Perfectly Flawed (6 page)

“No, I rode the subway.”

Sean looked through the glass doors toward the street. A few snowflakes were beginning to fall. “No way. You aren’t going out in that. I’ll drive you.”

“No.”

“Don’t be stubborn. I’m giving you a ride home. No arguments.”

Adrianna still hesitated. She looked outside toward the snowflakes whipping against the buildings. Then she looked back.

“Come on.” Sean took her arm and tugged.

“Okay,” she scoffed.

“I don’t bite. Really.”

Another elevator took them down to the parking garage, and without the distraction of Emmett standing between them, Sean was acutely aware of Adrianna. She stood inches from him, her female scent making him lightheaded. Before he could act on his impulse to touch her, the elevator dinged and opened.

Sean guided her out, and down the main aisle. “I parked over here.”

He stepped up to his black Dodge Charger, and clicked the key fob to unlock the door. He opened the passenger door and made a hand motion for her to get in.

Adrianna stood, staring at the car. “What happened to the blue Chevy?”

“I upgraded.” Sean waited for her to get in. “Don’t worry, it’s safe. It has all-wheel drive.”

Adrianna balked. “I kind of liked that Chevy.”

Sean never knew what Adrianna was going to do, much less say. If he’d known she liked it that much, he might have kept it. “I liked it too. Let’s give this one a spin; see how you like
it
.”

Reluctantly, Adrianna got in. Sean couldn’t tell if she didn’t like the car or just didn’t want to be that close to him. Nothing made sense.

Adrianna told him where her aunt lived, and Sean navigated the wet roads. Music vibrated through car, taking away any need for conversation. Adrianna tapped her knee to the bass periodically, drawing attention to her long legs peeking out from under her short skirt. There was no need; Sean couldn’t take his eyes off her anyway. But he tried to focus on the slippery roads, allowing his peripheral vision include Adrianna.

All the way, Sean ran ideas around in his head. He couldn’t just let her get out, say goodbye, and drive off. Then they’d see each other again on Monday and nothing would be any different.
He hoped by Monday they’d know each other a lot better.

He pulled in front of her aunt’s home—a mansion from his perspective—but didn’t immediately get out.

“This is it,” Adrianna said, and reached for the door handle.

“Wait.”

She stopped and looked at him. Her perfume filled the car, and Sean knew he’d smell it all the way back to his apartment and longer. Maybe he’d never wash the darn thing again, just to keep the fragrance in there.

“What?”

“Can I see you again?”

“You’ll see me Monday.”

“You know what I mean. Like a date. I’d like to see you again, Adrianna.”

She slumped back from the door and looked at the windshield, wet from the drifting snow.

“I don’t think so,” she said without looking at him.

Feeling desperation begin to surface, Sean said, “Why not? Are you with someone?”

“Not exactly.”

“What does that mean? How can you ‘not exactly’ be with someone? Either you are or you aren’t.”

“I have been dating someone.”

“Is it serious?”

Adrianna paused and looked into his eyes. Sean thought his heart would stop.

“It’s confusing.”

Sean reached out and touched her jaw with his fingertips. She felt so soft. “You’re confusing.”

“I know. I’m sorry. Anyway…it’s just not a good idea. Thanks for the ride, though.” And she hopped out and jogged up to her front door and disappeared inside.

Sean sat in the car until so much snow had fallen he couldn’t see out the windows. Then he revved up the engine and peeled out. Damn. There had to be a way to win her over. He was just going about it wrong, that was all. He’d have to rethink this. Women. They were so hard to understand sometimes.

Chapter 8

The black leather sofa made a rubbing sound when Nic dropped into the corner of it, putting his arms over the back and lifting one leg to rest his ankle on his opposite thigh.

“Comfortable?” Sean smirked.

“Yeah this sofa isn’t bad, for leather anyway. I prefer those overstuffed fabric deals.”

“Well, I’ll let my interior designer know.”

“So, isn’t Tomas coming by?”

At that moment the bell rang.

“Get it, will you? I’ll check out the booze situation.”

“Oh, man. I just sat down.” Nic rose and sauntered to the door, in no particular rush. His dark hair was buzzed all over, about an inch long on top, which looked tough-boy cool. Nic thought it made him look older, an advantage with the women, and Sean had to agree. At nineteen, it didn’t hurt to look more mature; the women liked that.

Of course, Sean didn’t have any issue there. Probably his height and muscular build carried him past the late-teens look, making him look at least twenty. He kept his brown hair cropped short too, though not buzzed; he just liked it that way, for no particular reason.

“Hey, man.” Tomas walked into the kitchen, the rubber soles of his brown suede shoes squeaking on the tile floor. He patted his palm on the blond wood cupboards several times like he was keeping time to a tune playing in his head. “What’s up?”

Tomas wore a white T-shirt and jeans, swinging a leather jacket by one finger. His shaggy brown hair fell partly over his face, shading his green eyes. The girls liked Tomas; maybe it was that Irish look. He had more of an accent than the other two since his parents spoke Irish a lot at home; he tended to sound like his dad.

