Page 58 of False Promises

Savannah watched me with big blinking eyes, her lips pursed, a red hue covering her cheeks. As if she couldn’t believe I actually turned her down.

She spoke slowly, enunciating each word. “Wait? You are refusing me? Is this a joke?”

I dragged a hand over my face and exhaled a long breath, trying to find the right words as her face twisted with unconcealed anger. This wasn’t the place to get into a fight. “Some of these people are the ones I work with. Or the closest thing I have to coworkers in my line of business. It’s not just some party where we can act like hormonal teens. It would be wrong, even though it’s tempting.”

Savannah’s face turned purplish. I’d never seen her so mad before.

Okay, this wasn’t how I saw our night going. Our first official date amongst industry people and we were about to clash right here. Surrounded by a hundred witnesses. I inhaled a big gulp of oxygen, needing to diffuse the situation. And fast. “The guy by the ice sculpture, he works for my record label. There are two music producers I work with. They are older, and they respect me as an artist and as a person. Believe in me and invest money in me. And I know they’ve seen it all over the years, but I’m not that guy. I don’t let people down. And I don’t give them a reason to think I’m an airhead or to bitch behind my back about how stupid I act. Not sure they’d consider our antics as cool and fun if we got caught. I’m still young in this industry. And so far, my rep is impeccable. I’m not about to change it for a quick fuck, no matter how incredible it would be.” I reached for her hand, and Savannah let me, dropping her shoulders. “Can we wait until this party is over? We could escape early. What do you think?”

Her anger and minx persona died down.

I pulled her against me, and she buried herself in my chest. We stood there for a beat.

At some point, her face lifted toward mine. “Carter, don’t you think I’m attractive?” Her big eyes locked on mine, and something close to vulnerability shone through them.

I leaned in to kiss her red lips. “You know you are,” I said, unable to hide the smile and affection in my voice. “Come on, there are people I want you to meet. Keep it casual.”

Exchanging a gaze, I squeezed her hand as we moved toward the crowd now crooning the birthday song.

Later, I was deep into a conversation with Dylan.

“I though Stevens would be here tonight,” he said. “He RSVPed and never said he wouldn’t show up. Have you talked to him recently?”

I shook my head. “Nah. He’s been busy. Kids and everything. Ry says they get together now and then.” Sam Stevens was a friend of ours. Another country music star, nicknamed The Legend after he broke the record for the best-selling album when he released his debut. We usually battled for the top of the charts, he and I. Riley was a common friend to both of us, so we often ended up hanging out together when we all had some free time and I was in town.

From over Dylan’s shoulder, I spotted Savannah and almost choked on the sip of water I just swallowed when I took her in. Her gaze landed on mine, and challenge illuminated her dark irises. My free hand balled at my side. “What the fucking hell.” Unable to keep quiet at the scene being played a few yards from me, the words bubbled out.

Dylan’s eyes crinkled as he watched me. “What?”

I slapped his shoulder. “Nothing to worry about. I gotta go, man. Happy birthday. And next year, I expect nothing less than fire dancers or a dragon spitting flames.”

His head tilted back as rumbling laugher escaped him. “We’ll see, Hills. I can’t promise anything.”

My long strides ate the distance between us in no time. Savannah was dancing with the man who had introduced himself earlier as a movie producer, her scarlet fingernails grazing his abdomen over his shirt, the same way she did with me whenever she was on the prowl for some animalistic sex, her lips a hair’s breadth from his as she murmured something that had his eyes widening with surprise and lust.

Grabbing her elbow, I pulled her in the most casual way I could muster. “Hey, can I talk to you for a second?” I asked through gritted teeth while still trying to keep my tone jovial.

She cocked her head in my direction, feigning a look of surprise. Her full lips drew into a devilish smirk.

“What?” she asked as if I had interrupted something important.

“We’re leaving.”

She returned her attention to the man, blocking me out.

I swallowed and gave it another try. “Remember, we have plans? You and I. Tonight. We talked about it earlier.”

“Ah, yes. Sure.” She let out a loud sigh, not meeting my eyes. “Can it wait? I’m kinda busy.”

Could I grate on her last nerve any more than I did at this instant? I could tell she didn’t want me anywhere near her.

I cleared my throat, doing my best to keep my irritation under wraps. “Fine. I’m leaving. You either come with me or you don’t. But don’t play stupid with me. I know what you’re doing, and it’s not working.”

Why was Savannah trying to get a rise out of me? To make me jealous? Was she hoping I’d throw a tantrum right here? Fuck her senseless in a dark corner to stake my claim? If so, she didn’t know me at all. I usually fought my battles in private. Far away from witnesses.

I turned on my feet and seconds later, I heard ”Sorry, I must go,” followed by the sound of heels clicking on the concrete floor.

We remained silent the entire ride back home. Twice, Savannah tried to start a conversation, but I chose to ignore her. The last thing I wanted was our getting into a fight. And speaking words out of anger I’d regret later.