Read The Next Contestant Online

Authors: Dani Evans,Okay Creations

The Next Contestant (6 page)

BOOK: The Next Contestant
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I’m about to give up when I spot her standing next to a girl with long, dark curly hair. They’re in deep conversation, but then she turns around, her eyes locking on mine. She gives a little smile, brushes her hair back with her hand, and then looks away. She’s talking to her friend again, who then turns toward me, her eyes wide as she turns back to whisper something in her ear.

I watch for a while and when the brunette leaves her side, I decide to make my move before I lose her again. No way I’m letting her get away. If she’s Kolby’s girl, she’ll tell me and I’ll back off, but I don’t know if she is so that makes her fair game.

Pushing back in my chair, I stand. “Boy’s, I’ve just found my next target. She’s fuckin’ fine. Damn.” I drink her in, head to toe and everything in between.

“Who?” several of them ask, but I’m already on the move. No way I’m gonna let one of them latch on to her first or tell me she’s Kolby’s girl. ’Cause I know they’ll try.

Not wanting to be blatantly obvious, I walk casually past her then lean against the bar. Finally, she glances up and her eyes connect with mine. I give her a half smile and wink. Her cheeks flush, eyes turn down, then back up, and she gives me a shy smile. I’ll wait a few before I make a move. Flirt with her from afar.

I get sidetracked by one of the girls I’d been with previously.

“Jax,” she whines. “Are you avoiding me?”

“No, sweetheart. I’ve already had your mouth where I wanted it. We had a good time, but you’re not the one for me.”
Shit!
I block her hand from connecting with my face and then get the hell away from her.

“Fucking asshole! Pig!” She screams and comes at me but I manage to dodge her and get away. Yeah, she’s right. I’m an ass and that was cruel, but I never promised her anything so she needs to get over it.

Well shit. I weave through the crowd, request a song, and then watch.

And wait.

And locate
her
in the middle of the dance floor.

 

 

 

I MAKE SURE
my hair is perfectly curled, makeup exceptional, lips coated with cherry lip-gloss, my favorite. Blonde hair with hi-lights, blue eyes, white blouse, which barely covers my belly, low cut faded mini skirt, shiny bling belt, and my favorite pair of Victoria’s Secret silver bling boots. I have them unzipped and rolled down at the back so the fuzzy cheetah print lining shows.

I glance at myself in the mirror on the back of my door, wondering if I look more mature.

Twenty is a beautiful number. It screams adult, but I’m not old enough to enter a bar. Yeah, whatever. Good old fake ID’s.

Though my birthday was five days ago, the girl’s and I are celebrating at Muze after the soccer game. I know there’s some serious eye candy, one guy specifically, and it’s time for me to enjoy life again. Not all guys are bad. I need to keep reminding myself of this, although the guys on Kolby’s team seem to have some sort of god complex. Pu-lease. There’s only one guy I want to notice me. And if he does, I need to figure out a way to keep him from finding out who I am. And it’s all because of the asshole, Devin. Oh that bitter prick deserves to be in jail. I just hope he regrets what he did. Bastard ruined my trust and it’s taken me a while to let it all go.

I
am
woman!

I
am
strong.

I
am
going to have fun tonight.

Yes, I am. No guy’s necessary. Well, maybe just one. But eye candy totally welcome.

 

 

I DIDN’T COME
to the bar to see if Jax is
here. No. Totally not. Okay! So I’m lying, but nobody needs to know that. I’m totally praying he’s here. Muze is party central at Blaze and…

Uh.
That Sandy girl is here and she’s giving me dirty looks. Darcy turns and smiles at me but it quickly fades when Sandy catches her by the arm and drags her away.

“What the hell is her problem? She’s such a bitch to me at practice, then here.” I watch her and… “Oh, no way. Not my brother! Look at her. She’s totally petting my brother. Unbelievable.”

Tiffany waves her hand in front of my face. “Um, hello? You should totally threaten her, using your brother of course.” She pauses to tap her lips. “Oh! I know, I know. You should totally go up to your brother, grab his arm, whisper in his ear and then smile at her. She will so not know he’s your brother, and think—”

“Brilliant! I’m going to do it. She’s been punned!”

I make my way toward Kolby, reach up and wrap my arms around his neck, startling him.

“What the—”

I tug Kolby down and whisper in his ear. “Just play along big brother. She’s eyeing you so I’m just making her jealous, which will make her want you more.”

I know he’s staring at Sandy, obviously fascinated with her. He’s distracted enough to be light with me and let it go. “But you’re not old enough to be here. You need to—”

“Shut up, Kolby. I deserve to have fun. Don’t worry, I won’t get anywhere near your frat or soccer pals.”

“Fine,” he says, then hugs and releases me.

I turn to catch Sandy, her cheeks flush. She slaps her hands on her hips, lips in a straight line, eyes squinting then she smirks as she struts off, Darcy following her.

My brother follows her and I catch him nodding at Nick. I hate that guy. He’s loud, obnoxious and thinks he’s the shit. He’s not ugly but he’s nothing special either. Nick nods, strolls toward Kolby and then swoops in on that girl, Darcy. I bet she’s a great friend. I hope she’s smart enough to shrug Nick off. Her blonde hair, blue eyes and I imagine her sweet personality, could score any guy she wants.

