I don’t know that I’ve ever detested someone as much as I do Hayes. Growing up, he was always around since he is my brother Wes’s best friend. And his goal in life was always to tease me, hence his abhorrent nickname for me.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t graced with the most elegant smile and teeth that were rather large for my face. After some hefty dental work per my request of my parents, I finally felt more confident in my smile. But Hayes refuses to leave that unfortunate nickname in the past, and I have to resist punching him in the face each time he brings it up.
“Yes, we. You are in my club, after all, so it’s like partying with the owner. I can show you the benefits of knowing someone in charge.” He smirks as I roll my eyes. “And besides, if I left you unattended and Wes found out, he’d have my balls.”
“Seems maybe your balls need to be removed so you don’t act like a jackass all the time.”
Hayes lets out a boisterous laugh. “You want to see my balls, Beaverly? All you have to do is ask.”
“Believe me, that’s the last thing I want.” I turn to the bar, reaching for a shot of tequila, preparing to toss it back. “Fine, you wanna hang out with us? I have no problem spending your money then.” I sling the liquid down my throat as Emma whines beside me.
“You didn’t wait for us!”
“Then catch up.” I toss back another as I see Hayes watching me.
“You’re going to pay for that tomorrow, Wave.”
“Well, hopefully I won’t remember how you ruined my New Year’s Eve plans then.”
He brings his own shot glass to his lips, throwing it back before his heated eyes land on me. And for a moment, I see a flicker of desire there—a gaze so intense that my body is heating up and not just from the alcohol I’m downing like I’m in a race.
What the hell was that?
“On the contrary, sweetheart. I’m about to make this a New Year’s Eve you’ll never forget.”
The three of us take down three shots each, causing my body to hum with intoxication at a satisfying pace.
“Do you dance, Mr. Bossy? Or are you too good to socialize with us peasants?” I sashay backward toward the dance floor, but my snarky remark is short-lived as I run into someone behind me, losing my balance. But Hayes reaches out to steady me before I face plant on the floor, the heat of his palm burning my skin hotter than the tequila did sliding down my throat.
“I think I could slum tonight just for you, Beaverly. But you need to watch where you’re going before you cause a scene. Now that you’re here, you know I can’t let you out of my sight. Your brother would have my head.”
I scoff and then twist around, clicking my heels on the cement floor beneath me. With one flick of my eyes over my shoulder, I catch Hayes watching me, debating his decision to follow. And at that moment, a burst of confidence forms and radiates from my chest. “Then you’d better try to keep up, old man. I know you’re not getting any younger over there.”
Hayes laughs and then shakes his head slowly before reaching for his whiskey and stalking me out onto the dance floor. Anticipation builds inside of me and the alcohol takes effect, as if dancing with Hayes might be an added element of surprise that could make this night even more fun.
Despacito by Luis Fonsi featuring Justin Bieber rings out over the speakers as Emma joins me on the dance floor. We shimmy our hips and spiral them around to the beat just as a hand grips my hip and my body comes alive with a spark of electricity.
“Does your brother know you dance like this?” Hayes whispers in my ear, gripping me tightly as he joins in the movement of our hips. I catch Emma watching our interaction with amusement on her face, but I just roll my eyes at her.
“I didn’t know he was my keeper,” I fire back.
“He’d be fighting off every man in this room if he saw the way they were looking at you right now.” His breath hits my neck and a flurry of goosebumps breaks out over my skin as a blanket of warmth follows them.
Holy hell, why is my body reacting to his touch like that right now? It must be the tequila.
“Well, good thing you’re here to look after me instead, right?” I spin around so we’re face to face as we continue to grind against each other.
Hayes’s lips tip up on one side as he presses his body against mine and circles his hips in time with the beat. “That’s exactly what I’m doing.”
* * *
“Why do you hate me?” Hayes leans over and yells in my ear, the music so loud that it still drowns him out.
“Because you’re an asshole,” I reply, smirking in his direction while watching his lips curl up in a devilish grin.
“I’m an asshole? How?”
“Oh, come on! You’re so full of bullshit.”
“So does that make me a bull’s asshole then?”
I snort and then take a sip of my drink, casting my eyes over the packed dance floor of the club below us. “If that makes you feel better.”
He places his palm over his heart. “You wound me, Beaverly. I’ll have you know I’m actually a perfect gentleman. I always let a woman come first.”
My head falls back in laughter. Only Hayes would direct the conversation to a sexual variety to make himself look good. But I need to change the subject before I remember that I haven’t come from anything other than my vibrator in way too long.
“So why are you here?” I shout, even though Hayes is sitting right next to me in the private booth he secured for us after we spent an unknown length of time dancing our
