Chapter 2 He Seemed Far Too Comfortable Crossing Lines

Saturday dragged on while I stayed home, and my thoughts kept circling back to him no matter how hard I tried to distract myself. Thankfully, Petter and Sandra kept me company. Like always, the three of us settled into the living room, binge watching "Supernatural" while passing around a bowl of popcorn.

"Liz, whenever you want to tell me what's going on, just speak up."

"Thank you." I leaned into her embrace and let myself breathe for a moment.

"Girl."

"Hi, Petter!"

"Sandra and I are going to have dinner at a restaurant today." He paused, then asked, "Do you want to come with us?"

"No," I answered quickly, because the last thing I wanted was to step into their time together.

"Are you sure? We can cancel and stay home with you." Sandra leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.

"No, Sandra. Really, go."

She lingered, clearly unsure.

"I promise I'm fine. Ana invited me to a party later anyway."

"And you're actually going?"

"Of course." I checked the clock on the wall and sighed. "I should probably start getting ready."

I gave her a small smile before pushing myself off the couch and heading for the stairs.

"Alright. We might not come back tonight," Petter called after me as I went up.

"That's fine. Have fun!" I shouted back from the top step.

Even they had romantic plans lined up, and me? I was stuck killing time, all because of a stupid contract that kept my life on pause.

I shut the door behind me and dropped onto the bed without bothering to take off my shoes. My eyes fixed on the ceiling as my thoughts wandered, circling around the idea of Henry signing that contract without having the slightest idea who I really was. Every possible outcome played out in my head, one after another, until my mind landed on the most ridiculous one of all. Him falling in love with me. I knew it was nothing more than the restless imagination of a lonely woman, yet I could not deny that seeing him up close had stirred something unexpected inside me. I stayed there, staring upward, until exhaustion finally pulled me into sleep.

A shrill ringtone dragged me awake, and I reached for my phone with heavy eyes. Ana's name flashed across the screen. The clock read 1 a.m.

"Ana?"

"Liz, you have to come over here!" she instructed, her words slurred and uneven.

"Igor. That hot professor is here with Britney," Sam shouted, cutting in before Ana could finish.

Did Ana seriously tell Sam about that?

"What does that have to do with me?"

"Oh, come on, Liz, you never go out," she muttered, struggling to keep her words straight. "And I really need help dealing with Igor."

"We're at that nightclub with all the hot guys," Sam yelled, laughing so hard she could barely speak. "And she's starting to take her clothes off."

"Who's taking off their clothes?" My heart jumped. "Oh my God. Is that Ana?" I raised my voice. "Ana. Sam." Nothing came back through the phone. Panic crept in fast. "Don't go anywhere. I'm coming right now." I ended the call and bolted out of bed.

There was no time to overthink my outfit, so I pulled a tight blue dress from the closet. The deep V neckline and the open back that dipped to my waist made it bolder than anything I usually wore. I had been saving it for a special occasion, but since that moment never came, tonight would have to do. After a quick glance at my shoes, I settled on black platform heels. Anything taller felt like a bad idea, considering I had no clue what kind of chaos awaited me. I kept my makeup simple and deliberate. Sharp eyes, dramatic lashes, and a swipe of crimson lipstick to make my mouth stand out.

If Mr. McNight could enjoy the city like a single man, then Mrs. McNight could remind everyone she knew how to play along too.

The garage felt colder than usual as I climbed into my white Mercedes GLA. White cars had always been my weakness, and I bought this one the moment I turned eighteen. Driving was never something I enjoyed, but that night, it was unavoidable.

Bright lights and pounding music greeted me when I reached the club, along with a long line that stretched down the entrance. A tired sigh slipped out before I remembered I would not be waiting with the rest of them. The place belonged to Pedro's father, an old family friend. Showing up was rare for me. Most nights were spent at Pedro's house with Ana instead. He clearly liked her, but she never noticed and preferred crying in corners over Igor.

I walked toward the entrance without slowing down.

The security guard spotted me immediately. "Miss Navarro!" I acknowledged him with a brief nod, and he stepped aside without hesitation.

Once the path was clear, I moved into the club.

Noise and bodies filled every inch of the space. Music thumped through the air while the lights flashed nonstop. I reached into my purse for my phone, only to realize I had left it in the car.

