“Allison.” This time her name was a silky warning on his lips.
As she watched, Kenneth left the bathroom and returned to the private room, never seeing her or Clint at the other end of the hallway.
Well, shit. Annoyance flickered through her and she scowled. Thanks, Clint, for screwing up my plans. Who knew when she’d get a chance to meet with Kenneth alone now?
Frustrated with Clint blocking her efforts and not wanting to make a scene, she gave a sharp nod and allowed Clint to lead her out the entrance of the restaurant.
Once in the parking lot she tugged her arm away.
“There, you walked me outside. I hope it was good for you.” She rummaged in her purse for her keys. “As much as I’d like to catch up with you and chat, I should be on my way now.”
Two hands came to rest on either side of her and she drew in a startled breath. Clint stepped forward, boxing her in between his body and her Toyota.
“Let me just make one thing clear, Allie.” His words brushed hot across her face, and a tremble ran through her. God, was it his cologne or aftershave that smelled so good? Whatever it was, was rich and masculine, teasing her senses and slowing her thoughts.
Clint, this is Clint. Not some hot guy you’re hitting on at a bar. How weird she was having this reaction to him. Maybe because it had been a year and she hadn’t realized how much she missed him. Though right now she was kind of just wishing he’d go away again.
“Make what clear?” she finally asked, shaking her head so she could think straight again.
“It took Ken a long time to get over you, but he’s clearly moved on.” His gaze locked with hers, no amusement, just sober determination.
“What?” Her mouth gaped. “Are you serious? Kenneth never—”
“Look. Just take my advice. Stay away from him now. Whatever you’re thinking, just stop it. He’s getting married to someone else.”
She quirked an eyebrow before folding her arms across her chest.
“What is wrong with you? I thought we were all friends. Why are you acting like I’m some crazy party crasher?”
“Times have changed, Allison. We’ve all changed. And if you were still such a good friend he would’ve invited you to the wedding and tonight’s dinner.”
Times have changed. Why did hearing him utter those words make her heart twist a little? When had everything gotten so complicated?
Unfortunately now wasn’t the time to bring that up. Now was the time to try and save Kenneth’s ass from a crappy future. Deciding to drop any pretense of not knowing about the dinner, she said, “And I’m sure he would’ve invited me tonight, if Ashley hadn’t told him not to.”
Skepticism flashed in Clint’s eyes. “Why on earth would she do that?”
“Because she knows I don’t like her.”
“And why don’t you like her?”
Maybe it would be better to tell him, possibly gain an ally. At this point what could it hurt trying to explain her rationale?
“Why? Because she’s a trashy gold digger, Clint. I have a feeling she’s faking a pregnancy to get him to marry her.”
Clint stared at her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Hope sparked inside her and she held her breath.
“Really?” he finally said deadpan. “That’s the best you got?”
Allison let out a growl of frustration and glared at him. “Oh, I shouldn’t have said anything to you. I don’t know why you don’t trust me anymore.”
“I just don’t trust your motives.”
“Don’t you have a dinner to go to?”
“Yes. I do.” He smiled, seeming amused by her loss of temper now.
“Then why don’t you go.”
“I will.” He dipped his head, until those lips just about brushed her ear. “Just remember what I said, Allie.”
Her pulse jerked and heat spread through her body. Shocked at her reaction, she raised her hand to push him back, but before she could touch him he’d pulled his arms away and released her.
“Good to see you again, Allison. We should do lunch and catch up,” he called out, running his gaze over her one last time before he turned and crossed the parking lot to jog back into the restaurant.
Do lunch? That had to be the weirdest encounter ever with Clint. He’d been aggressive and cocky. Not like the easygoing Clint she’d used to spend time with. Did hanging out with bears in the woods all day jack up his freaking testosterone or something?
And the way he was dressed in jeans and a worn-out looking T-shirt, he must’ve stuck out like a flea on a poodle at the dinner tonight. Not that he looked bad—far from it—but as a friend of the Williams family you think he’d try a little harder. But then that’s always how Clint had been. He always walked his own line.
