Page 7 of The Other Side
“There you are,” a smooth voice called out, dropping a heavy arm around my shoulder.
I looked up in alarm to meet an unfamiliar pair of striking blue-grey eyes, framed by dark hair.
The new stranger flashed me a brilliant smile, while my brow furrowed. As he dropped his mouth to place a soft kiss at my temple, he whispered, “I think he slipped something in your drink when you were trying to get the bartender’s attention.”
I felt the breath whoosh out of me.
I was immediately overwhelmed with a barrage of emotions all at once. My stomach roiled with the dark and devastating thoughts of what could have happened to me. I’d been taken advantage of before, by more than one man who I’d thought had loved me and who I had trusted with my life, until I hadn’t, but this kind of betrayal stung in quite a different way, deep and sharp.
My eyes connected with the newcomer’s once more, my throat bobbing as I swallowed the bile at the back of my throat.
“Thanks for keeping my girl company.” He clapped a hand on the blonde’s shoulder, a little too roughly, wordlessly communicating for him to fuck off.
The blonde’s jaw set, as if he was gauging whether or not to argue, but after a moment, his shoulders dropped. His eyes, no longer tempting, but lethal, dropped to my half-full drink, likely confirming the accusation that had been secretly levied against him.
“Sorry.” I shrugged, feigning an apologetic smirk at his poor luck.
Without a word, he stormed off, slamming the bar door behind him.
My rescuer released me, reaching over to dump my drink into the grate at the edge of the bar.
“I don’t—I don’t know how to thank you,” I stuttered, still in shock from the close call. “He would have—”
“It’s okay.” The stranger was sympathetic, ruffling his hand nervously through his hair. “I’m just glad I saw him.”
“Can I, umm, get you a drink?” I managed. “I don’t even know your name.” He was handsome, devastatingly so, but I inwardly winced at the thought. I had just evaded potentially being assaulted and was already entertaining the idea of being attracted to someone else.
Simultaneously I thought,What is wrong with me?andThis is why I have a one drink max.
“I’m good.” He held up a bottle of beer, still mostly full.
“Will you sit with me?” I nodded to Jolene’s empty stool, my chest still tight with anxiety over the possibility of being drugged by a stranger.
“I don’t think he’ll come back.” The man glanced over his shoulder at the door before sliding onto the barstool.
“Maybe…” I trailed off. I was struck by him. He wore his dark brown hair short, but I could still see a slight wave to it in the dim bar light. He was dressed casually in distressed jeans and a polo shirt, but I couldn’t quite get more of a read on him.
“I’m Violet.” I stuck my hand out. The situation was so awkward, it was the only thing I could think to do. He had saved me from…god, I needed to stop my mind from wondering about all the awful things that could have transpired.
“Chance.” He smiled, returning the handshake.
His skin was soft and warm; his touch had an instant calming effect, so much so that I found myself shaking it for longer than socially acceptable as I got lost in the feel of him. “Sorry.” I dropped his hand, feeling my skin heat even more as a full-body blush engulfed me.
My eyes lingered on the lithe muscles of his tanned forearm as he pulled back from the exchange. His shoulders were broad, but his waist tapered, leaving me wondering if perhaps he was an athlete.
His outfit would have me thinking he was a yuppie, but the clientele of the dive bar was decidedly more blue-collar, and most snobby rich guys I knew, and I knew a few, wouldn’t have intercepted a spiked drink. They would have watched on, curious to see the event unfolding, perhaps even offering to assist.
There had to be something more to the man before me, who was a growing list of contradictions.
“It’s okay,” he chuckled, taking a swig of his beer. “Did I overhear that you teach at Montgomery Prep?”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “History.”
“And how do you like teaching?” Chance leaned his elbow casually against the bar, his attention fully on me and quite overwhelming.
“It’s good—I mean, it’s not exactly what I thought I’d be doing,” I hedged.
He cocked his head. “No? What did you think you’d be doing?”