“It’s Saturday night. What do you want to do?” Sean asked, rummaging through the fridge for something to drink. He wore jeans like his friends, and a cream-colored cotton shirt that Nell told him looked sexy with his eyes. “Nell will be here in a minute. She’s going to hang with us for a while.”

Nell was a woman Sean had been seeing. With her long, dark hair and curvaceous figure, she garnered male attention. And she did have lovely hazel eyes with brown near the pupil and green around it. Pretty enough that he’d been willing to go places with her, mostly with his friends, though sometimes alone.

She seemed to really take to him, and it was a little flattering considering she was older than he was. And at twenty-one, she could buy him whiskey or beer whenever he needed some. That was an advantage. And she wasn’t too bad in the sack. Sean had discriminating tastes, and when he needed a woman’s company he’d reached for Nell, now and again.

Lately, she’d seemed a bit clingier. He might have to do something to cool her off. “I hope Nell brings some whiskey. Looks like I’m out.”

Without knocking or ringing the bell, Nell arrived and appeared in the kitchen wearing a black cocktail dress. The little number barely covered her butt, and in the front it dipped to her waist, the open
vee covered with see-through black material. At only five feet three, she looked much taller in her four-inch heels.

“Hey, Nell, baby.” Tomas looked her up and down. “Where you headed? You put us to shame in that outfit.”

Nell glided the three steps over to Sean and put one arm around his neck. The kiss she gave him was soft enough to be respectable but slow enough to show the other guys whom she favored. With one hand on her back, Sean pressed her close. She did feel awfully good.

Holding her hand in the air, Nell offered the bottle of whiskey she’d brought.
“Thought maybe you could use this.”

“Always.”
Nic took it from her before Sean could reach.

“I’ll grab some glasses,” Nell said. “You’re sharing that, Nic.”

They shared a drink and bantered about a lot of nothing. Then, it was time to go—somewhere, anywhere, because as nice as Sean’s apartment was, it was no place to spend Saturday night. Since he’d been able to afford his own place, though, his pals had made it a habit to meet there on weekends to start things off.

“I thought you were taking me somewhere.” Nell pouted and moved onto Sean’s lap with her arms around his neck, showing a lot of leg.

“I want to try that place Tomas mentioned…Polarize. I’m in the mood to dance.” Sean slid Nell off his lap and stood. “I’ll ride with Nell. She has to go to work later, so you guys can give me a ride back.”

*****

Polarize was known for a good playlist, and Sean had been meaning to try it out. All the way over, Nell kept feeling up his thigh, and normally he liked that. But something was off. And he had a hunch he knew what it was.

Only hours before, the scent of Adrianna had filled his head, and he kept imagining her hand on his thigh. But Adrianna had blown him off again. Never mind that, he was going to get to her one way or the other. Maybe she needed more courting, flowers or something.

“Sean, are you daydreaming over there?” Nell was pretending to be cross with him.

“Yeah, guess I was.” Sean gave her one of his charming smiles, which seemed to satisfy her for the moment.

Once inside, they met up with Nic and Tomas. Drinks would have to be non-alcoholic beer since it was an eighteen-and-older club. No booze. Once seated, they placed their orders, and scanned the place for a bit before dancing. Likely Tomas was checking out the women. And probably Nic was too, but likely not with the same intent, since he’d started dating someone.

“Dance with me,” Nell said, standing and pulling on Sean’s hand. He followed her out onto the floor.

The music was the kind of stuff he listened to: Radiohead, Fleet Foxes, and Coldplay. Getting into the beat, Sean danced song after song, the male eyes on the floor taking in the sight of the sexy woman in the tight, short black dress shaking it out in front of him. Nell did get looks from men wherever she went, making Sean feel good being with her.

But that night he didn’t feel as good about it as he usually did. Nell was coming on to him, and he wasn’t in the mood. Which was odd for Sean; he was always in the mood. As Nell kicked and shifted her hips, a conduit for the rock beat, she bumped into Sean seductively more than once. He tried to get lost in the song, and shut off the images of Adrianna that haunted his mind.

Sweating and breathing hard, Nell took his hand and led him back to the table. She swigged her soda and fanned her face. “I gotta go to work. I hate working Saturday nights. I wish you were twenty-one; you could come with me.”

“Well, I’m hanging with the guys tonight.”

“Okay, well, call me later.” Nell put her hand behind Sean’s head and pulled him down into a kiss. Her lips were parted and her tongue darted in and out of his mouth.

Sean felt awkward.

“What’s with you tonight?” Nell looked into his eyes, making him feel guilty. “You got another girl?”

Sean shrugged, just brushing it off. He really didn’t have another girl. Okay, he’d like to, but he didn’t know if it was really going to happen.

“You better not,” Nell teased, and started to walk away. “Call me,” she yelled back, leaving Sean alone at the table.

He stood watching her walk away, admiring the sway of her hips and her shapely legs. Nell was a honey. Then why didn’t he feel like calling her later?

Through the green light cast over the dance floor, he watched Nell disappear from sight. He felt
alone
, and not because she had to leave for her shift at the nightclub. No, not that. He missed Adrianna, of all things. Like he had any hold on her. He had nothing.

