I was right about the dress Quinn bought for me. It looked amazing on, and the red full-length dress she’d gotten for herself was flawless on her slim frame.
“I’m not gonna lie, girls, we look good.” I held up my glass in a toast.
“Hell yeah we do!” Stace shrieked. She was already well on her way to being drunk.
I hope Lawson and the boys are ready for this.
Lisa popped her head in the doorway. “Hey, girls.”
She was just the sweetest little thing. She had her petite body wrapped in a fitted gray knit dress, knee-high black boots and her blonde hair was twisted into a loose braid down her back.
“Lisa! You look amazing. Come meet everyone.” I gestured for her to come in.
“This is Jemma, Stacey and Brooke.” I pointed to everyone. “This is Reeve’s girlfriend, Lisa.”
“Nice to meet you,” Lisa replied to their chorus of hellos.
“Damn, girl, what’s that accent?” Brooke asked her.
“I’m from New Zealand,” Lisa replied with a blush.
“Well that is just the sweetest voice I’ve ever heard,” she squeaked. “Can you come over here and talk to me?” Brooke patted a spot on the bench seat next to her.
Reeve appeared in the doorway with a glass of wine. “Looking good, girls.” He smiled as he passed Lisa the glass. “Here you go, beautiful.”
She smiled and took the glass from him. “Thanks, babe.”
“I’ll catch up with you all later, this is too much girl for me.” He gestured to the endless piles of makeup, perfume and hair spray.
I laughed. “The guys are hiding out somewhere.”
He winked at Lisa and left.
Lisa joined Brooke and Jem, and I could tell she was starting to relax already. Lisa was a little shy, especially in comparison to this lot, so I was glad she seemed comfortable talking with everyone.
“Done,” Quinn announced. I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled. Quinn had tamed my curls into loose waves and had pinned them so they were swept elegantly to the side, exposing one side of my neck.
Lawson’s gonna be happy about that.
“Thanks, girl. I love it.”
“Of course you do. I’m awesome.” She smirked.
We finished up in the bathroom and headed off to find the guys. I was getting excited for tonight. The wine was starting to loosen me up a bit – some fun was exactly what I needed.
“We were together. I forget the rest.
- Walt Whitman
67. Lawson
“Finally,” I muttered as I took a drink of my beer.
“Get a grip, man, she’s only been gone an hour,” Rome taunted me.
An hour too long.
I was so fucked. I knew it, and I was okay with it. I shrugged and gave him an ‘I don’t give a crap’ look. The old me probably would have cared that my mates thought I had turned soft, but the new me, couldn’t give two shits – I had a girl beyond my wildest dreams and I wasn’t going to apologize for enjoying every second I had with her.
Jem and Stacey came in, followed by Brooke, Q and Lisa. Rome and Josh started a series of catcalls and wolf whistles. Logan and Reeve just laughed at their idiotic behavior – how those two got girls was beyond me.
Ellerslie walked in and her eyes locked straight onto mine.
Holy shit.
I couldn’t move. I could barely breathe. She was so beautiful. Her long neck was exposed and I knew instantly I was going to have a hard time keeping my lips off her. She was an absolute knockout in a silver dress. She hadn’t tried that one on for me, I was sure of it. I wouldn’t have forgotten how sexy she looked in that thing.
Rome smacked his big hand against my chest with a loud thud.
“What?” I asked without taking my eyes off my girl.
“You are so screwed, my man.” Rome chuckled.
I stood up out of my seat and pulled my eyes from her. “I wake up next to her every day.” I pointed in El’s direction. “I would say you’re the one who’s screwed.” I smirked.
He grunted and gave me the finger.
Smug bastard.
I walked towards El and everything and everyone else around us faded into nothing.
“Hey, cowboy,” she whispered in a sexy, husky voice.
“Jesus,” I muttered as I ran my hand up her bare arm. “You are so god damn beautiful, Ells.”