“No, don’t do it,” I say.

“Do what?” Tiffany asks.

“That poor girl. She’s getting hounded by Nick and she’s following him on the dance floor.”

“He’s such a pig. Oh well. She’s friends with snotty Sandy who’s now dancing with your brother.” Tiffany sniggers.

I can’t keep the smile from dressing my lips when I catch a glimpse of
him
. He doesn’t see me and I plan to keep it that way. For now. “Yeah, well, Sandy’s a great distraction. As long as she keeps Kolby occupied, his attention won’t be on me, or who’s hitting on me.”

Tiffany and I weave through the crowd and push our way up to the bar. We order our favorite, dirty martinis. The waiter sets our drinks down and I throw down some cash, but he pushes it back at me. “It’s on them boys down the way,” he says and points toward our right. There’s a couple of guys eyeing us. I give a slight nod of thanks and look away, disinterested.

We flirt a little, move around from one end of the bar to another, drinks coming our way from this boy or that. I notice Nick leading Darcy toward the back of the stage, then whip out a key and enter through the door marked PRIVATE. Then I see Kolby, with a different girl, heading the same way, unlocking the same door Nick and Darcy just went through.
Huh.
Kolby once told me there were pass-out rooms here at Blaze. I think he meant make-out rooms because none of them appear drunk enough to pass out. I’ll have to check that out, maybe steal his key.

A few times I’ve noticed
him
watching me from afar. I haven’t disregarded the attention he seems to draw with the females, all sluts of course, and how he’s been shrugging them off. His eyes always connect with mine and he smirks as if he’s waiting for me. It’s stalker-ish and makes me a little nervous. I break the stare without a smile, feign no interest, and turn back toward the bar.

An hour later, I drag Tiffany away from the bar before we get totally trashed. I’m in search of
him
but fear he’s already left.

And then I see
him
. Only a few bodies away from me, I get a close up view.

He’s the epitome of men. His striking good looks turn heads. Lots of them. Then he walks past me in a cloud of sex and arrogance, and he’s slowly luring me in to his perimeters with sly eyes, hooded and sexy, then a player’s smile, the kind that gives a slight rise to his now obvious dimple, but the smile doesn’t reach his eyes and that’s what tells me it’s a player’s smile. I’ve seen my damn brother do it to girls often enough to know.

This isn’t a part of my strategy—I hadn’t planned on
him.
Yes, I’d been curious about him, and dammit if I haven’t stopped wondering about him after our brief encounter on the soccer field. Okay, so I’m a liar. I did plan on him, hoped he’d be here, that I’d run into him again.

But this feels like a game of command and docility.

He’s gaining control.

I’m falling prey.

I lean in and try to speak over the music. “I want him, Tiffany.”

“You haven’t even met him yet. You’re basing everything off his looks alone. He kind of looks like a prick if you ask me,” Tiffany huffs.

“He’s been eyeing me all night. I’ve done my best to avoid him, but I don’t want to avoid him any longer.” Bastard is luring me in.

“And how do you plan on doing this? You gonna lie and give a fake name? ’Cause you know Kolby will ruin it all for you… or him… the minute he finds out. That is unless you plan on making this a one night
er
?”

“No! And… Brilliant! You’re brilliant, Tiff.”

“Um… I know, but… why?”

“Because. You just gave me the answer. I’m not going to tell him who I am. I’m… hmm. Timber! Not Kimber or Kimmi, just Timber.”

“Uh, wasn’t that Kolby’s exes name, the bitch, Timberly? As in,
‘It’s Timberly, T-I-M-berly!’
” Tiffany mocks my brother’s ex.

“Yes, and… Oh my god! That’s it! You’re such a fucking genius, Tiffany.” I grab her shoulders and shake her. “You gave me the perfect idea. I’m going to be… her. Timberly, Timber for short, the bitch.”

“Why does my gut tell me this is a bad idea?”

“Because it is. Okay, never mind. I can’t be near him, or with him. I can’t. We should leave, like now. Yeah, before my brother decides to come up for air and tells me to leave.”

Tiffany stares over my shoulder and then she grabs me. “No!” she says abruptly, her eyes meeting mine, and I see the sudden desperation. “Well, just be careful. Play with him if you must, but don’t let him get to you. Keep telling yourself he’s a player, a user, and not a commitment kind of guy, as rumor has it.”

She’s not fooling me. Yes, she’s right, but I know why she wants to stay. Her eye candy just walked in.

 

 

I’VE SKIRTED AROUND
him long enough. He’s gaining on me and I’m caving. It’s the way he watches me, those eyes promising to do sinful and dirty things I’ve only imagined. The thought makes me nervous.

I struggle to pull back, away from his striking distance, the kiss of death, but he’s closing in.

I slip off the stool and rush into the crowd on the dance floor. I breathe a sigh of relief when I don’t see him. I curse Tiffany, and hope she gets something out of this night. Preferably Vincenzo—her eye candy.

Music pulses through the speakers and I fall into rhythm, ignoring the bodies bouncing around me. Dancing is my escape and I forget I’m alone in thick of the crowd.

I’m lost in the songs, in dancing, until the music shifts and ‘Closer’ by Nine Inch Nails drones through the speakers. Such a filthy song but so good to dance dirty to.

BOOK: The Next Contestant
6.33Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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