Sitting in the back of the car together, he can feel every nerve buzzing. She’s so close he can reach out and touch her, but she’s made it clear that she doesn’t want that, not yet. With her hair up, her beautiful neck is just staring at him, waiting for him to kiss her in the sensitive spot that he’d discovered the night they slept together. It’s a short drive to the art museum where the party is being held, and Grayson is grateful for it. He doesn’t know how much longer he can be in such close proximity to Adriana without jumping her. He’s barely able to concentrate on the small talk they’re making.
“Grayson?” Adriana looks at him expectantly, and he realizes he’s missed something. “I said you look good in a tux.” She smiles shyly at him. “Very James Bond.”
“Thanks,” he smiles awkwardly, adjusting himself yet again in his suit and hoping that she doesn’t notice. “I still feel like an idiot.” More than an idiot, he feels like an imposter. His tux cost more than he and his family would have lived on in a month back in Philly. This kind of formalwear and this kind of event make up the territory of the wealthy, the famous, not people like him.
You’re a screw up, a nobody. His father’s words still echo in Grayson’s ears. No matter what he does or where he goes, he can’t shut him out.
“Hey,” Adriana reaches over and lays her hand on top of his, squeezing it gently. “Where do you go when you look so sad?” She looks searchingly into his eyes, like she’s trying to figure him out.
“Sorry, I was…” He scrabbles around for something to say. “I guess I’m just a little nervous about tonight.” To be fair, it wasn’t a lie; but, the reason he is nervous has nothing to do with the party they are about to hit.
“Of course,” Adriana shakes her head as if she’s annoyed at herself for not having thought about that. “This is a big deal for you…a new sponsor, your first big win. This is your night, you should enjoy it.” She smiles up at him as she squeezes his hand, gently. Automatically he runs his thumb over the soft skin on the back of her hand, instantly feeling that strange mix of calm and excitement or, as he calls it, The Adriana Effect.
“It’s our night. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.” He looks into her eyes, hoping that he can communicate at least some of what it is that he’s thinking.
She looks askance at him, unsure. Then, she bites her bottom lip in the way that makes him want to kiss her hard and lay her down across the back seat. “What do you mean?” She shakes her head in confusion and withdraws her hand from his as if she’d read his mind and wanted no part of his primal need. But her breathing has picked up, as if she herself is feeling just how small the back of the car is getting.
“How was your date?” He doesn’t know why he says it, but he just does, and the bitterness in his voice is unmistakable.
Adriana looks away from him, shaking her head. “I should never have said yes.”
“Why not?” Grayson tries to stop himself from smiling at her lack of interest in her date.
“Because it wasn’t fair to lead him on when I know he’s not the person I want to be with.” Adriana’s voice is quiet, but Grayson hears her words loud as a bell. The way she looks at him almost begs him not to ask the only question that he can think about.
“Sir, we’re here.” The driver’s deep voice interrupts them, and Grayson doesn’t know whether to be relieved or irritated.
“You ready?” He looks at Adriana who takes a deep breath before nodding bravely. “Here we go.”
As Grayson steps out of the car, he’s met by what feels like a hundred flash bulbs in his face as the press goes wild. He helps Adriana out of the limo and doesn’t let go of her hand as the photographers get all excited again. She looks like a deer caught in headlights, and all Grayson wants to do is wrap her up in his arms and protect her.
“Hey, I’m here.” He squeezes her hand as he says the words, encouraging her to look up at him.
As their eyes meet, Grayson gets that familiar jolt that feels like his heart has stopped. He has to fight the urge to turn tail and head straight back into the safety of the limo where it’s just the two of them, no audience. Adriana nods at him gratefully and follows his lead as he stops for photographs and a couple of quick-fire interviews. He leads her up the steps of the museum and into safety inside.
“Are you alright?” He turns her gently to face him, still very conscious of her hand in his and not having any intention of letting go.
“That was pretty intense!” Adriana shrugs shyly, flustered at all the attention. “I guess it’s just another day at the office for you?”
“Not quite.” Grayson shakes his head ruefully. “Everything’s got a little crazy since the fight. The sponsors want all the publicity they can get.” He shrugs, knowing it’s all part and parcel of being a fighter; you have to take the good with the bad.
“Ah, Grayson, so great to see you!” A woman who looks like a model sweeps in from the wings and holds him out at arms length. “The tux is perfect. Isn’t it perfect?” She turns to Adriana expectantly.
“Umm, yeah, it looks great.” Adriana raises an eyebrow at Grayson, and the expression on her face makes it hard not to laugh.
“Josie, this is Adriana.” Grayson introduces the two women who look a little like they’re sizing each other up. “Josie’s my manager. She deals with all my appearances and stuff like that.” He wonders if it’s suddenly gotten cold in here or if it’s just him.
“Adriana. So, you actually know the name of this one! She’s pretty, Grayson, not that I would have expected anything less.” Josie nudges Grayson playfully and doesn’t seem to notice that he’s not smiling. “Anyway, speaking of appearances, there are some UFC officials here that are dying to talk to you. You don’t need to spend long with them, just a few minutes and a couple of pictures.” She starts to lead him away, but Grayson plants his feet firmly.