“You look pretty good yourself,” she murmured as she lightly ran her hand over the buttons on my shirt. I’d put on a dark-blue and white shirt with dark jeans, and brown shoes and belt. I’d disheveled my hair in the way that seemed to make El squirm and I’d rolled my sleeves up so my ink was on display.
I’d quickly learned that nothing got my girl hot quite like rolled-up shirtsleeves and tattoos did. Her hand moved to trace the patterns of my tattoo and I grinned.
Nailed it.
She smirked back at me with a looked that screamed ‘I know exactly what you’re doing’. She was wearing heels and it made her just the right height for me to lean in and kiss her. Her lips were so soft and warm. I slipped my arms around her waist at the same time as she grasped onto my neck.
“I know she looks hot, but can we move it along. The van’s here.”
I sighed against El’s lips. Trust Quinn to ruin a moment.
“You make me forget everything,” El whispered. “Everything but you.”
***
“Tank!” Quinn called, far too loudly – I didn’t know how many wines these girls had put away while they got ready, but it was looking like a few too many.
“Hey, girl! C’mon in,” Tank called out. We filed through. “What’s up, Rush?” Tank slapped Reeve on the back. “Colt gave me the heads-up, I’ll take you up to VIP.”
“Cheers, man, I appreciate it.” Reeve clapped him on the shoulder as we walked inside.
Tank took us upstairs to the same area we’d been in last time. I watched the sway of El’s hips as she climbed the stairs and smirked.
This is where it all began.
As if her thoughts were on the same wavelength, she turned and gave me a seductive smile over her shoulder. I winked at her and she laughed lightly.
God, I love that girl.
I never thought I’d think those words, let alone say them, and with complete sincerity, no less.
I will love that girl for the rest of my life, and then for whatever follows after that too.
I got to the top and shook hands with Tank. “Good to see you again.”
“You too, man.” He nodded in the direction of the group. “Tell that sister of yours that I’ll be waiting out front when she gets bored of the boss.” He had a shit-eating grin on his face.
I chuckled. “Yeah, good luck with that.” I watched Colt appear from around back and head straight for Quinn.
That boy is in way over his head.
Quinn was introducing him to everyone as I joined them. Rome and Josh were giving him the once over and Logan had a smug smirk directed at Quinn. The girls were all talking over one another and giggling.
“Hey, Colt, thanks for this.” I shook his hand.
“Nah, no problem, El will be fine up here, no one gets up without me knowing.”
“I appreciate that. I think I’m gonna have my hands full keeping them out of trouble.” I tilted my head in the direction of the girls. They were giving a drink order to a young waiter. I chuckled at his reddening face.
“No shit, man, that’s gonna be like herding cats.” Colt shook his head.
I clapped him on the shoulder. “Let’s get some beers. We’re gonna need them.”
***
I’d gotten the boys a round of beers and the girls had all decided on cocktails – except for El. My girl was drinking a bourbon and coke. I slid into the booth next to her. She was watching Stacey and Josh arguing about something with a twinkle in her eye.
She nudged me in the side. “These two have been going at it all night, do you think we should split the
m up?”
I chuckled. “Nah, I think there’s only two ways that is going to get settled.”
She raised an eyebrow at me in question.
I shrugged. “They’ll either fight it out or fuck it out.”
She half spat out her mouthful of bourbon. “Oh shit, this is gonna be a hell of a night.” She laughed as she mopped up the mess she made.
“I’m betting Rome and Brooke are heading for the bedroom. I’m still undecided about these two, but I’m leaning towards the fight.” I gestured to Josh and Stacey.
El tilted her head at Logan. “And Logan?”
“Nah.” I shook my head. “He’s not up for fucking or fighting. He’ll just do his own thing.”
“I’m glad he’s going to stay with us,” she said quietly.
“I’m glad you said us,” I replied with a triumphant smile.
She swatted my leg with her hand. “Oh come on. As if anyone ever says no to you, Lawson Pierce. It’s all yes, yes, yes,” she teased.
