Beyond Me (Quinn and James 1)

The room faded. All I could see was the woman I loved flirting with some tattooed bartender. What the hell was going on? Why would she be putting herself out to a stranger after what we shared? Was this a joke to her? A spring break fling, while she whispered words of love and laughed her ass off on the plane to her girlfriends? Poor little rich boy, so desperate for affection. He actually believed they'd have a long-term relationship, and she felt bad enough to jolly him along. At least she got a good fuck out of it. Or two.

All of my weaknesses, insecurities, and fears reared up like a sleeping dragon and roared. Fire hit and spread, burning away the last of my illusions.

I was a pussy. Stupid. So stupid to believe in her.

I turned around. My friends were still talking.

"You won the bet fair and square. God knows she's a cold fish, so you must've warmed her up a bit to hit her next conquest. No worries, James. We got your back. You don't want to get attached to a girl like that."

Ice crystallized my voice. "I'm done with all of you and your sick games. Fuck you."

"Why are you being such a pussy? You nailed her, you won the bet fair and square, and I'm gonna pay up."

"Give me the goddamn panties now," I commanded.

"Now that you satisfied your curiosity, can we move on? We can hold another party Saturday night. It's not too late," Adam called out.

"So it was a bet?"

The room tilted. The rush of noise grew still.

I slowly turned around.

Her husky voice stroked me, like her warm hand sliding over my dick and making me come. Those gorgeous brown eyes flashed with raw pain, but turned cold and hard so fast I thought I had imagined the switch.

I knew I had fucked up.

"Quinn, this isn't what you think."

And as the words spilled from my lips, I knew it was too late.

I LEFT the guys glaring at my back and wondered how much longer we'd have to stay. I couldn't understand how such assholes were James' close friends. He was so much better than that. My thighs brushed against each other and the decadence of not having panties shimmered through me. Who would've thought such things as removing underwear would be so frickin' erotic? I loved how James didn't allow my shyness to hold me back. With him, I became the woman I'd always wanted to be: confident, sexy, smart. Not the practical, nice workaholic who put everybody else first.

I squeezed in by the bar and tapped Cassie's shoulder. She turned and gave me a hug and kiss. "I haven't seen you since Tuesday. You good?"

"Very good. Just wanted to let you know I'm hanging over there with James and his crew."

She narrowed her gaze. "The Ivy Leaguers, huh? They like their beer and tequila."

I laughed. "Yep. Have you seen Mac?"

"Nope, but her hottie is working at the bar."

I looked over and caught tat guy--Austin--slinging drinks and chatting with the customers. "I'm gonna check with him, maybe he knows where she's been. She's not answering her texts."

Cassie frowned. "You think she's in trouble?"

"Nah, she would've called. I think she's up to something and got distracted. Maybe she's writing a song or something. She always loses track of time when she's writing."

"Good thinking. You like him?" Cassie jerked her head toward James.

I smiled. "Yeah. A lot. Tell you later."

"Deal. Just be careful, okay? Remember, no drinks from someone you don't know."

I rolled my eyes. "Cass, I was the one who warned you when we first came on the trip, remember? Besides, we pinky promised. You've been fine, right?"

She hesitated just a moment, her gray eyes flashing with an emotion I couldn't name. "Never better. Go talk to hot guy and get back to yours."

"Thanks." I shifted down to the middle of the bar where I saw an inch of a gap to make my move. Using my elbows, I got close and held up my hand.

Damn. Mac's man was quite good looking, especially with the ink. The fact he could sing was also perfect. I opened my mouth to introduce myself, but he must have recognized me. His eyes lit up and leaned over the bar, ignoring the other patrons. "Quinn, right? Mac's friend?"

"Yes! Austin, right?"

"You got it."

"Listen, I haven't been able to reach Mac. She okay?"

Something flickered over his face, but he nodded. "Yeah. She's been holed up in her room for a bit."