“I don’t have to go.” He reaches out for Adriana, half-hoping that she’ll take his hand and ask him to stay.
But instead she shakes her head and doesn’t move to touch him. “Don’t worry about me. I know this is a big night for you. Besides, I think I see Tommy.”
Grayson has to remind himself that he shouldn’t be jealous of his best friend. “Great. Well, I’ll see you in a little while?” He wishes that he didn’t sound so desperate, but it hasn’t escaped his notice that pretty much every guy in the place is looking at Adriana in a way that makes his blood boil. She nods cheerfully and waves him on before crossing the room to speak to Tommy.
“She’s independent. I like that.” Josie nods approvingly before she frog-marches him towards the group of officials. “Not your usual brand. She’s more my type than yours.” She looks knowingly at him.
“There’s nothing usual about Adriana, Jo.” Grayson shifts uncomfortably in his suit, suddenly very aware of himself now that Adriana isn’t by his side. “Speaking of which, where is Carmen?” Grayson looks around for Josie’s girlfriend. She’s not easy to miss. At almost six foot, she’s an Argentinian model who refuses to speak a word of English.
“We had a fight, long story.” Josie waves away his question, and her mask of ruthlessly efficiency almost slips before she leads him like a lamb to the slaughter. “Gentlemen, may I present the one and only, Grayson Fletcher!”
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
ADRIANA
He looks so natural in these surroundings, and she couldn’t feel more out of place. At least she’d found Tommy to talk to, but he was a ticking time bomb, about to pounce on any of the scores of girls that were circling him.
“You know he hates this stuff, too.” Tommy’s voice interrupts Adriana from her not-so-subtle staring at Grayson.
She blushes as she realizes she’s just been busted. “Is it really that obvious?” She knows that she’s in a position that some, maybe even most, girls would kill for…at a fancy event, in a beautiful dress, surrounded by the rich and famous. However, it just isn’t her thing.
“Only to me.”
He shrugs, as he knocks back another glass of champagne. The guy is drinking it as if it were water. “I’ve spent too much time with Grayson not to recognize the signs of ‘get me out of here!’” He chuckles to himself.
“Well, he looks pretty comfortable tonight.” Adriana tries to keep the green-eyed monster out of her voice, as she sees that Grayson has been surrounded by MMA groupies. She recognizes one in particular—the brunette from the dressing room the other night. Adriana has to remind herself that she and Grayson are just at the party as friends, so there’s no reason for her to feel jealous of the little tramp that’s all over him like a bad suit.
“It’s like I said; it’s just part of the world.” Tommy shrugs as if what he’s seeing is nothing out of the ordinary. That’s probably because it isn’t, and the realization of that sends a bolt of hurt through her. “Grayson’s always been…popular. But now that he’s really made it, it’s on a whole new level.” There’s no hint of jealousy in Tommy’s voice—if anything it’s admiration. But suddenly he seems to remember who he’s talking to. “It’s cool though, that you’re fine with it.” He grabs another glass of champagne from a passing tray, pausing to give the waitress a charming smile.
“Yeah, I’m totally fine with it.” Adriana nods emphatically, hoping that she sounds at least a little more chilled out than she feels. “Why wouldn’t I be? We’re just friends.” Her voice catches on the word, and she stops talking abruptly, hoping that he hasn’t noticed.
“You look like you need a drink.” Tommy looks at her with his baby blue eyes, as he holds out his untouched glass of champagne.
Adriana swallows her instinctive refusal. She’s not a big drinker, and she can still feel the effects of the margarita Willow had made. But tonight Tommy was right, she did need the numbing effect of alcohol. She takes the proffered drink, tilts her head back and swallows it in one go. Tommy looks at her like she’s just done the coolest thing ever and hands her another glass.
“So what’s the deal with you and Willow?” Adriana levels a stare at him that is only very slightly blurred around the edges as the bubbles hit her bloodstream.
Tommy flushes like a school kid and scratches the back of his neck, nervously. “What do you mean?”
“I mean do you like her or what?” The alcohol is making Adriana bold as is the fact that Grayson has been gone for a half hour and shows no signs of returning anytime soon.
“She’s cool and hot as hell.” Tommy smiles sexily, presumably as he thinks about her.
“Correct and correct. So why don’t you call her? You scared?” Adriana narrows her eyes at him, teasing.
“No! It’s just…I don’t know. I guess she’s different.” Tommy shifts from one foot to the other, uncomfortable.
“But good different, right?” Adriana takes another sip of her drink, not willing to let Tommy get out of this so easily.
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?” He smiles at her knowingly. “You and G have that in common, neither of you let up.”
“You care about him.” It’s not a question, more like an assumption of fact from Adriana.
