Model Behavior by Tricia Lynne

Author:Tricia Lynne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Carina Press
Published: 2021-11-29T19:53:28+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

SAY WHAT, NOW?

Olive

After Hayes opened my door, he took my hand and didn’t let me go for the rest of the night as if he was afraid I’d disappear. I understood how he felt. I was half-afraid I’d wake up from this dream and he’d vanish, too.

The outdoor venue was gorgeous and well-appointed. It was probably a little too chilly for the skirt I was wearing, but, legs. If you got ’em, flaunt ’em. Especially if they drive your date crazy. Soft lights sparkled as we passed catering tents on our way to the VIP lounge near backstage. It didn’t escape me that we were drawing some attention—Hayes was Hayes, and he was still revered in this city; I was six feet tall, and my body was not the kind anyone would ever call slight—but the eyes on us didn’t stop Hayes from bringing my hand to his lips, or the way he barely took his gaze off me.

So much made sense now about our breakup. In college, I’d thought Hayes was impulsive, thoughtless, careless with my feelings, while he believed he was protecting me from the man he would become. Had he taken my choice away? Absolutely. But he’d done it because he thought he wasn’t a good man and was saving me from even more heartache down the line.

“Drink?” he asked, leading me to an empty spot on an outdoor chaise. “Whiskey sour, right?”

“No. I don’t drink unless I’m in for the night.”

Bending to my ear, his warm breath sent shivers down my spine. “Oh, I fully intend to be your designated driver, sweetheart. I’ll be sticking to soda all night. But if you’d rather have a Dr. Pepper, it’ll make my cock that much harder later when you start swinging your hips to the music and rubbing your ass against me. Because I’ll know you’re completely sober.” He stood up, hitting me with the Hayes Walker shrug and a dirty as hell grin.

Heat crawled over my cheeks and licked down into my lower belly. “Dr.—Dr. Pepper would be good.”

As I watched him walk to the bar, my thoughts drifted back to what he’d told me in the truck. It made me both sad for him and angry on his behalf, but I knew Hayes well enough to know he didn’t do pity. It’s likely why he’d never told me how his mother treated him before tonight or why he hadn’t shared his reasons for breaking up with me. That, and probably embarrassment. Lord knew, I knew something about burying the secrets you were ashamed of. But Hayes blamed himself for the way his mother treated him, and that was all kinds of heartbreaking. He thought he’d let it happen, that he was as worthless as his mother told him he was if he couldn’t play football. Which couldn’t be further from the truth, but I could see how losing his position on the team would exacerbate those feelings and thoughts. I’d guess it was also why he connected so deeply with Sadie.

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