Page 9 of Watch Your Back (Devil’s Backbone #2)

I was kind of hoping Carina wouldn’t force the issue for New Year’s Eve. The idea of staying home with Ashley was not as unpleasant as it should have been. Weird.

I danced with Carter for far longer than I had anticipated. Long enough that my feet hurt by the time we stumbled, laughing, to the bar for refreshments.

“Lean on me,” Carter murmured, wrapping his arm around my waist as I wobbled in my heels, trying to take pressure off my toes.

I smiled up at him, accepting the help because it felt good to be in his embrace. “I’m glad you’re here tonight, Carter.”

“You already said that, while we were dancing,” he replied with a chuckle, then ordered us a couple of margaritas from the sharply suited bartender.

I perched on a barstool, taking the pressure entirely off my feet for a moment. “These shoes are beautiful,” I told Carter with a groan, “but they weren’t made with comfort in mind.”

“High heels never are, Spark. You look utterly stunning, though.” He stepped in close, his fingertips trailing over my collarbone and then gently gripping my chin to tilt my face up. “Most beautiful woman in the room.”

“You already said that,” I teased, smiling, “while we were dancing.”

The bartender slid our drinks over then, and we took a few minutes sipping the sour cocktails while Carter pointed out various guests that he knew fun facts about.

And by fun, he meant things like who was cheating on whom and what outrageous businesses other guests were rumored to be moonlighting in.

“Oh, I love this song!” I exclaimed when a familiar tune came on. “Wait, this is Seventeen Daggers, isn’t it?”

Carter nodded. “Yep, sure is. Come on, let’s dance again. I like having my hands on you.” Another sexy wink that made my insides go all fluttery.

I finished my drink, then groaned as I put weight back on my feet. “Carter…”

“Come on, Spark baby, one more song,” he murmured in my ear, that sexy accent rolling over me like a caress, “and then we can dip out and I’ll eat your pussy in the back of my car to start the New Year right.”

Well, shit. With an offer like that, how was a girl to refuse?

Carter knew he had me, whirling me out onto the dance floor, where dozens of other couples and groups were enjoying the music.

The song playing was a ballad, a slower, more romantic melody than the band’s usual rock style, and it was beautiful.

Better yet, Carter was an incredible dancer and led powerfully as we waltzed around the room.

Only a minute or so after we started dancing again, Nate bumped into us with his familiar dance partner.

“Suzette?” I asked, recognizing my mom’s friend. What had Carter called her at the rehearsal dinner? Cougar Suzette.

“Ashley, darling, you look gorgeous,” she told me with a slightly tipsy smile.

“Hey, Bass?” Nate said with a tight expression on his handsome face. “Remember Prague?”

Carter groaned. “Yeah…I remember.” He sighed, then leaned in to kiss my cheek. “Sorry, Spark, he’s cashing in a favor.” Then he released me and offered a hand to Mom’s friend with a gallant smile. “Could I steal you for a dance, Suzette love?”

Before I could voice a protest, Carter had whirled Suzette away and I found myself face-to-face with Nate.

He quirked a brow and put out his hand, palm up. “Shall we, Layne?”

I huffed a small sigh, because it would be petty to refuse. “What was that all about?” I asked, taking his hand and letting him lead me back into the dance.

He cast a glance over my shoulder, presumably to Carter and Suzette. “Your mom’s friend is a little too handsy for my liking. Carter is more tolerant than I am.”

Well, shit, I didn’t like the idea of that. I scowled, craning my neck to try to see whether Cougar Suzette was being inappropriate with my man, but it was a sea of sharp suits and sparkly dresses on the dance floor; they could’ve been anywhere.

“Are you having fun?” Nate asked, pulling my attention once more. “Better than eating that pint of strawberry ice cream in your jammies in front of the TV?”

I pursed my lips, trying to hold back a smile. “On par,” I murmured, then caught sight of Carter across the room. He was smiling his charming smile, but it lacked warmth. “Did you know he was going to be here tonight?”

“No,” Nate admitted, spinning me in a quick twirl. “But I should have guessed when I saw you wearing a Portia Levigne Sanguine dress.”

I frowned, confused how that would have tipped him off. “You’re not going to give me a lecture about how I need to stay away from your friends for their own good? Because everything I touch seems to turn to crap?”

Nate’s lips tightened, his gaze heavy for a moment while he seemed to ponder his response. Then he shook his head slightly. “Not tonight. Carter will push you away all on his own, Ashley. He doesn’t need my help.”

Irritated—because deep down I knew he was probably right—I pushed out of his hold and stepped back. “You’re an asshole, Essex. You can’t let anyone be happy, can you?”

