Dirty Sexy Alphas (Twenty Book Box Set) - Hannah Ford Page 0,52

said, pulling me onto the floor.

Our arms were around one another before I could blink. “You know how to Salsa?”

I didn’t know why I was so surprised. Ben seemed too earnest to dance such a seductive dance. Too… harmless?

“My sister is a dance major. When we were kids she made me attend classes with her, because there were too many girls and she couldn’t find a partner. Some of the lessons struck.”

And with that, he led me into the dance. I knew we were doing the most elementary of the maneuvers, but as he turned and spun me around the floor, I couldn’t help but enjoy it. I couldn’t help but laugh and enjoy myself, as he pushed me away, and then closer, as he dipped me and twisted me in ways I didn’t even know I could move.

The rhythm of the song faded out as someone stepped between us, breaking the hold he had on my back. I knew who it was before I looked up, because I recognized the Rolex watch on his wrist. My heart stilled, and guilt—damn it, I shouldn’t feel guilt—made my chest squeeze.

Somehow Landon had tracked me down to this bar.

How did he find me?

Why was he here?

My eyes traveled up his sports jacket, to the storm brewing in his eyes. “I need to speak to you,” he said, his voice low, level. But I didn’t miss the emotions raging beneath, didn’t miss the tension in his shoulders.

“How the hell did you find me?” I asked. But the answer didn’t matter. I stepped back, wanting space.

Ben reached around Landon, as if to touch me, as if to see if I was okay.

“Touch her again and I’ll break your hand,” Landon growled.

“Landon!” I smack his arm. “Jesus, tone it down. I don’t know how you found me, or why you’re here, but I was fine, and I don’t need you to go all meathead on me now, okay?”

Ben stepped away from Landon, maintaining his distance as he caught my eye. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“It’s fine,” I said, glaring at Landon. “He’s not going to hurt you. Or me. He wouldn’t lay a hand on me. He’s just an asshole.”

Landon didn’t react, as if he was fine with the label. As if he embraced it.

“Do you need me to take you home?” Ben said, his face as earnest and naïve as could be.

Landon laughed. “She’s not getting in the car with you, buddy. Not on your best day. And you’ve been drinking, so if you think I’m letting that happen, you must really be an idiot.”

“Like she’s going to go home with you?”

“Will both of you just stop?!” I shouted

They were staring one another down, like they wanted to have a duel. But I could see that Ben was scared, that he could sense Landon was not to be trifled with.

“Ben, I’ll catch up with you tomorrow at the lab, okay? Landon and I need to discuss some things.”

And then I stomped away, making a bee-line for our table so I could snag my purse and throw down twenty dollars to cover the two drinks. Landon followed, like a dark shadow behind me, as I exited the restaurant and spotted the luxury car parked in the corner. I didn’t have to ask if it was Landon’s, and when he hit the door lock, I said nothing, just climbed into the car and slammed the door.

He slid in, and then we were leaving the restaurant behind and gliding across the surface roads.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, finally. Unable to take sitting beside him and not knowing what he was thinking. I wanted to scream at him, to make him feel the hurt and betrayal I did… but I also wanted to just beg him to stop the car and kiss me. “There’s nothing left between us.”

“There will always be something between us,” Landon said.

“When did you get here?” I asked, ignoring his response.

“I flew in this morning.”

“How did you know I was at that bar?”

He grabbed his phone and unlocked the screen, holding it up.

It was me and Ben, and those coconut drinks. The one I was holding had the logo for Tiki Bobs Cantina face-out. I hadn’t noticed in the picture, but even if I had, it shouldn’t’ have mattered. When I sent him that picture, I’d thought he was hundreds of miles away.

“Pull over,” I said, and I didn’t have to ask twice. He yanked hard on the wheel, skidding to