Along The Way

Chapter 16 - When I'm at the Party

| Dylan |

SITTING AT THE makeshift bar, nursing a drink, I looked around the room and not for the first time wondered what the hell I was doing there.

My fingers tugged at the collar of my shirt for the umpteenth time, drawing unwanted attention from a group of women standing a few feet away. The blonde one that had been sending come hither me signals from the moment I approached the bar couldn't seem to drag her eyes away from my tatts.

I had rolled up my shirt sleeves and discarded the tie as soon as people had started filling the dance floor. The last time I recalled wearing a suit had been at my uncle Tate's wedding when I was barely seven and, even then, they'd had to bribe me to wear it. Thirteen years later and I still felt like I was walking in someone else's skin.

Two years ago I wouldn't have dreamed of setting foot in this kind of party. Experience had taught me where I belonged and I'd never make the same mistake twice. The success of the family business had brought me a few times into Charlotte's family's circles, but being successful didn't seem to be the only requirement to be accepted into their crowd. I could still feel their judging stares taking in my uncle's low riding jeans and my shaved head.

Tate used to tell me it was all in my head. I begged to differ. He hadn't heard what people whispered about us at those kinds of functions.

What I was sure they were whispering now—no doubt wondering if I was selling illegal drugs to the guests.

Probably best if I kept my mouth shut about how I've been known to participate in illegal racing.

Not that I gave a s**t what they thought.

The blond at the bar caught my gaze and licked her lips. Her bright eyes promising an enjoyable wild night. Two years ago I'd have been all over that. Now there was only one girl that managed to stir something inside me.

My gaze skimmed right past the blonde, searching the crowd at the dance floor for the reason I was there in the first place. The moment I caught sight of her my whole body came to life.

I swear if I hadn't already been so hung up on her I couldn't think straight, she'd have had me eating from her palm the moment I'd picked her up. I'd had to remind myself why throwing her over my shoulder and carrying her up the stairs and into her room like a madman wasn't the best course of action. And even then I struggled.

I took a long swallow from my drink as my gaze took her in.

She stood to the side of the dance floor actively speaking to the bride and her brother's girlfriend. She had an angelic glow about her that stole my breath.

One of them might have said something funny because she threw her head back, laughing. My eyes followed the line of her throat, the blonde curl that had come loose from the intricate knot on top of her head, the champagne coloured dress that clung to her figure and left her neck and shoulders exposed.

Christ.

She was fu**ing gorgeous.

I leaned my back against the bar so I could get a better view of her before I gestured the barman to refill my drink. When I returned my gaze she was staring at me from across the room seeming to gauge my mood. I gave her a wink to ease her concerns. She smiled.