He rolled his eyes. “Don’t be dramatic, Layne. I’m only telling you the truth. I figured you’d appreciate some honesty.” Grabbing my hand a little more aggressively than needed, he jerked me back into his embrace to continue dancing.

I gritted my teeth, trying to pull free without causing a scene but he wasn’t giving me any good options. “Let me go,” I snapped.

“Don’t be a child. We’re just dancing.” He paused. “Besides, if you let me go, Suzette might come back and I really, really don’t have the patience to fend her off.” He pulled me closer still as he said this, his hand firm on my lower back.

As annoyed as I was with him, I also felt a little bit protective.

Suzette was twice his age and should know better, so I huffed a frustrated sigh and loosened up a bit.

I even went so far as to loop my arms around Nate’s neck.

His death grip on my waist relaxed instantly, instead holding me gently.

“Thank you,” he whispered on an exhale.

I mumbled a grudging “Whatever.”

The music ended after not much longer, and, then all of a sudden, the whole room was calling out the midnight countdown in excited unison. I had totally lost track of time and had no clue we were so close to the New Year already, and there I was with my arms draped around Nate’s neck.

Startled, I loosened my grip but he didn’t move away.

“…two…one…Happy New Year!” the whole room screamed, but I just stared at Nate in confusion. Why was he still holding me so close? Why was he looking at me like that?

“Happy New Year, Ashley,” he murmured, his brow creasing with a frown.

My lips parted, intending to return the sentiment, but Carter took that moment to appear—somewhat breathless—and grab me out of his friend’s embrace. Before I could say a single word, his lips crushed to mine in a kiss so desperate I nearly forgot where we even were.

“Sorry I was late,” he whispered in a husky voice some moments later when our kiss eased off. “Happy New Year, Spark.”

Dizziness swept through me as I curved my body into his and kissed him again. I couldn’t get enough of Carter Bassington, even when he was a giant twat-waffle.

“Bass, did you know your mom was at this event?” Nate asked from somewhere nearby and I groaned as Carter broke away from my lips abruptly.

His hands steadied me when I stumbled, but his whole mood had shifted dramatically. “She’s fucking what? I thought she was in Milan!”

Nate shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck.

“She’s over there talking to Max right now.

” He tipped his head toward the bar, and Carter physically flinched.

Then cast a panicked look to me. The woman speaking with Max was beautiful, elegant, and every inch the Bassington matriarch I had pictured when Carter spoke of her. She was cold.

“Ah,” I said with a sinking realization. “I see.”

“It’s not—” Carter started to protest, his eyes darting to his mother like a cornered wolf. “Nate?”

“On it,” Nate replied with a tight nod. He reached out and took my hand in his, giving me a tug away from Carter. “Come on, Layne. I’ll take you home.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to protest and insist I wanted to stay.

Even if Carter was too ashamed to let his mother see me—for valid reasons, considering the possible murder charge—I could have insisted I wanted to stay at the party.

But I didn’t because, without Carter, I didn’t want to be there.

So I let Nate grip my hand firmly in his own and lead me quickly out of the glittering party.

We paused at the foyer, and by the time our coats had been retrieved, the limo had pulled up out front, ready to drive us home.

Neither of us spoke as we climbed in, and it was several minutes before Nate blew out a long breath and raked his fingers through his deep brown hair, messing it up.

“Are you okay?” he asked, shocking me as thoroughly as if he’d just quacked like a duck.

I scowled. “Do you care if I am?”

His gaze snapped to mine, his expression hard. “Contrary to what you think of me, Ashley, I’m not a total prick. I’m trying to warn you, for your own good. Case in fucking point right back there. Carter’s mother?—”

“I already know,” I snapped, breaking eye contact because I was fucking sweating under his intense scrutiny. “He told me.”

Nate’s soft chuckle was anything but kind. “I’m sure he did.”

I hated that he sounded so sarcastic, but I also didn’t want to keep dwelling on the whole messy affair. Carter was already so fucking hot and cold as it was—maybe I needed to draw a line in the sand soon. I wondered what Heath would say…

Refusing to rise to Nate’s bait, I huddled into the corner of the car and closed my eyes. It was a twenty-minute drive, and I’d have rather taken a nap than make small talk with him. Or worse, have him spend the whole drive making me feel like a stupid, naive twit for not seeing the red flags.

I saw them. Every fucking time I was around Carter, I saw the red flags. I just didn’t care…or at least that was what I told myself.

A shiver trembled through me, and Nate muttered something under his breath about stubborn women before draping his jacket over me. I bit my lip, holding back the instinct to say thank you and settled in for a quick nap thanks to the silence in the car.