Page 65 of Swept Away

The alcohol flows, and soon someone starts a brawl, but it’s quickly cut short as the bouncers step in.

It happens frequently, they say, and I believe them, watching the rowdy people, eager to pick up a fight.

A few moments pass, and Mason’s eyes become fixated on a small group at the bar.

It’s mostly men, and Carter quickly notices them, too.

“Is that them?” he asks.

“Mm-hmm,” Mason murmurs, and I wonder whether going out tonight is about more than us having fun.

The two men exchange looks before focusing on me.

They clearly have something going on in their lives. Something they don’t think I should be privy to.

“How’s your wine?” Mason asks.

“It’s delicious.”

I take a sip and swallow hard.

“Is there a problem?” he adds.

“No.”

His eyes linger on me.

“You don’t like the place?”

I smile.

“I’m fine with the place.”

My contrived answer makes him lift an eyebrow.

“She’s fine,” Carter says, extending his hand over the table. “Let’s dance,” he says to me, and Mason scoots over so I can rise and follow his friend to the dance floor.

A few minutes pass before a slow tune comes on, and he wraps his arm around my waist.

His hard frame presses into me while we twirl slowly.

“Is everything all right?” I ask, noticing the loud group of men they were looking at before edging closer to us.

“Everything’s fine,” he says, moving his hand lower.

“Who are they?”

I flick my chin toward the men.

He casually glances in their direction before moving his eyes back to me.

“Some people we ran into.”

I search his eyes.

“Things didn’t go well.”

“Something like that.”