She might have been right. It didn’t matter – I didn’t care about any yeses other than hers.
I watched Josh and Stace for a moment. Josh’s eyes were full of amusement, while Stacey’s were laced with anger.
This could get interesting.
“Can we dance tonight?” El asked.
“Of course, baby, just take me with you, okay?” There was no way in hell I was having her on that dance floor without me – or any of them for that matter. If the girls were going down there, then we all were.
***
“I can’t believe she’d rather bang that kid when she could have all of this.” Rome kissed his tensed bicep.
“Oh god,” El panted. She was laughing uncontrollably at this point.
Rome had been whining non-stop whilst watching Quinn and Colt cuddled up in the corner. I had to admit, it was pretty funny. The shit that came out of his mouth was hilarious.
Rome had put back a few beers since we arrived, and he was getting louder by the minute. He wasn’t the only one, I’d had to get up from the table to get away from the girls shrieking and laughing.
God, they were so loud.
El had crinkled up her nose and mouthed ‘sorry’ as I’d left.
“Ask Brooke to dance,” I told him. “I’m gonna take El down.”
Rome let out a loud whoop. “Dancing time, people!”
Rome thought he was the king of the dance floor. He was actually more like an oversized stuffed gorilla, but I wasn’t going to burst his bubble – not while it was entertaining anyway.
“Do a shot with me, cowboy?” Ells asked, a mischievous look in her eyes.
“Hell yes.”
It turned out that everyone wanted shots. Well everyone except Lisa. Reeve had stopped giving her drinks a half hour ago – the little thing was shit-faced.
I had the bartender line up the tequila shots and we all lifted the glasses. “To good company,” I toasted. We all tossed back the liquid and followed it with the lemon. I grinned as I watched El drink. It seemed like forever since that first night.
I held up two fingers to the bartender and he brought me two more. I handed one to Ells. “To amazing memories.”
She smiled and clinked her glass against mine. “And to making more,” she replied.
“You don’t know do you? That in a crowded place, my eyes will always watch for you.”
- Author unknown
68. Ellerslie
The dance floor was packed.... Sardines-in-a-tin packed.
I really hadn’t needed that second shot Lawson had handed me, but I got caught up in him and down it went. Rudimental ‘Feel the Love’ was blasting and the beat was pulling me in.
I love this song.
We squeezed onto the dance floor and Lawson immediately pulled me in close to him. Jem and Stacey were dancing together, Rome was towing Brooke out towards us, and Logan, Q and Colt were standing a few meters back, yelling to one another over the blaring music. Reeve had stayed upstairs with Lisa, that girl was toasted.
I danced my ass off, it felt amazing to let loose and throw myself around. Lawson’s body was never far apart from mine. It never ceased to surprise me just how well that man could move.
Never ceases to turn me on either.
The song changed and I looked around at our friends. “Where’s Josh?” I yelled to Lawson.
He looked around and shrugged. “God knows.”
“Rome!” he called out. Rome looked up from Brooke. “Where the hell is Josh?”
Rome shrugged. “He came down with us!” he yelled back.
“Useless prick,” I heard Lawson mutter.
We stopped dancing and I scanned the area looking for Josh. My girls were all over the show.
Shit, they are drunk.
I made a mental note to have Colt sort us something from the kitchen before too long. Quinn and Colt were on the dance floor now too and Logan had been pulled out by Jem and Stace.
Poor guy.
I saw a scuffle over by the toilets and I tugged on Lawson’s collar and pointed. “I hope that’s not him,” I called over ‘Titanium’ by David Guetta. The words hadn’t been out more than three seconds when I saw Josh being lifted backwards by some big guy.
“Shit!” Lawson shouted.
“Help him!” I tried to shove him in the direction of the fight. Lawson looked torn between staying with me and helping his friend. I wasn’t having it. I tried to shove him again.
“Colt! Watch the girls!” Lawson yelled. He grabbed Rome and Logan and they pushed through the crowd towards where Josh was getting his ass kicked.