Alok's "Alive" pulsed through the speakers, drawing my attention as I tried to orient myself.

"Get it together, Liz," I muttered under my breath.

Pushing forward through the crowd became a challenge. I did my best to avoid stepping on toes, though the effort felt almost pointless in a place this packed.

"Excuse me!" I called out, and a few people shifted just enough to let me pass.

After weaving through the mass of bodies, I finally spotted Ana and Sam on the dance floor, laughing and moving with Igor and Pedro.

"Liz. Liz!" Ana yelled when she saw me.

"Are you guys okay?"

"See? All we had to do was hint that one of us might strip, and she showed up immediately!" Ana and Sam burst into laughter.

"I cannot believe you two. That was low." I scrunched up my nose.

"Don't be mad, Liz," Ana pleaded, putting on an exaggerated pout. "You never go out with us."

"Enough talking. Let's dance," Sam said, grabbing my arm. Ana followed right behind her, already dragging me toward the center of the floor.

The moment we stepped onto the dance floor, the music pulled us in. I let my body follow the beat and stopped thinking about how stiff I probably looked. Ana and Sam were already letting loose, laughing and moving without a care.

If my husband could spend his nights at clubs, then I had every right to do the same. I still had not seen him anywhere, yet my gaze kept drifting through the crowd again and again. Part of me wondered if they had lied just to drag me out of the house. Even so, it worked, and I was here.

Igor slid closer and started dancing with me. The sound wrapped around me, sinking into my skin and guiding every movement until I felt perfectly in sync with the rhythm.

Soon enough, my attention wandered again. I scanned the upper level of the club, and that was when a man standing with his back turned caught my eye. A crisp white shirt and black jeans fit him too well, outlining every inch of his frame. He was undeniably attractive.

When he finally turned around, our eyes locked, and the air left my lungs.

Henry was watching me. His stare was sharp and intense, and the crease between his brows made it clear he did not like seeing me dancing there.

Igor leaned in close and snapped me out of it. He said he'd gotten me a drink.

"You'll like this."

I took the glass from his hand and emptied it without hesitation.

"Easy," Igor yelled over the music, laughing into my ear.

Another drink appeared in my hand, then another, passed to me by Ana and Sam. I finished each one just as quickly. Heat spread through my body, my vision softened at the edges, and a light, reckless happiness took hold.

Curiosity pulled my eyes back to the spot where Henry had been standing. This time, he was gone.

A stranger slipped into my space and started moving with me, and I did not bother turning around to see who he was. The alcohol had already softened my edges, and all I felt was the way his movements lined up with mine. Our bodies closed the distance as his hands settled at my waist, and I rolled into the rhythm without thinking. Heat followed the contact, and the realization of how into it he was barely registered before I finally turned to face him. A striking man stared back at me, honey colored eyes and a neatly trimmed goatee catching the light. Before I could react, our mouths met.

The kiss caught me off guard in the best way. It felt indulgent and unfamiliar, the kind of closeness I had not allowed myself in years. My past suddenly felt very far away, like a chapter I rarely opened anymore.

Someone slammed into me without warning, jolting me out of the moment. I spun around, ready to snap at whoever ruined it, but a cold splash hit my dress instead. Liquid soaked into the fabric, and frustration washed over me just as fast. I shut my eyes and took a slow breath, refusing to lose control right there.

When I opened them again, he was standing in front of me.

"I'm sorry," he murmured close to my ear. "Miss Navarro." My eyes fluttered shut once more as his voice sank in. "Are you okay?"

That voice should have been illegal. Of all people, it had to be Henry.

"Yes. I'm fine," I replied, forcing my eyes open again.

"Come with me." His fingers closed around my hand, and a sharp jolt ran through me at the contact. "Let me take care of this."

I glanced over my shoulder, searching for the man I had been dancing with, but he had already vanished into the crowd.

He guided me toward the bar, and I never even noticed where the cloth came from before he started dabbing at my dress. The moment his hand brushed the space between my breasts, he froze and looked straight at me. A sharp shiver ran through me at that single point of contact.

"Give that to me." I snatched the cloth from his hand, and as I finished drying myself, his narrowed gaze never left my face.

"Excuse me?" His expression shifted, almost pitying.

"No. Excuse me." I did not wait for a reply. I slipped back into the crowd, scanning every face as I searched for the man with the honey colored eyes.