“I thought that was my line.” Tommy looks at Adriana pointedly enough to make her blush. “He’s like the brother I never had. He’s watched my back since we met. He’s the best guy I know.” Tommy shrugs as if to say that it’s that simple. “But sometimes I feel like I don’t know him, not really, you know?” He shakes his head, like he’s aware it doesn’t make much sense.
“I know,” Adriana’s reply is pensive, as she wonders about what secrets lie under the surface and if she really wants to know the answer. “But don’t think I’m going to let you get out of talking about Willow by distracting me!” She waggles her finger at Tommy who laughs deeply.
“Fine! I give up! But if we’re going to get into that, I’m going to need something a little stronger.” Tommy gestures over towards the bar. “I’ll be right back, and then you can interrogate me to your heart’s content.”
Adriana laughs as she watches him go, but she is suddenly very aware that she is all alone. Automatically, she grabs another glass of champagne and drinks it down in a couple of gulps. Standing on your own doesn’t seem so bad when you have a drink in your hand and a little Dutch courage in your heart.
“You’re far too beautiful to be left on your own.” A tall guy who looks like he’s probably another MMA fighter fills the space that Tommy had occupied.
Adriana flushes, partly from the compliment and partly from the champagne. “Thanks, but I’m not on my own. My friend’s just gone to get a drink.” She motions towards the bar where she sees that Tommy has struck up a conversation with an impossibly leggy blonde.
“Take it from me, he’s not going to be coming back anytime soon.” The fighter gives Adriana a knowing look that just makes her blush again. “I’m Dexter—Dex.” He holds out his hand for her to shake.
“Adriana.” She returns his shake, letting her eyes roam the crowd and settle on Grayson who looks deep in conversation with a journalist, the brunette still hanging around him like a bad smell. She wonders if he’s looked over at her even once, if he cares at all. What was the point in him bringing her here? They hadn’t spoken since they’d walked through the front door.
“That’s a great name.” Dex smiles appreciatively, and Adriana notices how nice his smile is.
“Thanks, but I can’t take credit for it.” Adriana shrugs, brushing off the compliment and failing to stop her gaze from landing once again on Grayson.
“Are you here with Fletcher?” Dex’s voice seems to harden at the suggestion.
“No, I’m not here with Grayson.” That admission hurts more than Adriana is willing to let on; so, she barrels onwards, doing what she does when she’s nervous, blabbering. “I mean, I came here with him, but I’m not here with him. We’re just friends.” She takes another gulp of champagne, purely to stop from talking.
“You’re not the kind of girl that most men could just be friends with.” Dex looks like he’s unconvinced.
“And what kind of girl do I look like?” Adriana raises her eyebrows, the alcohol in her system loosening her up.
“The kind that every guy in this room wants to talk to.” Dex looks around for emphasis, and Adriana follows his gaze and notices that they have a bit of an audience. “You look like the kind of girl that men fall in love with every day.” He looks straight at her as he says the words, and Adriana feels herself blushing.
“You’re not exactly shy, are you?” She looks at him over the top of her champagne flute, faintly aware that she is doing something that she has never known how to do. She’s flirting.
“It’s not something I’ve ever been accused of.” Dex looks a little sheepish at the admission. “Is that a problem?” He levels her with an intense stare.
Adriana flicks her eyes over to where Grayson is still standing over the other side of the room with the brunette bimbo. Seeing them together makes her feel like she’s just been punched in the stomach. It doesn’t help that they seem to fit together. Adriana doesn’t fit in that way. This is a different world to her, and she doesn’t know the rules.
What she does know is that Grayson doesn’t seem to have any interest in her at all. The person who is standing in the other side of the room seems like a completely different person to the one whom she had shared a bed with only a few nights before and even the man whom she had been with in the limo only an hour ago. He had been gentle and vulnerable and kind, and he had looked at her as if she were important. The man that’s the toast of the party hasn’t even spared her a glance. Grayson is all mixed messages, mixed feelings and emotions. It felt like a guessing game, trying to figure out what was going on in his head, and she never seems to win. It is exhausting. Yet, here was a good looking guy, paying her attention, being nice to her, and making her laugh.
Adriana takes a deep breath and smiles up at him. “No, it’s not a problem.”
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
GRAYS
ON
He can feel the anger burning a hole inside of him. He had been whisked from one interview to another by Josie who kept promising it was the last one. At some point Cassie had appeared and kept trying to drape herself all over him, no matter how many times he batted her away.
He had wanted to spend the evening with Adriana, the only person who he had any interest in talking to in the entire place. But now she was talking to Dexter, ‘The Destroyer.’ He is the fighter that he’s up against next for the state title. Grayson had never had any beef with Dexter; they’d even trained together a couple of times as Grayson was making his way up the ranks. But seeing him talking, laughing, and whispering with Adriana is enough to make him want to kill him.
He clenches and unclenches his fists, trying to control the rage that’s flooding through his body like a drug. He can see the two of them out of the corner of his eye, and it’s the moment when Dex lays a hand on Adriana’s bare shoulder that propels him onto action.
Second Chance: A Dark Bad Boy Romance Page 14