Colt and Q pushed their way over. “What the hell is going on?” Quinn hollered at me.
I pointed. “Josh is in trouble.”
Colt grabbed his phone from his pocket and dialed. “Extra security on the east side of the dance floor. I’ll deal with it once it’s under control,” he yelled into the phone. The dance floor was getting crazy, the crowd was being pushed around like a mosh pit at a concert.
“I think we better get back upstairs.” Colt was starting to look worried.
The threat of an angry Lawson would probably do that to a guy.
“Where’s the other girls?” he yelled.
“Right there...” I trailed off as I pointed to where I’d last seen Jem, Stace and Brooke – they were gone.
Sweet Jesus.
Those three were terrible when they’d been drinking. They wandered around like lost sheep.
“They’re gone.”
“Shit!” Colt hissed. “He is literally going to kill me.”
I just about lost my footing with the push of the crowd and Quinn grabbed me before I fell.
“Out. Now,” Colt yelled. He grabbed Quinn’s arm and pushed a path for her to go through. He reached for me but he was too slow. The crowd pulsed and I was tugged out of his reach. I felt hands grabbing and pulling and I heard the pop of stitching – it was getting out of control in here.
“Colt!” I yelled out. I used my body weight to push against the guy next to me and I got myself back to my feet. “Colt!” I called again. I was starting to get really scared.
“I’ve got you,” came an unfamiliar voice – strong arms wrapped around me and pulled me out of the craziness.
Thank god.
I turned to thank my savior.
“Evan?” I stammered, shocked. “What are you doing here?”
“Ellerslie?” He looked at me in surprise. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Shit, sorry, thank you for helping me. That was getting crazy.”
The music in the club lowered and I saw security moving through the dance floor, pulling out people as they went. I was going to have to have a serious talk with Colt about cramming too many bloody people in this place.
Evan gently touched my elbow and I jumped. “Are you sure you’re okay? You were getting pretty crushed in there.”
I nodded slowly. “Yeah, I’m okay. I just got a fright. I couldn’t g
et back to Colt.”
My pulse was racing. What were the chances of him being here?
“I’ll help you find him.” His eyes were gentle.
“No, that’s okay.” I shook my head. “I need to go find Lawson, he’s gonna be fuming.”
“I’ll take you.” He gently pushed me ahead of him and rested a hand on the small of my back. “Where was he last?”
“I don’t know.” I shook my head. I could feel tears building in the back of my eyes – I couldn’t see anyone from our group.
What if the boys got thrown out?
I knew I was being stupid. Colt wouldn’t let that happen. I just needed to find them.
“Ellerslie!”
I recognized his deep voice instantly.
“Ellerslie!”
“Lawson!” I yelled back. I sighed in relief as I saw him push through a group of people.
He ran towards me and wrapped me in his arms. “Thank god you’re okay. Colt said he lost you... oh god if—” Lawson froze. “What the hell are you doing here?” he barked as he pushed me behind his body, shielding me.
“Lawson.” I pulled on the back of his shirt. I knew he was furious. He was in a protective stance, ready to fight.
“Hey, man. I’m just here with my brother.” Evan held up his hands in surrender. “I spotted some girl getting mauled. I pulled her out and saw that it was Ellerslie.”
“He helped me.” I pushed around to get in between the two of them. I grabbed Lawson’s face in my hands and forced him to look at me. “He pulled me out. I might have got really hurt if he hadn’t helped me.”
I felt Lawson relax, but only slightly.
“It’s just a coincidence,” I said quietly.
“I don’t like it. I don’t trust him,” he replied with a shaky voice.
“I’m okay. You’re here now.”
He stared back at Evan. “I have a bad feeling about him,” he hissed.
“Let’s just go back upstairs, babe.”
I turned back to Evan. “Thank you again, Evan. I really appreciate your help.”
He gave me a small smile and nodded at me in response.
Love like Yours Series Box Set: Books 1 - 4 Page 32
