I drank from my flute and averted m

I drank from my flute and averted my gaze. The conversation was awkward and forced. I felt like we were trying to get to know each other. It wasn’t natural and random like it should be. That’s when I knew I would die alone. Perhaps I was so weird and boring that I only attracted people who were equally weird and boring. I drank my entire glass and grabbed another.
“You’re as beautiful as ever.”
I turned at the sound. Scott was eyeing my appearance with approval.
“This is a lovely color on you.”
“Um, thank you.” My cheeks turned crimson red, the same color of my dress.
Ryan stared at Scott, appraising his features.
Scott was wearing a dark blue suit with a red tie. He was the only man who showed any color in his outfit. He stuck out in the crowd, looking dashing. His hands were in his pockets but his shoulders were straight. He stared at my face, ignoring Ryan entirely. “I’m happy I ran into you.”
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“I’m a lawyer.”
I totally forgot he said that. I was too busy wanting to rip my sister’s throat out to notice last week. “What firm are you at?”
“Jacob Reynolds.”
I nodded. “I’ve heard nothing but good things.”
“We aim to please.” He looked Ryan. “I’m Scott. It’s nice to meet you.” He extended his hand.
Ryan shook it. “Ryan. The pleasure is all mine.”
Scott looked at my empty glass. “Can I get you another?”
“She’s okay,” Ryan said.
Scott looked at him for a long moment, his eyes turning malicious, and then he turned back to me. “I hope you’re enjoying yourself this evening. I know you deserve a break.”
“It’s very beautiful.”
“And how’s the company?” he asked with a smile.
“It’s nice,” I said.
Ryan placed his arm around my waist. “Let’s take our seats.”
Scott eyed the palm on my hip. His shoulders moved back and his arms flexed. I saw the change under his suit even though the movement was slight.
“I’ll see you later,” I said politely.
Scott nodded then walked away.
When we took our seats at the table, Ryan was quiet. He drank from his glass without looking at me.
Scott always made me feel nervous when I was around him. He seemed angry or annoyed most of the time, but there were other emotions below that dark exterior. His body was packed with muscle and strength. I noticed it when he moved. And he looked incredibly handsome in that suit. His tie matched my dress and I couldn’t help but notice. I wondered if he had a date tonight.
The dinner was served and we ate quietly.
“So, who was that?” Ryan asked.
“My friend’s brother-in-law, in a way.”
“Is he your ex?”
I raised an eyebrow. “No. Why?”
“No reason,” he said.
I eyed him.
“He was just very…threatening.”
“He was nothing but polite.”
“Verbally he was. Silently, he threatened to kill me.”
“Did I miss something…?”
“Is there something going on between you two?”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “I was just caught off guard.”
I picked at my salad but didn’t eat another bite. I saw Scott sitting at a table with his colleagues. He was easy to spot in the red tie. He was laughing, his teeth showing. He had a beautiful smile. When he was in the spotlight, he seemed so different. He was pleasant and happy. Whenever we spoke, he was deadly serious. I stared at him for a long time, admiring every feature of his perfect face.
The ceremony started and they announced the silent auction taking place in the back of the room. They were selling trips to exotic places, cars, spa treatments, and gym memberships. I’d make an appearance and take a look but I couldn’t afford to spend the money.
More alcohol was brought to the tables. Ryan and I exchanged a few words but nothing of significance was said. I was feeling more awkward by the moment.
“Please excuse me for a moment,” Ryan said. “I need to use the restroom.”
“Okay,” I said.
He left the table, leaving me sitting alone. I stared at my hands in my lap, wondering what the hell I was doing. I was on a date with a guy that I knew I didn’t like. We just didn’t click. He was handsome but I wasn’t attracted to him. I thought spending time with him would change everything but it clearly hadn’t. Maybe I would just die alone after all.
“You don’t look like you’re having fun.”
I turned, seeing Scott sitting beside me.
He was sitting upright in his chair, his hands resting on his thighs. His eyes were more beautiful than they were a few minutes ago. When he breathed, his chest rose and fell. I watched it, wondering what it looked like shirtless. “Is he bothering you?”
“Who?”
“Your date.”
“No,” I said as I shook my head.
“Then why do you look so miserable?”
I sighed. “Is it that obvious?”
He nodded. “A little.”
I looked away.
“Wanna talk about it?”
“No, thank you.”
He leaned closer to me. “I really like the way that dress looks on you.”
I blushed, not expecting him to compliment me twice.
“Dance with me.”
I looked at him, not expecting the request.
“I’m not one for dancing.”
He grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet. “I’ll make you one.”
I stiffened at the command in his voice. His hand was gentle as it touched mine, sending electricity through me. I was aware of the callous on his fingers, the rough patches of skin. He pulled me to the dance floor then placed his hand on my lower back, swaying with me gently. The classical music played and the couples moved across the floor.
The smell of his cologne wafted into my nostrils. It was light, almost unnoticeable. It smelled like he just showered before he arrived. His body soap and his natural scent were soothing. He smelled purely masculine.
The fabric of his suit touched my arm. It was light and soft, indicating its obvious worth. I never bought a suit or researched the price, but I knew the nice ones could be pricey. Scott was obviously well off. Since he was a lawyer, that made sense.
I didn’t look at his face for a moment, letting him guide me across the floor. I felt his stare on my face, powerful and unyielding. Being so close to him made me feel more nervous than I ever had. I suddenly feared that my breath stank or I had something in my teeth.
“So, are you into him?”
I looked into his eyes. “Who?”
He smirked. “Your date. Is he a boyfriend?”
“No,” I said quietly.
“Is he going to be?”
“No.”
He seemed pleased by that response. His eyes changed subtly. “Why didn’t you call me?”
“Call you?”
He held my hand and spun me around before he pulled me back. “I gave you my card.”
“Oh…I didn’t know you wanted me to.”
Scott stared at me. “Why would I have given you my card unless I wanted you to?”
I fell silent, not knowing how to respond.
“You’re impossible to read.”
“Excuse me?”
His hand tightened on my waist, feeling the fabric in his fingers. “I just can’t tell what you want.”
“I’m not difficult to understand.”
His hand squeezed mine. “You’re here with a guy you don’t even like, at an event you don’t want to attend, and you took a guy’s number but never called him. That’s extremely confusing.”
“Well, life isn’t always what you want it to be.”
“Mine is.”
I stared into his eyes, seeing the confidence behind his irises. “Aren’t you lucky?”
“Why didn’t you call me?” he asked again. His voice was aggressive.
“Like I said, I didn’t know you wanted me to.”
“So you would have?”
“Uh, I don’t know…”
“You don’t know?” He stared into my face, the displeasure forming on his lips.
“Why does that bother you so much?” I asked, not understanding his random bouts of mood swings.
He held me while we danced on the floor, the heat in his eyes evident. His emotions were clearly displayed on his face, but they were still difficult to interpret. There were too many to keep track of. “They always call.”