Promises Forgotten
Chapter 25

“You wouldn’t believe our luck, dude!” Jason set down four shots in front of me and sat down on the couch. “There is a whole damn bachelorette party down there.”

“Oh?” I smiled, grabbing two of the shots and throwing them back one after the other.

Jason took his shots and downed them as well. “I’m taking multiple of them to bed. It’s my goal for the night.”

Rolling my eyes, I looked over the club. We had landed in Las Vegas two hours before, checked into the hotel, raided the mini bar, and then headed out to the club. It was busy even for a Friday and I let my eyes roam over the bodies in the area.

“You are gonna find someone and you are going to f**k someone. You got it? You’ve been a f*****g uptight twat all week.”

“That had nothing to do with the fact I wasn’t f*****g someone and all to do with my father’s board meeting.”

Jason laughed. “Sure, but it would have helped!”

Rolling my eyes, three girls came up to our VIP section and Jason’s face lit up. Motioning them over, they made their way over to our couch and table. One of them immediately straddled Jason, while the others sat on either side.

“Ladies, meet my wingman, Z. Z, this is Angelica, Fey, and Bianca. Half of dear Christina’s bridal party.”

The girls laughed and Angelica, the one on his lap, leaned back and winked. “He seems like a stoic, brooding type.”

I sighed and rolled my eyes. The drinks we ordered ten minutes ago were delivered along with an entire bottle Tequila and extra shot glasses. The girls squealed and I grabbed my double. Jason hit my chest.

“So, do you see anything you like?”

Looking back over the crowd, I saw there was one body that caught my eye. She was sitting at the bar and the way her body curved, the way her dress hugged her every curve made my d**k twitch. Her back was to me, though and she hadn’t turned around since she caught my eye.

“So, there is one! Which one? Tell me!” Jason leaned over, holding onto Angelica’s h**s so she didn’t fall.

“One at the bar, red silk dress. She hasn’t turned around yet.”

Angelica craned her head over as well and chuckled. “That’s Evie. She’s with the bridal party as well. You don’t need her to turn around. Her curves are amazing. The girl is smoking. The complete package, too. But good f*****g luck. She’s an enigma, don’t bother trying. She hates guys like you.”

Raising my eyebrow, I looked at Angelica, who has a smirk on her face. “Oh?”

“Rich, broody, assholes.”

I held my hand over my heart. “You wound me, miss.”

“Please.” She laughed and rolled her eyes. “She’s looking for a plus one to the wedding tomorrow. Says she’s taking applications. But if you think she is going to be a quick and easy, you would be dead wrong. Better luck finding another girl.”

Looking at Jason, he snorted. “Oh no. A challenge. You’ve issued him a challenge.” He patted my back. “Good luck, man.”

Downing my drink, I stood up and headed down the stairs to the bar. I heard Jason whistling behind me, but I ignored him. Walking over to the bar, I stood behind her and leaned over just a little.

“Can I get a dry bourbon?”

“Sure, man! One second!”

I stole a glance at the woman named Evie. She was, surprisingly, looking up at me. Her brown eyes found mine and we stared at each other for a moment before I took in her beauty. Her friend was right. This woman was f*****g gorgeous. Not in your model sense. No. Her brown eyes, so light they were almost hazel, captured you in a way that I had never felt before. Her face was sharp, but the softness of her skin made you want to reach up and caress it. I had already been staring at her body for the past fifteen minutes. I knew I wanted her.

“Your friends said that you’re taking applications for a plus one tomorrow.”

Her eyebrows rose and a smile crept onto her face. My heart nearly stopped at the sight. “Are you applying?”

She lifted up her drink and took a sip. I reached out and grabbed the bourbon on the bar, taking a sip.

“Do I need to?”

Laughing, she took me in. Her eyes roamed my face and body. “I mean, you have the looks. You passed that part.”

“Are there other parts?”

“Of course. You think as an applicant you can get by on looks alone? Please.” She scoffed and turned her body away from me.

Immediately, I hated it. I hated that she was able to turn away when I all I wanted to do was grab her and mold her body to mine. Taking another sip, I placed the empty glass back on the bar.

“So, tell me what are the other facets in which I need to pass in order to be accepted?”

Her head tilted slightly in my direction. “Well, personality is obviously going to be your failing subject.”

I couldn’t help it. I started to laugh. No woman had the gall to insult me to my face. At the sound though, she turned back to me, her eyes dancing with amusement.

“How do I make up for my failing personality?”

“By passing the other qualifications.” Her matter-of-fact tone kept the smile on my face genuine.

Leaning in, I looked her in the eyes. “What qualifications must I pass?”

She stared at me for a minute before turning away again. “Dancing. You have to be able to dance.”

Shocked, I leaned away. When was the last time I had to f*****g dance with a woman? Maybe when I was blackout drunk in college and was dragged by Stacy to the dance floor. Other than that, never in my life did I feel the need to brave the sweaty dance floor of a club. Not for any woman. My eyes stared at her back, as she was turned, sipping her drink as she watched the dance floor.

I itched to touch her, though. To slide my fingers down her side and settle my hands on her h**s. I wanted her molded to me without any room to breathe between us. Taking a deep breath, I reached out and let my fingers glide across the red fabric, settling on her waist. Leaning into her shoulder, I whispered in her ear.

“Then I guess I better take you to the dance floor to show you.”

Slowly, she set her drink down on the bar. She turned to look at me, a smirk gracing her beautiful features. “Alright. Let’s see what you can do.”

Slipping off the stool, she walked away, my hand slipping from her side. Immediately, I missed it. Missed touching her, missed the feeling. What the hell was happening to me? For a moment, I didn’t move, but then my feet started to move and I followed Evie to the dance floor. She wove in and out of people before leaning in and speaking to who I could only assume was the bride. Her friend had a tiara on with a short tuft of white fabric coming out of the top of it, dancing with a couple other girls.

Evie continued to walk through to a less dense area of the dance floor and I moved through the crowd after her. At first, I took in her movements as she danced on her own, feeling the music. The way her h**s moved and shoulders adjusted. The smile on her face as she found rhythm in the music playing. Unable to take it anymore, I reached out and pulled her to me. Both my hands settled on her waist, feeling the curve as her body moved with mine. She easily molded against me. I didn’t realize how tiny she was until I had her close. Closing my eyes, I touched my cheek to the side of her head. Together, we moved to the beat, grinding and swaying together.

At some point between the songs, she turned in my arms. I settled my palms on the small of her back, but we stared into each other’s eyes. Saying nothing, but still moving to the beat, not an inch between us. She wrapped her arms around my neck and my grip tightened for a moment. Leaning in, I broke our stare by placing my forehead against hers. Her eyes closed and so did mine. We stayed like this for another song. Leaning into her ear, I whispered.

“So, do I pass?”

She chuckled and I felt her movement of her chest against mine. “I’ll call it a pass. Just barely, though.”

I smiled and leaned back, looking at her. Her smirk was back and it made me laugh. “What else must I pass?”

She looked at me for a moment and then motioned me closer. I leaned down, but placed my forehead on her shoulder, still swaying to the music, still holding her impossibly close. Her voice sent shivers down my spine.

“Are you willing to take the risk?”