Free Seeking Justice by Rivi Jacks Page B

him a smile.
    “How are you tonight, Cait?” he asks as he leans his arm across the table in front of me and places his other hand on the back of my chair. I’m a little uncomfortable with his closeness, but he is effectively obstructing my view of Liam and Miranda, so I guess that’s probably a good thing.
    “I’m fine. How are you?”
    He laughs. He really is quite good looking. “Drink up, and we’ll dance.” He shifts slightly, and I get a glimpse of Miranda rubbing up against Liam.
    “That sounds like a great idea.” I down my second strong margarita, and right on cue, another drink appears in front of me. Oh, this kind of service could be a dangerous thing.
    “Come with me,” Bryce says as he stands. “Bring your drink.”
    I stand, looking across the table to see Liam glaring at me. What’s his problem? He could have asked me to dance just as easily as Bryce did. A part of me wishes it had been Liam who’d asked.
    “Let’s go too, Ryan.” I hear Holly say, and they join us as we make our way down the stairway. I’m grateful for the handrail and Bryce’s hand at my elbow as we descend.
    Bryce shoulders his way to a table near the dance floor that is empty save for a reserved sign sitting in the center of the table.
    “Take a sip,” he shouts near my ear and then takes my glass, setting it down on the table next to his beer. He takes my hand leading me out onto the dance floor. It’s crowded, so there’s not much room for anything but swaying our bodies. Holly and her husband stand beside us, and Holly wraps her arms around her husband’s shoulders. He pulls her tight against him, one hand resting on her bottom.
    The music is great, and we quickly manage to work up a sweat. I’m grateful when Bryce leads me from the dance area to our table. The ice in my drink has melted, diluting the alcohol, but it doesn’t matter, it’s deliciously wet and cold. We stand, not bothering to sit as we finish our drinks. I am so hot I feel as if I’m melting. I gather my long hair and hold it up off my neck.
    Bryce grins and then fishes in his pocket, pulling out a hair tie which he promptly holds out to me. I hesitate. I hope he didn’t just pick it up off the floor. Gripping my shoulders, he spins me around and gathers up my hair. When I try to pull away, not liking how personal this feels, he tightens his hold on my hair and tugs. Okay, damn!
    As he braids my hair, I look up. Liam is standing at the balcony’s railing looking down watching us. His eyes burn into mine, their vivid blueness striking even from this distance. I don’t know what comes over me. Possibly it’s the effects of the strong drink, or maybe it’s just that I want him to be the one down here, the one with his hands in my hair. I sing the words of the Katy Perry song playing, looking into those blue, blue eyes, making my statement that I want him, that I’m capable of anything.
    His eyes take on a blazing heat, and he steps back from the rail. I know he’s coming for me, and my heart pounds in anticipation. Miranda takes that moment to sidle up next to him. Seeing the two of them like that, their beauty together almost breathtaking, has the same effect as dousing me with ice water. Tansy said they weren’t dating, but something is going on between them, and I’d do well to remember that. I quickly turn and catch Bryce watching them too. He drops his gaze to me, and his frown quickly disappears replaced with—pity?
    Oh, hell no!
    I need to get a grip and remember why I am here at Justice House. I would leave right now with my determination to get myself back on track, but that would look too much like I am running, and I’ve already done that once tonight because of Liam. There’s a fresh drink sitting on the table, I pick it up and down half of it in one long drink. Taking Bryce’s hand, I pull him with me onto the dance floor. We dance nonstop until closing time.

Chapter Six
    I ’m not in a very pleasant mood when the