Page 5 of Caught Looking

Seth practically vibrated beside me. “Then I guess we’ll all be seeing a lot more of each other. Maybe we’ll get in an extra eighteen holes this year.”

“That sounds like a plan.” Owen’s gaze landed on me again and I had to fight back the urge to shrink away. Annalise Ryan did not shrink. “Have a good night, Seth, Anna, Jeri.” He bowed slightly and turned to find his next set of victims.

We stood there in various stages of shock.

Then Seth turned, taking me with him. “Where are we going?” And why did he still have his arm around me?

“We need to talk. You coming MacNeil?”

“Nope. I think you two can handle this,” my former best friend called after us.

Because she was definitelyformerafter sticking me with Seth Butler and then abandoning me.

Seth wound us through the party and into the parking lot. “Where is your car?”

Hestillhad his arm around me. Loose, but there. Like he was afraid if he let me go, Owen would jump out of the shadows and steal me away.

And maybe I let him keep holding me because I had the same fear.

I stopped three aisles over and twenty cars deep. My car wasn’t fancy like Seth’s probably was. Tangerines weren’t paid like Mantas. And certainly not like Seth Butler. “This is me. Seth, what is going on? I don’t need an escort to my car.” Owen wouldn’t leave the party for hours. Not when there were so many people he could belittle or famous people he could impress.

Although it was nice to know I wouldn’t see Owen again. At least not tonight.

“I know you don’t need an escort, Annalise,” he murmured so low I almost didn’t hear it. His breath tickled my temple and the strangest sensation made my stomach flip. Was it Owen? The fireworks? No, I realized as the combination of soap, mint, and spice hit my nose.

It wasSeth.

Despite the order from my brain to resist all things Seth Butler, my body continued to disobey. Itlikedbeing pressed up against him. Itlikedhaving his arm around me.

My body was stupid.

Seth Butler wasn’t romantic. He partied. He dated celebrities for the fun of it. He made headlines with his flashy conquests and shocking sexcapades.

I hadn’t done much dating lately, but I was definitely a quiet, monogamous, drama-free kind of girl.

Seth Butler was not quiet, monogamous, or drama free.

He finally released me and began pacing. His bright pink flamingo shirt flapped loosely as he moved, exposing part of his white tank top. He had on a simple pair of gray golf shorts and wore flip flops. It was his choice of shoes that struck me the most. Seth Butler didn’t seem like a flip flops kind of guy. It was too casual. Too easy going.

“This is bad,” he said, turning to face me. “Owen Montgomery is a sadistic fuck.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.” A chill settled over me despite the hot night. Seeing Owen was bad enough, having him in my life for the foreseeable future? No. Just no. “Wait, does that mean you’re a sadistic fuck too?” Those types hung together, right?

“Annalise.” He sighed, putting his hands on his entirely too sexy hips. “I know I have a shit reputation, but seriously?”

I cringed, putting my hands up. “Sorry. I’m just…I’m reeling a little here.” Owen. In my life. Everywhere.No.

I must have let all that show on my face because when Seth blinked, compassion filled his eyes and then, to my complete surprise, he rushed me, taking my face in his hands as his gaze darted worriedly between my eyes. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

Seth Butler was holding me like I was something precious.

What is happening?

And why did I want to melt into him?

“I’m fine.” I curled my fingers around his wrists but didn’t pull them away. They were warm and surprisingly soft. His spicy scent invaded my senses. Seth’s attention was the exact opposite of Owen’s. It was kind, attentive, and caring.

It shocked whatever preconceived notions I still held about him right out of my system.Who is Seth Butler? Really?The man in the headlines wouldn’t have pretended to be my boyfriend, and he certainly wouldn’t be standing here in a parking lot with his hands on me, worried over whether I was okay.