“You thought Sawyer would get jealous. I already figured that out. We’re females, Lana. It happens when a god, like Sawyer Vincent, unleashes his power on us. Just let Ethan down easy. Don’t hurt him, okay?”
I nodded and lifted my gaze to stare at my reflection in the mirror. Who was that girl looking back at me? Did I even know her anymore? Not only did she look different, she was acting completely different.
“I won’t hurt him. I’ll make sure he understands and I won’t ignore him for Sawyer tonight either.”
Leann nodded, “Good.”
The door opened behind me and Ashton walked in, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth as she looked between Leann and me.
“I had to run some interference but I think everything is smoothed out now,” Leann informed her as she walked tentatively into the restroom.
“Oh, okay,” she studied me a moment, “are you alright?”
“Yes. I’m good.”
“Sawyer is different with her Ash,” Leann said bluntly.
“I know. I’ve noticed.”
“I think it’s more than he even realizes.”
Ashton looked at Leann and a small smile touched her lips, “You think?”
Leann nodded, “Yep.”
Ashton reached for my hand and squeezed it. “Come on, let’s get back out there before one of them says the wrong thing and all hell breaks loose.”
Chapter Ten
Sawyer
“What the hell was that?” Ethan demanded as soon as Ashton was out of hearing distance.
“Ash going to the restroom,” I drawled in a bored tone.
Ethan started to stand up and snarled at me.
“Sit down,” Beau barked and Ethan lowered himself back into his chair. “You know what he means, Sawyer.”
“He knows I like Lana. Hell, he was with us all day on the boat. She was with me. Me. She wants to be with me. You can see it all over her face. Not my fault he asked her out and she was too nice to turn him down.”
Ethan let out a frustrated sigh. He knew I was right. “You’re still hung up on A—” he trailed off when Beau turned his angry glare his way.
“No, I’m not hung up on Ash. She’s moved on and I’m trying to do the same thing. But you’re stepping in my way.”
“Do you have to flirt with her on my date? Could you at least let me enjoy tonight with her?”
Shaking my head, I picked up the Coke the waitress had placed in front of me. “And let her think I don’t care she’s with you? No can do. She needs to know what I want.”
Beau cleared his throat and stood up. “Hey baby,” he pulled the chair out beside him for Ashton to sit in.
I turned my head to watch as Lana walked up to the table shifting her eyes from me to Ethan. I’d strategically taken the spot at the end of the table when Ethan had sat down leaving the spot next to the end open for Lana.
“I’m guessing that seat isn’t for me,” Leann said in an amused tone under her voice as she passed me to go sit on the other side of Ashton.
Lana pulled her chair out and sat down, putting herself equidistant from Ethan and me. Sliding my chair over, I closed the distance between us until my thigh was resting against hers.
“Hey,” I said quietly as she peeked at me through the curtain of her hair separating us. I reached up and tucked the silky locks, blocking my view, behind her ear. “There, that’s better.”
Her posture tensed.
“You gonna eat those oysters with me?” I asked, leaning down to look at her menu, instead of opening mine.
“Oh, I uh,” she stammered and Leann let out a loud sigh.
“Tone that down a little bit would ya? The girl is so rattled she can’t even talk.”
I didn’t take my eyes off Lana, “Am I making you nervous?”
Lana lifted her eyes to meet my gaze. A small apologetic smile touched her lips. The pale pink lip-gloss she was wearing made them appear even plumper than normal. I leaned in and caught a small whiff of the raspberry scent.
“A little,” she replied softly.
She was on a date with Ethan and I was making it very hard for her to be comfortable. The guilt that came with that knowledge stopped me from leaning in and taking a small nibble of those raspberry flavored lips.
“I’m sorry. I’ll stop,” I said softly enough that only she could hear me. Ashton’s voice was in the background as she talked to the others in her attempt to draw the attention away from Lana and me.
“Thank you,” she replied and then turned her gaze back to the menu in front of her. Sliding my chair back to a proper distance, I refused to look back at her as I ordered my food and carried on a conversation with everyone. I did my best not to let my gaze linger on her or lower my voice, when I spoke directly to her. I even managed to eat a meal while I watched Beau kiss Ashton’s hand, bare shoulder and temple whenever he had the chance.
~*~
“That’s the Sawyer I remember. I wondered where you’d run off to,” Leann whispered as she walked beside me to the stadium seating at the Wharf. Ash and Beau led the way and Ethan and Lana were behind us. I didn’t turn around and check on them. I wasn’t sure I could handle it if I caught them touching in any way.
“What do you mean?” I asked only because I needed a distraction.
“Hot and bothered Sawyer is a new one. I’ve never seen you treat a girl like you could eat her up if given the chance. It was... interesting.”
“You think Lana has me hot and bothered?”
Leann let out a cackle, “I know Lana has you hot and bothered. If the girl was to crook her finger your way you’d have her pressed up against the first hard surface you could find.”
I slowed my pace and glanced down at Leann, “What?”
“Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. You want that girl. Sweet, prim, and proper Lana went and got all sexy and she’s getting under your skin. You never did that with Ash. Not once did I see you look at her like you wanted her. She was your trophy or possession and you were real proud of her but she didn’t make your body simmer.”
Clenching my jaw, I glared down at Leann, “You have no idea what you’re talking about. I loved Ashton like crazy. She was my world. I planned my future around her. She was never a trophy or possession. Just because I didn’t treat her like a piece of hot ass didn’t mean she wasn’t my reason for living. I respected her. I’d never treat her with anything less than respect. I’m not in danger of falling in love with someone like Lana. She’s a distraction. Sure, I treat her differently; she is different but she’s just for fun.”