"Liz. Liz. Liz." His voice followed me, persistent and low.

My friends came into view near the edge of the dance floor.

"What happened?" Ana asked, gesturing toward my damp dress.

"That idiot McNight spilled a drink all over me."

"And before that?"

"I was kissing a gorgeous guy." A smile crept up as the memory replayed. "Someone slammed into me, and when I turned around to curse them out, something cold hit me."

"He's into you," she responded, sounding far too amused.

"Don't start, Ana."

"I'm serious. If he wasn't, he wouldn't have interrupted your kiss like that."

She might have had a point, but he did not know me. He did not understand the strange, complicated situation we were actually stuck in.

Time slipped away without us noticing, and it was only when the sky began to hint at morning that we realized it was nearly 5.

"Okay, I'm done. I'm completely wiped."

When we reached the parking lot, Igor slowed his steps beside me. "Are you leaving with us, Liz?"

"I drove myself."

"You sure you're good to drive?" He hesitated. I answered with a brief nod. "Alright then. See you Monday."

We exchanged quick goodbyes before they piled into their car and disappeared down the street. I slid into my own seat but did not start the engine right away. Instead, I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, letting the night replay itself in fragments.

A sharp knock against the window jolted me upright. When I opened my eyes, Henry stood there, close enough to startle me. I lifted my hands in a silent question, but he only motioned for me to lower the window.

"What do you want?" I asked, already annoyed as the glass slid down.

"Any chance you could give me a ride?" he asked, a crooked smile playing on his lips.

"You have got to be kidding me."

Rather than backing off, his grin only grew, making the situation worse in every possible way.

"My car died," he said, gesturing toward a vehicle parked a short distance away.

"Then call a taxi."

"I can't. I lost my wallet."

A quiet argument played out in my head as I sat there. One part of me wanted to drive off and leave him standing in that parking lot. The other part knew I would spend the entire ride home feeling guilty if I did.

"Miss Navarro." He snapped his fingers in front of my face, pulling me back to reality.

"Fine. But only if you agree to one thing."

"And what would that be?"

"There will be no conversation," I replied, making it very clear.

"Wow. Alright."

"Get in," I instructed.

He circled the car and slid into the passenger seat. I took a steady breath, adjusted myself behind the wheel, and started the engine. Leaving the club behind felt strange, especially with my so called husband now tagging along like an unwanted shadow.

"Nice car," he said after a moment, glancing my way.

I answered by rolling my eyes and keeping my focus straight ahead.

"Okay. Message received." He lifted his hands as if surrendering.

"Put your address into the GPS," I said, still refusing to look at him.

I shot him a sharp look. "I can tell you where to go, but I have not been here long enough to know the street names."

A brief silence settled between us before he spoke again. "Are you always this way?"

"This way how?"

"Tense," he added, eyes fixed on the road. "And a little sharp."

"Keep talking, and I will drop you off at the next corner," I warned, forcing myself to take a steady breath.

"I would still appreciate an answer."

"I do not owe you one. Unless I am sitting in one of your classes, and from what I can tell, this is not a classroom."

"If it were, I'd already have you right where I want you."

Heat rushed to my face at his choice of words.

"Do not blush," he said with a grin.

What a cheeky man!

"Are we almost there?" I asked, changing the subject before he pushed further.

"Two more blocks."

My thoughts tangled as the car rolled forward. One thing stood out above the rest. For a married man, he seemed far too comfortable crossing lines. Fine. If he wanted to play games, I could play too. Maybe this would even work in my favor when it came time for him to sign the divorce.

"The next building," he said, pointing ahead. "Right there."

I brought the car to a stop, but he did not move. "Aren't you getting out? You can invite yourself in if that is what you are waiting for."

"No, thank you."

"You might regret that," he said, and there was something unmistakably calculated in his gaze.

"I cannot. I am married."

His expression shifted, seriousness replacing the teasing edge.

"You seem too young for that," he muttered as he stepped out, leaning down against the open window.

"Life did not give me much choice."

"And your husband lets you go out alone like this?"

"That is none of your concern."

He went quiet, lost in thought for a brief moment.

"See you tomorrow."

For once, I said nothing. I pressed the gas and pulled away, and when I checked the rearview mirror, he was still standing there, watching me disappear down the street.