Until Fountain Bridge - Young Samantha - Страница 16

to her distraction earlier than I’d previously thought. “Is everything okay? Do you need me to

come?”

Joss shook her head, and waved her phone at me. “No, I’m okay. Rhian just really needs

someone to talk to. It can’t wait. Sorry.” She was avoiding Braden’s eyes for some reason

and when I glanced at my brother I found him studying Joss in a weird way. Did he not

believe her? Why not? Rhian was Joss’s best friend. She stayed in London and had been

having personal problems lately, so it was completely plausible that she needed to talk. “See

you later.” Joss walked away, her long ponytail swaying across her back. Looking back at

Braden I watched him watch her in a way that unnerved me. It wasn’t just the fact that he had

that determined, focused expression he got on his face when he was going after something—

usually a development and never a woman—it was the glimmer of excitement in his eyes.

I’d never seen him look at anybody that way. The romantic side of me sighed happily. The

practical side of me (and believe it or not I had one) worried her lip between her teeth,

thinking Joss and Braden were either the perfect match or a freaking disaster waiting to

happen.

Later, after having frozen Adam out to the point of seriously pissing him off, my

suspicions over Braden’s interest were confirmed when he pestered me all the way home

about Joss. I knew by the time he’d dropped me off on Dublin Street that he was going after

her, and I knew from having grown up with him that when Braden really wanted something

he was absolutely relentless, even when he was reaching for the impossible. I could only

hope Joss didn’t hurt him while he tried to reach for her.

***

I’d spent the picnic catching up with Jenna and laughing at Braden and Ed’s jokes. Maybe

once in the entire three hours we hung out did I speak directly to Adam, and I avoided his

gaze at all costs. That was difficult, considering he was constantly trying to catch it.

Thankfully there wasn’t a quiet moment for him to ask me what the hell was wrong with me,

so my form of torture worked out even better than I’d planned it.

I was gratified to discover it was a form of torture because by the time Braden and I left him, Adam’s expression was black with ill humor. Normally, Braden would have noticed our

behavior, but much like Joss he was kind of distracted.

I was even more gratified to discover later, after having a discussion with Joss regarding

Braden —I was still unsure of where Joss stood on that one since I thought she was protesting

her disinterest just a wee bit too much—and then confiding in her about Adam, that she

agreed with me: Adam needed to be taught a lesson. If he didn’t want to be in my life in a

romantic sense, then he needed to butt out of my romantic life. I was going to continue my

torture that evening.

Joss was working at the bar while Braden, Adam and I were going out for drinks with

Darren, the manager of Braden’s nightclub Fire, and Darren’s wife Donna. I wore a black top

that was backless. It was held together by a silk ribbon across the middle of the back, while

the front was demure with a high neckline and draped chiffon panel that fell a good three

inches past my waist. I’d matched the top with black skinny jeans that were so tight they

might as well have been painted on. My hair was pulled up into a messy bun to give

maximum impact to the top, and I was wearing four inch silver heels to match the silver tear

drop earrings I was wearing.

It was a little more femme fatale than I usually went for but it did the trick. Adam’s eyes

flared when I turned around after greeting Donna, his gaze burning as he took in the full

effect of the outfit.

That just pissed me off.

What pissed me off even more was Braden’s announcement that we were going to Club

39. Knowing what he was up to regarding Joss, I didn’t feel comfortable letting him unleash

his plan while she was busy working. However, Braden wouldn’t listen to me and Donna

wanted to check out the bar.

My annoyance levels increased when Adam held me back as we walked along George

Street.

“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong or am I going to have to guess?” he asked, his

words clipped.

I shrugged, not looking at him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Ellie, don’t. Being a bitch doesn’t suit you.”

I flinched but kept walking. “You know what else doesn’t suit me? Being single. But

apparently that’s not my choice.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” he hissed, his voice low since we’d gotten closer to

Braden.

I kept my voice low too as I illuminated him, snapping my head around to glare at him.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about, you overbearing arsehole.”

“Everything okay?” Braden turned around to frown at us.

I nodded sharply and hurried forward to walk beside him. As we approached Club 39, I

sighed, “Braden, I hope you know what you’re doing.”

He shot me a wicked smile. “Always do. You know, Darren knows the doorman here.”

Turning to Darren, Braden set his devious little plan in motion. “Darren, why don’t you go on

in ahead and gets us drinks. We’ll find a table.”

Darren nodded and ignored the complaints from people standing in line as he shoved his

way down the narrow steps to the basement bar. He greeted the big guy at the door and they

spoke for a few minutes. He turned and pointed up to the street where we were standing and

the next thing was we were being waved down the stairs. Darren disappeared inside the club

and I watched Braden take Donna’s arm.

I glowered at his back. Donna was an attractive brunette and Braden was hoping to use her

to make Joss jealous. I knew how Braden worked. He liked this idea because it meant that he

could use a woman to make Joss jealous without actually getting entangled with another

woman. My brother liked reaction, and I was guessing he wanted a big reaction from Joss.

Part of me hoped she’d deal with it with her usual admirable self-possession.

Unfortunately my hopes were dashed. As soon as we got inside Club 39 my eyes swung to

Joss and I watched her expression harden as Braden leaned down to whisper in Donna’s ear.

He looked right through Joss and I saw a flicker of something I didn’t like pass in her eyes

before she quickly turned away.

I really wanted to bash my brother’s head against Adam’s.

More than anything I just wanted to leave the two of them to it. But Adam wouldn’t let

me. He pressed me forward as Braden managed to clear us a table and I brushed off his hand,

still playing it cool. I strode after Braden and stopped as he and Donna, followed by Adam,

slid onto a couch. Standing over them I couldn’t decide which one I wanted to glare at more.

“Ellie, sit your arse down,” I heard Adam snap over the music.

I narrowed my eyes and shook my head.

Adam’s expression darkened and before I had a chance to maneuver away from him, he

reached up, grabbed my arm and yanked me down beside him. At the feel of his body pressed

flushed to my side, I struggled to get away from him but was halted by the sensual brush of

his fingers across my bare back as his arm wound around my waist. His hand clamped down

on my hip and he forced me closer, his mouth at my ear. “If you stop acting like a petulant

child, I’ll stop being overbearing.”

I stopped struggling against him but held myself tense so he’d know I was still angry with

him. For the next hour he kept me held against him, his grip possessive and definitely more