customary spot was RogerAEs obscenely-red Porsche. GraysonAEs heart froze in his chest. oLittle brother, what have you done?o ****
Tethered by GraysonAEs arm, Amber spun in a kaleidoscope of color. She blinked, seeing for a moment double Graysons. One whirled with her through the closely packed bodies on the dance floor. Another strode up behind, his face a mask of fury.
She faltered in her step, skidding to a stop in her high heels.
oWhat--o Grayson reached to catch her. Simultaneously, he found himself seized by the shoulder and whirled around.
In that moment it all clicked. The easy smile, the meaningless endearments. It was the Mercedes, the short hair and the sports jacket that put her off the trail. Pieces of the puzzle fell into place.
oRoger!o Her voice rose above the music. She heard Grayson echo her exclamation in a lower, menacing tone.
Roger started at the sound of his name. He looked quickly from Amber to his brother, paling at the fury in GraysonAEs voice. GraysonAEs eyes raked over his body, taking in the haircut that was a mirror image of his own, the sports jacket and the woman he still held by shoulder and waist. Anger flared in GraysonAEs eyes. He looked even more furious than the night she dumped the ice in his lap, more menacing than sheAEd seen him in court.
oI can explain,o Roger blurted.
oDonAEt bother.o She looked from one to the other, desperately choking back the sudden tears that sprang to her eyes. It was all just a great joke to them. And sheAEd played right along.
Amber tore her hand from RogerAEs grip. Balling her fingers into a tight fist, she resisted the urge to slap him open-handedly across the face. She suspected she wouldnAEt be the first woman to do so, but still she abhorred violence. Best to get out of this humiliating situation with a shred of her dignity intact.
Whirling on her heel, she made her way through the press of bodies to the table where sheAEd left her purse and the twenty dollar bill that would see her safely home in a cab. Never trust a man, her motherAEs words echoed in her ears. To think just a moment ago, sheAEd been ready to let that warning go forever.
oAmber, wait! IAEll drive you home.o Grayson reached for her, catching her by the arm. He looked back at Roger. oSince my car is in the parking lot.o His gaze darkened, Roger went a shade paler. oYou!o he said stabbing a finger into his brotherAEs chest, oCan take a cab home.o
oDonAEt bother.o Amber shook him off roughly.
Another couple had taken advantage of the empty seats at the table. A tall pitcher of Sangria sat between them, but their attention was consumed with each other. They looked up, eyes widening at her expression. oExcuse me,o she said tartly.
oPlease, Amber, listen to me.o
She felt Grayson behind her before he spoke, but she had no interest in any of his excuses. With a toss of her fiery curls, she turned her back to him, ready to stride off toward the door and hail a cab.
oPlease sit down,o he said.
She offered him an icy glare in reply.
oJust for a moment.o
oNot even for a second,o she growled. oYouAEve wasted enough of my time, Counselor.o She bent, snatching up her purse.
oAmber!o
As if in slow motion, she saw Grayson reach for her, saw the tip of his elbow hit the pitcher of Sangria, saw it topple precariously, then spill in a waterfall of frigid sticky juice straight into her lap.
From the corner of her eye, she saw the couple spring away from the table in shock, saw GraysonAEs eyes widen in horror.
oOh God, Amber, IAEm so sorry.o
Ice cold liquid trickled down her pantyhose, pooling in her shoes. Behind him, she saw Roger approaching, saw the horror dawn on his face. He looked at the set of GraysonAEs shoulders, the absolute fury in AmberAEs eyes, then turned and fled into the crowd.
oSorry!o AmberAEs voice cut through the beat of the music. It was desperately hard to behave with dignity with an entire pitcher of Sangria dripping from her dress, but she pulled herself up to
Tethered by GraysonAEs arm, Amber spun in a kaleidoscope of color. She blinked, seeing for a moment double Graysons. One whirled with her through the closely packed bodies on the dance floor. Another strode up behind, his face a mask of fury.
She faltered in her step, skidding to a stop in her high heels.
oWhat--o Grayson reached to catch her. Simultaneously, he found himself seized by the shoulder and whirled around.
In that moment it all clicked. The easy smile, the meaningless endearments. It was the Mercedes, the short hair and the sports jacket that put her off the trail. Pieces of the puzzle fell into place.
oRoger!o Her voice rose above the music. She heard Grayson echo her exclamation in a lower, menacing tone.
Roger started at the sound of his name. He looked quickly from Amber to his brother, paling at the fury in GraysonAEs voice. GraysonAEs eyes raked over his body, taking in the haircut that was a mirror image of his own, the sports jacket and the woman he still held by shoulder and waist. Anger flared in GraysonAEs eyes. He looked even more furious than the night she dumped the ice in his lap, more menacing than sheAEd seen him in court.
oI can explain,o Roger blurted.
oDonAEt bother.o She looked from one to the other, desperately choking back the sudden tears that sprang to her eyes. It was all just a great joke to them. And sheAEd played right along.
Amber tore her hand from RogerAEs grip. Balling her fingers into a tight fist, she resisted the urge to slap him open-handedly across the face. She suspected she wouldnAEt be the first woman to do so, but still she abhorred violence. Best to get out of this humiliating situation with a shred of her dignity intact.
Whirling on her heel, she made her way through the press of bodies to the table where sheAEd left her purse and the twenty dollar bill that would see her safely home in a cab. Never trust a man, her motherAEs words echoed in her ears. To think just a moment ago, sheAEd been ready to let that warning go forever.
oAmber, wait! IAEll drive you home.o Grayson reached for her, catching her by the arm. He looked back at Roger. oSince my car is in the parking lot.o His gaze darkened, Roger went a shade paler. oYou!o he said stabbing a finger into his brotherAEs chest, oCan take a cab home.o
oDonAEt bother.o Amber shook him off roughly.
Another couple had taken advantage of the empty seats at the table. A tall pitcher of Sangria sat between them, but their attention was consumed with each other. They looked up, eyes widening at her expression. oExcuse me,o she said tartly.
oPlease, Amber, listen to me.o
She felt Grayson behind her before he spoke, but she had no interest in any of his excuses. With a toss of her fiery curls, she turned her back to him, ready to stride off toward the door and hail a cab.
oPlease sit down,o he said.
She offered him an icy glare in reply.
oJust for a moment.o
oNot even for a second,o she growled. oYouAEve wasted enough of my time, Counselor.o She bent, snatching up her purse.
oAmber!o
As if in slow motion, she saw Grayson reach for her, saw the tip of his elbow hit the pitcher of Sangria, saw it topple precariously, then spill in a waterfall of frigid sticky juice straight into her lap.
From the corner of her eye, she saw the couple spring away from the table in shock, saw GraysonAEs eyes widen in horror.
oOh God, Amber, IAEm so sorry.o
Ice cold liquid trickled down her pantyhose, pooling in her shoes. Behind him, she saw Roger approaching, saw the horror dawn on his face. He looked at the set of GraysonAEs shoulders, the absolute fury in AmberAEs eyes, then turned and fled into the crowd.
oSorry!o AmberAEs voice cut through the beat of the music. It was desperately hard to behave with dignity with an entire pitcher of Sangria dripping from her dress, but she pulled herself up to
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