The meaning of that was quite clear. Mac was having fun in more ways than one. Nice. "Got it. Can you just tell her to call me when she's got a chance? I'm not at the hotel--I'm staying somewhere else tonight, so I don't want her to worry if she comes to my door."

His brows drew together. "With that guy?" He motioned toward James and his friends. "I may have to cut them off. Never went through so much tequila in my life, and they get a little over the top when they get together."

Embarrassment shot through me. I hated that Austin assumed James was an idiot. "I think that's a good idea. But don't tell them I confirmed."

He leaned in really far so he could whisper in my ear. "Smart girl. Thanks for the heads-up."

I grinned. He really was a charmer. If I wasn't so gaga over James, I probably would have swooned. "Welcome."

"Listen, Quinn. About Mac."

My heart dropped. "Is she okay?"

He looked uncomfortable, as if debating whether or not to tell me. "There was some trouble. Paps found out about us. She needs you."

I cursed viciously. What the hell? My eyes narrowed. "Was it you?"

He glared right back. "Fuck no. But believe what you want. I don't need this shit."

He turned away, but I grabbed his wrist and stopped him. "I'm sorry. I--I believe you. Is she at the hotel?"

"Yeah. Surrounded by the press. We were on TMZ. Fucking shit."

"Crap. Okay, I'm heading over there now to check on her."

"Why do you believe me?"

I looked into his face and I didn't know. Just a gut instinct. Maybe because it was the easiest thing to believe. Didn't necessarily make it true. "Don't know. Just do."

"Thanks. Wait here." He disappeared for a few moments, then came back with a Sex on the Beach. "Take one for the road. Mac said it's your signature drink."

"Thanks."

He lowered his voice to an intimate pitch. "Thanks for believing me."

Yep. Swoonworthy. I nodded and headed back toward James. I'd need to meet him at the house later maybe, depending on what Mac needed. Poor thing. She deserved to lead a normal life and not deal with this endless bullshit.

James had his back turned toward me and was hissing furiously at his friend. Whoa. He was really pissed, and didn't seem to be fooling around. I tried to capture his words, but the music was too loud, so I got only snatches as I moved closer.

"--won the bet--fair and square--"

"cold fish--must've warmed her up--next conquest--"

"attached to a girl like that--"

"--fuck you--"

Worried, I hurried faster and had just reached the table when a flash of white caught my vision. Adam was waving it over his head, grinning, and Rich and James were going at it, cursing and arguing over something. Why did that thing Adam was holding look so familiar? Delicate, lacy?

Oh. My. God.

My thong.

The true dialogue swarmed around me in a world close to Alice in Wonderland.

The blood drained from my body like a husk from a fatal vampire bite. The room swayed under my feet. And at the same time, the inner voice whispered to me that I should've known. Should've known. Should've freaking known. It had all been too good to be true.

"So it was about a bet?" I asked.

All the guys turned. Adam lowered my panties and gave them back to James, looking a bit humbled. Rich stared. And James pinned me with his hot blue gaze, piercing past my defenses and touching my core.

But this time, my core was icy. Numb. Better this way, I told myself. The pain would come later, and that would be a bitch to get through. "Quinn

. This isn't what you think."

I tilted my head as if we were having a philosophical conversation. I whipped out my hand and took back my panties, studying them with fake curiosity. "Are we revisiting Sixteen Candles? Did you need proof?"

He muttered something vile under his breath and took a step forward. I jumped back. If he touched me, I'd be sick. I needed to get myself through this scene, calm and civilized, so he'd never know how badly he hurt me. He didn't get to know that ever.

"You don't get it. Forget the bet. What's going on with the bartender?"

Puzzled, I stared at him. My God, was that what it was about? He made a bet to get me into bed and thought he'd whipped me good to parade me in front of his friends. Was he taking flak from his buddies about me flirting with the bartender? The pieces of the puzzle came together. I felt even sicker. Hands trembling, I put down my drink and drew on every last reserve of strength to get the hell out of this place in one piece.