Because of Lila(2)

Before I reached him, he had handed his nineteen-year-old brother Blaze his drink and taken another from the tray. Two Kerrington boys getting drunk was even worse. I may never forgive Nate for moving, because for the first time in years I was forced to interact with Cruz.

Avoiding him had become a talent. A talent I was rather proud to possess.

I walked up unnoticed and snatched the glass right out of Blaze's hand before he could tilt it back for a sip. "Don't think so," I said placing the full glass on a waiter's tray before turning to Cruz who was watching me with an amused but confused grin. "As for you, let's get out of here before you do something stupid. No wait, you've already given bourbon to a nineteen-year-old-before you can do anything else stupid."

Cruz laughed then. "I don't think we've met. I'm Cruz Kerrington, and you are?" He was mocking me.

"Don't be an ass," I replied with a scowl.

He threw his head back and laughed loudly. Too loudly. When he met my gaze again his eyes were still laughing at me. "I can't believe that Lila Kate Carter just said the word ‘ass.'"

Why had I liked him once? Did I actually think I had loved him at the time? God, I was dumb when I was younger. "Cruz. Please. Let's go." I grabbed his arm to force him out when Chanel-whose last name I couldn't remember, but that first name was hard to forget-stepped in front of me.

"Where are you going, Cruz?" Chanel asked. "We had plans."

He shrugged. "Don't know. Ask Lila Kate." He didn't pull away from me. He seemed to be enjoying the awkward situation instead.

Chanel's large brown eyes snapped away from Cruz to look at me. She was angry. I didn't care. If she wanted to get Cruz out of here she was welcome to. "We've already made plans. He's taken," she all but growled at me.


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"If your plans include getting him out of here, then please take him. He's had too much to drink, and he needs to leave."

"He can do whatever he wants. He's a Kerrington."

"Can I just say that I'm enjoying this immensely." Cruz's speech was now a little slurred.

"Just take him and leave." I was tired of this. I wanted to walk back and sit quietly at my table. Dance with whoever asked, and be polite until I was safely in my room again.

"Don't tell me what to do! I don't care who your grandfather is. He's retired. You're so high and mighty. Stop acting like that makes you more important."

Was she really going there? Jeez. I hadn't dealt with that accusation in years. My grandfather was the lead singer of the legendary rock band Slacker Demon. They had stopped touring years ago-I don't even remember when that happened it had been so long.

"I've changed my mind. I want Lila Kate to take me. I'm bored with you," Cruz said. "And you're mean."

What? I jerked my gaze from Chanel to Cruz who was still grinning like a drunken idiot. "You're more fun. Let's go."

"Are you serious?" Chanel screeched an octave higher. "She's a boring goody-goody."

"She's real, Chanel. She's fucking real," he said calmly, and then he smirked at me. "You better get me outta here before I cause that scene."

I didn't argue. I was annoyed, but I didn't argue. I didn't take his arm this time. I just led the way out of the ballroom and outside the building. Away from the valet, because there was no way he was getting in his car and driving. I took him to the clubhouse instead. I figured he could sleep it off in there on one of the many large expensive leather sofas.

"Where are we headed? Are you taking me to the tenth hole to have your way with me?"

I knew he was joking. But it still got under my skin. "Not interested in having any way with you. Just saving Woods and Della the headache of their oldest acting like a moron in front of everyone."

He chuckled. "God, you're always so good. That's sexy you know that? Your angelic face, killer body and perfect manners. It's a combination that guys fantasize about-to get you to be wild. Taste some freedom."

"I have plenty freedom," I managed to say, although his description of me was a little startling.

"The untouchable Lila Kate Carter," he continued. "So desirable and so freaking icy cold that you can't get close."

Icy cold? I wasn't icy cold.

"Excuse me?" 

I stopped at the steps leading up to the clubhouse and glared at him with disbelief.

"You," he said running a finger under my chin, "are an expensive china doll that can only be seen and not touched. It's so tempting, but you know that if you try, it will shatter. So you don't break it. You stay back. Admire from a distance. Until you've had too much to drink and you give in a little. Just to be near her."