She wrapped her fingers around the oversized heart keychain and jerked it from the bag. After unlocking her car, she climbed inside and drew in a deep breath.
Where did she go from here? She glanced back at the restaurant and drew her lip between her teeth.
Maybe she should just back off and leave Kenneth to his fate. But now that Clint had told her to back off, she was more inclined to keep going forward, if no other reason than just to piss him off. Clint’s behavior was seriously annoying. Who the hell did he think he was?
There was a week until the wedding, she still had time. Allison shook her head and started her car, considering her options.
Chapter Two
Clint lingered inside the door of the restaurant, watching Allison as she climbed into her car. She didn’t leave immediately, and he prepared himself to walk out and go another round with her.
Would she try and come back inside? He’d barely thought it, when a second later she started her car and backed out of the parking spot—tires squealing.
She was upset. He fought a smile and shook his head. Not that he could blame her. She’d seemed all too determined to walk up to Kenneth and try to…what, get him back?
His teeth snapped together. Even now, over a year later, the thought of Allison and Kenneth together gave him the urge to kick something. It just seemed…wrong. And it had been a little too hard seeing them together, so he’d stopped visiting.
He hadn’t even realized they’d broken up until recently when Kenneth had announced he was engaged. And to a woman who was obviously not Allie. He’d told himself it wasn’t relief he’d felt.
But if by some chance Allison had showed up tonight to fight for Kenneth, then she was seriously deluding herself.
He turned and headed back to the private room, though in truth the break from the nauseating dinner had been needed. Any Williams gathering was about as fun as a proctology conference.
Allison might have left the restaurant, but her image lingered in his head. She’d looked fantastic tonight in that clingy red dress. She was a woman who knew exactly how to flaunt her curves—and she had them in spades.
He loved that about her. She’d never tried to shrink her body into society standards. Why did women always strive to be stick thin? Didn’t they realize most men wanted a little meat to hold on to?
He’d thought she’d been off limits for the past year. When two of their group of three had split off into a couple, Clint had known things would never be the same. Partly because he was still jealous Kenneth had moved in on Allie when Clint was tempted to do the same. She’d been emotionally vulnerable, recovering from a bad break up, but he’d wanted her. Damn, how he’d wanted her. But Ken had moved in first, plucking her up like a wounded animal.
But they weren’t together anymore. Hadn’t been in quite a while. And Clint hadn’t imagined the sexual tension between them tonight. She’d watched him in the way he used to dream she’d watch him. With awareness that he was a hot-blooded man. As if she’d wanted to know what it felt like to kiss him. He’d been tempted to lower his mouth to hers and find out if the chemistry between them ignited when their lips touched.
A heavy weight settled in his chest and he shook his head. But that wouldn’t
be a good idea. Touching Allison would be opening the door to a hall he really shouldn’t be going down. She wasn’t his type. Not anymore. There was a time when she hadn’t been so high maintenance. When they’d both laugh about the uptight Williams’ parties and superior attitude they all carried.
But Allison had changed. She’d become one of them, a city girl through and through, probably afraid to mess up her hair, and wearing her self-entitlement like a badge. And though he might want her physically, he couldn’t see himself with a girl like that. Not for more than a night or two anyway…
Clint tugged the door to the restaurant’s private room open, and a wall of sound greeted him. Time to once again pretend he fit in with these rich, materialistic people whose main concern seemed to be making sure birds didn’t shit on their Lexus. Once, long ago, Ken had been pretty cool too. Until his hormones had kicked in and his priorities had become chasing tail and milking his parents for money.
“Clint. Where did you go?”
He turned to face his once good friend, who seemed half drunk already, and gave an easy shrug.
“I thought I saw an old friend,” he lied. Had Kenneth seen Allison? Likely not.
“Ah, good deal.” Kenneth leaned toward him and lowered his voice. “You ready to see some action at my bachelor party tomorrow night? We’re going to hook you up with some fine women, buddy.”