His mind drifted to the vision of how Adrianna looked in the lavender ruffled jacket, her breasts so tantalizing beneath the tight, stretchy top. Under his pants, the reaction to the image told him that it was Adrianna he wanted to call, not Nell. Life was getting complicated.

Sinking into a chair at the table, he watched the sea of dancers, letting the sound of rock pound into him and hoping it would numb the ache inside. All he could see was Adrianna: her blond hair, blue eyes, flawless skin, the curve of her hip. The grip she had on his senses was making it tough to think of finding someone to dance with in Nell’s absence. So he just sat.

Then, in a shimmery, low-cut dress, she appeared under the blue and orange spotlights roving over the dance floor. But he’d never seen her in that dress. Now he was having delusions; thinking about her so hard, it made her come to life.
Adrianna
. She moved toward him, was coming his way. The shock that it was really her bolted through him.

If she’d come looking for him, it would be too much to ask for. There was no way she could know he was there. However, the idea that Adrianna had changed her mind, and was seeking him out, had every nerve on alert. But her eyes didn’t meet his; she gazed around as if looking for a table.

Sean thought to wave her over, but was frozen in place. Unbelieving that his life had taken a sharp turn in the right direction, he couldn’t react. All he could do was stare at her in that dress. God, she was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen. Sean shifted in the chair, willing his body to stand so he could get her attention.

Then he saw it. Adrianna had one hand behind her and some guy in tow. The bubble of passion titillating Sean burst into fury. The mere thought of her with another man blinded him with jealousy. He had to get a grip, knowing she had no commitment to him. Somehow it hardly mattered. It felt like she was his.

In disbelief, Sean watched Adrianna guide the tall, perfectly groomed guy to a table, followed by another couple. The four of them sat and ordered drinks, and Sean watched every move. If that guy touched her, Sean wasn’t sure what he would do. The guy was Mister College Preppy if he’d ever seen him.

Lean and athletic, with conservatively cut and styled hair, the guy was from Adrianna’s social crowd. Sean had no doubt about that. None of his friends would wear slacks and a dress shirt to a club. Nor had any of them ever groomed their hair like they were going to shoot a commercial. Yet Adrianna was with this guy.

Was that what she wanted? Some rich, boring, goody-goody guy that fit in and made her parents proud? Mister Preppy had it written all over him. The guy you take to meet the parents, the guy who goes to college and graduates into a respectable career, the guy you marry and… Sean couldn’t bear the thought. Somehow, envisioning Adrianna with this creep was just wrong.

He decided to go over. Sauntering, accentuating his tough-guy swagger, Sean eased over to
the table where the four were seated. Standing next to Adrianna, he waited. The others at the table looked up, and Adrianna turned to see who was behind her. Surprise registered in her beautiful features.

“Sean,” she said.

“Adrianna.” Sean nodded, giving her his coolest smile. He didn’t want her to know the effect she had on him, but he couldn’t resist seeing the guy she was with up closer.

“Uh, I didn’t expect to see you here.” Adrianna looked flustered. After a moment, she looked back at her friends. “This is Sean Reid. We’re working together on a project. Sean, this is
Cari, Samuel, and Kevin.” She used her hand to indicate the faces that went with each name as she introduced them.

“Nice to meet you,” Sean said, nodding in their direction. “I just thought I’d try this place out. Do you come here often?”

“Sure…well, sometimes.” Adrianna looked up at Sean and then away.

“We like the music here,”
Cari offered.

“Care to sit down?” Samuel asked.

“Ah, no, thanks. I’m with some friends,” Sean said. “Just thought I’d come over to say hello.”

“Thanks for stopping by,” Kevin said tersely, leaving no doubt that he was glad to see Sean leave.

Come to think of it, Adrianna was acting sort of flustered. Sean liked the idea that he was getting to her. There was hope after all. The satisfaction he got at seeing the preppy date try to defend his territory muted the loss Sean felt over having to walk away from Adrianna. That happened too often, him leaving her, and he was going to have to change that.

Sean lifted his hand in acknowledgement as he started walking away. “Catch you later.” He didn’t need to look back to know that Adrianna was watching him; her eyes were burning into him. In a rasher moment, or with a little more alcohol in his system, Sean might have grabbed her and dragged her away from the table. Her other friends seemed okay. But she was with the wrong guy.

“Is that who I think it is?” Tomas said when Sean returned and sat down.

His friends were guzzling their drinks, their shirts soaked with sweat. “Yes, it is. And I can’t believe she’s here. All of a sudden she just walks in with that idiot sitting next to her,” Sean said.

“The beauty queen…what do you know.” Nic looked over at the table where Adrianna sat.

Sean glared.

“Sorry. No offense. But it is a title she’s earned, you know. The woman’s been in more beauty contests than we’ve been in fights,” Nic said.

“I doubt that,” Sean said but looked across the room at the woman he’d like to go rescue. Even from that far away he could tell she was uncomfortable. If she was with that guy, why didn’t she look like it? Adrianna sat stiffly in her chair, not holding the guy’s hand or even looking at him.

Actually, that was good. It looked like the preppy wouldn’t be much competition. All the better.