.” The brute raised his voice to call over Tyler’s shoulder. “Come on, sweet cheeks. I can take care of you. Let me show you what you’re missing with these two.”

Figuring it was too late to save her reputation, Angela pivoted around and stared at Connor’s chest. She needed to refocus and determine the best way to defuse the situation before Tyler got hurt.

Dead silence surrounded her, and then glass shattered and tables crashed. She flinched at the unmistakable sound of flesh hitting flesh. A few grunts followed, and a thud sounded as the floor shook under her feet. Connor shoved her behind him and stepped forward.

Angela steeled herself and prepared to turn and face the fight when somebody reached out and took her arm. She jumped, twirling on her heel to attack the new intruder, and came face-to-face with Tammy and Scott. A strangled breath rushed from her in relief as she all but collapsed into her friend’s arms.

“Tammy. I didn’t realize you and Scott would be here tonight. I’m so sorry you saw that.” Shame filled her at what they must think of her.

“Are you OK?” Tammy pulled her aside, and Scott placed himself between them and the destruction taking place.

“I’m fine. But, Scott, do something, please. I don’t want them hurt.”

“They’ll be fine. Don’t worry,” he said.

“This is exactly what I didn’t want to happen.”

“It’s already over.” Scott indicated behind her with a nod of his head.

Angela whirled around. He was right. The fight had finished almost as fast as it started. Tyler and Connor stood to one side of the room, speaking in quiet tones. The bartender and a man she assumed to be the owner spoke with the other man. He glared in her direction, rubbing his jaw. The owner pointed at the exit and gave him a not-so-gentle shove toward it.

The music restarted, moving into a quick tempo. The bar’s patrons divided their attention. On the faces of some, she saw curiosity; others looked down their nose at her, turning away when she caught their eye. On a few of the women, she recognized excitement in the glitter of their eyes as their gazes raked over Tyler and Connor. Sudden jealousy flared within Angela.

When the guys rejoined her, Tyler introduced Connor to their friends, then yanked Angela into his arms.

“Did he hurt you?”

She shook her head and pulled away, searching his face and hands for signs of injury.

“I’m fine. Embarrassed by what that guy said, by what these people think of me, by what Tammy and Scott just witnessed, but fine.” From the corner of her vision, she caught Connor’s flinch, the flash of regret in his eyes.

“I’ll wait for you in the truck,” he said.

He pushed through the remaining rubberneckers and out the door before Angela could stop him. She sighed. Returning her attention to Tyler, she turned his hand over in hers and gasped. “You’re bleeding.”

Tyler withdrew his fingers from her grip. “It’s minor, sweetheart. Scraped knuckles. Thanks for keeping her out of it, Scott.”

“No problem. Tyler, I think I may be able to help you.”

“How do you mean?”

“Remember that discussion we had a while back about certain clubs in the area?”

“Yeah, I think so. Why?”

“Call me. We’ll talk.”

Angela’s attention shifted from Tyler and Scott to search the room. She heard what they said, but she didn’t pay it much mind. Most people had returned to their own business, but a few looks lingered in their direction.

“Ignore them,” Tammy said. “Hey, let me get you a drink.”

“No. Thanks anyway.” No way could she stay here now. People slowly returned to their own tables, but Angela knew the reigning topic of conversation would be her and her two men. “I think we should probably head home.”

* * *

“Angela, are you OK?”

Tyler’s attention swung from the traffic in front of him to his wife sitting between him and Connor. She focused straight ahead. Whether she saw anything, he couldn’t tell. She looked pale in the glow from the dash. After a quick check back to the road, he looked over at Connor. The passing scenery seemed to have captured his undivided attention. When Tyler had offered to drive home, Connor had hesitated, but then shrugged, tossed over the keys to his truck, and climbed in the passenger side. Since then, he hadn’t said a word, just stared out the window.

“I’m fine. Please stop asking.” He strained to hear her soft voice. He didn’t believe her. Her gaze shifted from the road to his hands clutching the steering wheel. “Did you hurt your hands?”

He snorted. “Hardly.”

His wife raised her eyes to stare into his. They were clouded with concern. He worked his clenched fingers off the steering wheel long enough to smooth her brow with his thumb.

“No harm done.” He turned back to the road. “Did you know that guy?”

“No.”

“Did he hurt you in any way?” From the corner of his eye, Tyler noticed Connor’s head swing around, waiting for her response.

“No. He didn’t. He was just being a jerk.”

A growl came from the Connor’s side of the truck.

“You know, not everyone thinks like he does.” Tyler peered down at his frowning wife, her slumped posture sad in the dark interior.

“You didn’t hear the other people, Tyler.”

“What other people?” Anger flared in his gut.

“While you were busy defending me, some of the other people standing around threw in their two cents.”

“What did they say?”

“Nothing nice.” These were the first words from Connor since leaving the bar.

Tyler tossed a glance in his friend’s direction. “What. Did. They. Say?”

Their gazes connected over Angie’s head, holding a long moment. Connor’s eyes filled with rage, but he shook his head. His message clear—they’d talk about it later.

Tyler returned his attention to the road.

“They called me a slut.”

Connor’s eyes closed tight, mimicking the tic in his jaw.

“You can’t listen to them, hon.”

“Hard not to.” She sighed.

Tyler reached for her hand, giving it a squeeze and pulling it onto his lap. “Sweetheart, what we do is nobody’s business. “