Clint’s lips twisted. The only fine woman he wanted right now had just driven out of the parking lot like a bat out of hell.
“Yeah. About that. I don’t think I’ll be able to make it to the bachelor party.”
“Not make it?” Kenneth’s eyes widened. “Oh come on, Clint. You never chill with me anymore, and this is going to be awesome. Trust me, you won’t want to miss it. Promise me you’ll show.”
There was probably no way around it, still he tried to be ambiguous. “We’ll see.”
“Kenneth, what are you doing over here?” Ashley came up behind them, slipping her arm through her fiancé’s. “You’re behaving yourself, aren’t you, honey bunny?”
“Of course, babe. Just having a talk with Clint.” Kenneth cleared his throat and lowered his head to drop a kiss on her downturned mouth.
Ashley pulled away, looking much more pleased. “Good. Just think, before long we’ll be husband and wife.”
Clint hid a smile at the flicker of panic he spotted in Kenneth’s eyes. Maybe it was Ashley’s high-pitched baby talk she used on him, but he just couldn’t understand what Ken saw in the woman. Well. Besides a freakishly large pair of fake breasts.
“You want some more champagne, honey bunny?”
Clint winced. He couldn’t be the only one who thought she sounded like a chipmunk trying to be sexy.
“That’d be great. Thanks, Ashley.”
Once the woman bounced away, Clint glancing at Ken again.
“So you’re in love, huh?”
“I guess. And with Mom’s ultimatum about me settling down or getting cut off, Ashley seemed a good fit.” Kenneth smiled and leaned close and winked. “Besides, she lets me fuck her in the ass.”
Clint closed his eyes and tried not to let the unwanted image invade his head. Kenneth had always been way too loose-lipped about his sex life. Which made him think about…
Don’t ask about Allison. Don’t even do it— “You ever see Allie?”
“Allison?” Kenneth shook his head, his expression pensive. “Not as much lately, Ashley’s not too keen on her. For awhile, before Ashley, I kept thinking about trying to get Allison back, ’cause she was pretty hot. Always been a pretty cool girl.” Kenneth grimaced. “Though I gotta say she wasn’t all that great in bed.”
Anger and something else dark—something close to jealousy—sparked in Clint’s gut, and his jaw flexed. Of course they slept together, what did you expect?
But saying Allison was bad in bed? He thought about her mischievous and passionate side he knew still had to exist. And how her eyes had flashed anger at him when he’d boxed her in at the car a short while ago. How for the briefest second he’d been shocked to see the flicker of awareness in her gaze.
Allison bad in bed? He didn’t buy it. Not for a minute. In fact it made him question how attentive Ken was with the women in his bed.
He bit back a sigh, almost wondering if Allison had a right to be worried about the wedding. But unlike Allie, he could admit it wasn’t his business who and when Ken married.
Although he wasn’t completely certain her concerns were over Kenneth marrying Ashley, but that he was getting married at all. Did Allison still hold feelings for him?
Clint’s gut twisted and he tightened his grip around his champagne glass. Hopefully she’d back off—he’d warned her to. But the Allie he knew wouldn’t have let that stop her. And in a way, he almost hoped she’d try again. It’d give him another reason to see her again…
His mouth twitched and he sought out the tray of shrimp.
“Don’t do it, Allison,” Leah pleaded over the phone. “Oh God, please don’t do it. This is way too extreme. Just let him marry the bimbo.”
“Too late. I’m already on my way.”
“Oh my God. Men are crazy at bachelor parties. You’re going to be over your head—”
“I’m going to be fine. I’ll just sneak in posing as a stripper—because, come on, someone will have ordered one. Once I’m there I’ll pull Kenneth aside right away and have a little chat with him…”
“How did you even find out where they were holding the party?”
“I’ve got connections. I’m friends with the sister of one of the guy’s attending.”
“Let it go. Please, Allison.”
