Learning Curves(24)

Because he felt so fucking possessive of her. Couldn’t stand the thought of some other man with his hands on her. And something else, something he really wasn’t ready to admit. Something that had happened pretty much the first time he’d seen her.

Fuck.

He held his hand out, and Gabe gave it a firm shake, his eyes going wide. “Matthew told me you were seeing someone, but I had no idea you were engaged.”

She smiled and snapped her fingers. “When it comes to Linc, things happen fast.”

Gabe ushered them into the club and waved to a woman calling to him from across the room. Linc bent, put his mouth near her ear, and whispered, “Just go with it.”

Gabe turned back to them, his curious gaze bobbing back and forth between the two as they exchanged a secret look. “Why don’t you guys grab a drink and mingle.” He winked at Linc. “Looks like the old ball and chain needs me.”

“Ball and chain?” Lauren whacked him playfully. “Andrea is the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”

He put his finger to his lips and said, “I know, but don’t tell her that.”

Gabe left, and Linc captured Lauren’s hand. Dark eyes met his, and her brow arched as she planted her free hand on her hip. “Fiancé? What were you thinking?”

He shrugged. “Yeah. Sorry. Not sure why that fell out of my mouth that way. It just happened.”

She rolled her eyes. “You know, Gabe is my cousin, and this is going to get back to my parents in New York.”

A server walked by with a tray of champagne. He grabbed two glasses and handed one to Lauren. “What did you want me to say?”

She went quiet for a moment and looked into her champagne glass. “Boyfriend? That might have worked.”

Maybe. But he wanted to make sure that asshole Matthew knew she was taken. And no, it didn’t make fucking sense, but there it was.

“I wasn’t thinking.”

She pressed the flute to her lips and took a drink. Her nose crinkled, and she said, “I guess that’s better than telling him I was your weekend fling because you won me in a bet.”

Shit, was that what she thought?

She couldn’t be more wrong. Maybe it was time he was honest with himself. He’d fallen for her, long ago. That’s why sex was so good. His stupid heart was involved.

His fucking heart was involved.

Christ, he had been half in love with her before he ever took her to the Keys, and now… Well, now he was all the way in. Which was why he was acting like a possessive dickhead. But maybe she didn’t feel the same things he did. For all he knew she was still in love with Matthew. Hell, maybe she’d even been using the bet to learn how to be a better lover to win her ex back. Damn. They needed to talk.

“I have to make a trip to the ladies’ room.” She handed him the flute. “I’ll meet you at the bar.”

He nodded and made his way across the lounge, keeping one eye on Lauren. He took another sip of champagne to wash away the dryness in his throat. She was everything he’d ever wanted, and never in his life would he find in another what he’d found in her. He shouldn’t have fucking waited so long to tell her that.

But what if she doesn’t feel the same?

There was a hockey game playing on the TV behind the bar. He tried to hear the commentary, but kept his gaze on the hallway, anxious for Lauren to return. Jesus, he needed to hold her and kiss her—to touch her all over and tell her how he really felt.

And that scares the hell out of me because I’ve never needed anyone.

When she finally emerged, his heart squeezed.

She looked at him from across the room and smoothed her hand over that sexy bun on the top of her head. Jesus, he was so completely lost in her. A little shaky, and a whole lot unstable, he pushed off his stool. He wanted her. All of her. In his arms, his bed, his life. It was time to tell her, and he hoped like hell she wanted the same. Otherwise…well, he didn’t want to think about the alternative.

And she was going to think he was nuts, because they’d spent exactly one weekend together. But he felt like he’d known her forever.

He was about to go to her, but Matthew came out of nowhere. Linc’s blood ran cold when Matthew braced one hand on the wall above her head and leaned into her. What the fuck? Linc fisted his hands and drove them into his pockets as anger and possessiveness ripped through him. He drew a quick breath to center himself. Now was not the time to throat punch the bastard and cause a commotion. When the party was over however…

“She’s all he talked about this weekend.”

Linc turned and found a pouting Jessica slipping onto the stool beside him. “I think he was jealous when he found out she was with you. It made him want her again.” She leaned forward to showcase her cleavage. There was a time when he would have looked, but there was only one woman he was interested in now—and she was staring into the eyes of her fucking ex. Christ. How could he have been such a dumbass? Playing the part of her lover, her fiancé, to shut down Matthew’s condescending comments had backfired, and now the douche was interested in her again. Fuck him. He didn’t deserve a woman like Lauren.