“Hey, even if you were joking when you suggested the idea, I thought it was perfect. And you have to admit it’ll be pretty clever if I can pull it off.”
“I’m not sure I’d use the word clever…”
Allison parked her car on the curb next to the house in the upscale Mercer Island neighborhood. “It’s too late, I’m here already.”
“Allison—”
“I’ll call you later. Love ya.” She closed her phone and adjusted the rearview mirror to check out her appearance.
Her stomach flipped with excitement as she adjusted the black wig and swiped another layer of dark red lip-gloss on.
Nothing to worry about. She’d be in and out in twenty minutes tops. There would be no clothes even close to being removed. Plus, it would be kind of fun to see firsthand what went on at a bachelor party. Maybe Clint would be there…damn. Where had that thought come from?
“Stop it,” she scolded herself. “Clint has nothing to do with why you’re here tonight.”
Still, her pulse surged as she climbed out of the car and walked toward the house.
Clint tilted the beer to his lips and stepped back to avoid another drunken groomsman stumbling across the room.
The music pounded so loud his head had begun to resonate in time with it. Hell, what he wouldn’t give for a Tylenol right about now.
A stripper had showed up at the party an hour earlier. A skinny redhead with perky breasts. All the men in the room salivated over her. Everyone but Clint. His mind still lingered on the curvy blonde he’d sent packing from the dinner the other night. He’d been surprised—and almost disappointed—that Allison hadn’t made another attempt to see Kenneth.
A high-pitched giggle had him glancing over at Ken and the stripper gyrating on his lap. She certainly seemed to be lax on the no touching rule. Likely because everyone here knew who Kenneth Williams was—and the bottomless checking account linked to his name.
He jerked his gaze away from the tawdry scene which both repulsed him and yet didn’t help the chronic state of arousal he’d been in since seeing Allison again. Damn it. He took another swig of beer and fought the images of what he’d like to do to Allie flickering in his head.
The doorbell rang and he sighed, checking his watch. He’d promised to drop by tonight. Surely he could leave and not catch too mu
ch flack for it.
“Another stripper? Hell yeah.”
Another one? Okay, it was officially time to get the hell out of here. Shoving a hand through his hair, Clint sighed and got up to leave. The men had crowded around the door, blocking the exit as they surrounded the woman trying to move inside.
He grabbed his jacket, casting a bored glance at the woman almost buried among the men. He spotted the long naked legs and black bobbed hair.
She finally pushed through the group, stumbling into the middle of the room and casting an irritated glance back at the men.
“Give a girl a second to catch her breath, boys,” she said and smoothed down her skirt. “I’m here for the groom.”
Clint slowed in his progress to get out the door, intrigued by the new addition to the party. Even across the room something about her sent the hairs on the back of his neck up in warning.
She looked like she was trying way too hard in the skimpy little cop costume.
Her legs were damn long underneath the white pleather skirt barely covering her bottom. Her breasts barely stayed inside the matching top only zipped halfway up.
Clint’s attention never left her as she moved around the party. She kept glancing around nervously and swatting off the advances of any man who attempted to approach.
There was something about her… He set his jacket back down and moved through the party toward the new stripper.
“Hey, Kenneth boy, here’s another one here for you,” someone called out.
Kenneth glanced away from the redhead who was now kissing his neck, and turned his focus onto the new stripper. His gaze moved over her almost in dismissal before he looked away.
“Little too Plain Jane for me. You boys have fun with her. I’m good with Trixie here.”
Clint’s jaw hardened and he sucked in a swift breath. Christ, Ken could be an asshole when he drank. Before looking back at the new woman, he already knew what he’d find. He turned to see anyway. The hurt on her face wasn’t a surprise, but the blazing rage underneath certainly was. An expression he recognized all too well.
Holy hell. Shock ripped through him and he went rigid. He mentally removed the wig and dark makeup from the woman. The shock faded into a slow pulse of pleasure.
Seducing Allie: Seattle Steam, Book 3 Page 2
