Never Say Never: An Enemies-to-Lovers Secret Identity New Adult Sports Romance (Western Wildcats Hockey Book 4)
Chapter 11

I trail after Britt from a distance as she slips through the crowd and down the hallway to where the restrooms are located. Maybe she didn’t want me to come with her, but I have a younger sister and I’d never want her walking around alone at a place like this.

It takes about ten minutes before she returns. I straighten to my full height as she beelines to the sleek bar instead of heading back to the dance floor where everyone is busy busting a move.

It’s so damn tempting to eat up the distance that separates us and pull her back into the warm circle of my arms where she belongs. I almost shake my head as that thought coalesces in my brain. The mix of emotions pumping through me are strange and new. Unlike anything I’ve experienced before. Instead of shutting them down and backing away, they only make me want to dig deeper and figure out what it all means.

Even though it goes against every instinct, I force myself to hang back and observe. I’m curious if she’ll return to the dance floor.

To me.

She loiters near the bar, trying to catch someone’s attention. But the bartenders are busy and the customers are at least two deep. My muscles tense when a few guys pause to check out her ass. I’m like a racehorse straining at its bit. If any of these dickheads even attempt to shoot their shot, I’m moving in.

I’m itching to mark her as my own, so these jokers understand that she’s taken.

Except…that’s not the case.

Britt doesn’t belong to me.

Hell, I’m not even sure we’re friends.

Oblivious to the attention she’s drawing, she glances at the VIP section. I follow her line of sight and replace a dark-haired guy. He’s lounging on a sumptuous couch as the well-dressed people who surround him laugh and drink.

There’s something familiar about him. Although that’s not altogether surprising. I’ve caught sight of a ton of celebrities since we walked into the hotel. From movie and television stars to athletes and world-renowned chefs.

Vegas is a playground for the rich and famous.

Britt’s attention stays pinned to him. Under the colorful lights that flash and flicker, her body stiffens. She reminds me of a deer caught in the bright glare of headlights.

Frozen in place.

Does she know him?

I study the guy more carefully, only to replace him staring back at her. His expression shifts to one of surprise as he snaps to attention like a bird dog who’s just spotted fresh quarry.

When my gaze cuts to Britt, it’s a shock to replace that she’s disappeared. I catch a flash of silver moving through the mass of bodies and take off. After a couple of steps, I throw a glance over my shoulder, wanting to make sure the dude in question doesn’t plan on following. A frown mars his face as he rises to his feet and searches the darkness.

Unwilling to lose her for a second time this evening, I twist around and hasten my pace. I’m tall enough to see over most of the crowd packed into the club and catch sight of her again as she slips through the exit.

My heart jackhammers an unsteady beat as I give chase. It takes less than a minute for me to pull up alongside her.

She startles, fear flickering across her expression as her head whips around and her gaze collides with mine.

“Colby.” Her voice is unsteady.

Breathless.

“Hey.”

Relief floods her features before it’s quickly shuttered behind a mask of indifference as she continues to stride purposefully toward our hotel in the distance.

I wait a beat.

Then another, hoping she’ll give me an explanation for her sudden departure.

After a handful of seconds, it becomes clear that she isn’t going to bother.

“What happened back there?”

She stares straight ahead. “Nothing. I just got a little overheated and decided to head back to the hotel.”

Overheated?

That’s her justification for taking off like a bat out of hell?

“And you weren’t going to tell anyone? Don’t you think your friends would have been concerned that you just dipped without a word?”

She stutters to a stop and stares at me. Emotion flickers across her face. “You’re right.” She fishes her phone out of the sparkly purse that matches her tiny excuse for a dress before firing off a text. Then she holds up the sleek rose gold device. “All taken care of. I sent a text to the group chat letting them know that I’m headed back to the hotel.”

Since she’s not going to address her reason for leaving the club, I decide to take the bull by the horns.

“Who was the guy?”

There’s a flash of panic in her golden eyes before it disappears. “What guy?”

“The one in the VIP lounge. The one you were staring at.” There’s a beat of uncomfortable silence before I add, “The one who was staring back like he knew you.”

Her teeth scrape across her lower lip as she glances away. “I have no idea.”

I tilt my head and study her under the neon flashing lights of the restaurants, casinos, and hotels. “Are you sure about that? Because the way you looked at each other says otherwise.”

Her brows pinch together as she fires off a question of her own. “Were you watching me?”

Sure, I could lie…

But what would be the point?

“Yeah, I was.”

Her eyes widen. “Why?”

I step closer, eating up the space between us before reaching out and stroking my fingers along the curve of her jaw. “I think that should be more than obvious.” When she remains silent, I add, “Don’t you?”

“Colby…”

She blinks as her face fills with indecision.

Instead of pushing for more, I allow my hand to fall away before slipping it around her waist and tugging her close. There’s something about her warm weight anchored against my body that settles everything rampaging within me.

“Come on, let’s head back to the hotel.”

“You don’t have to cut your night short. There are a ton of people out walking the streets. I’m perfectly safe.”

Like hell I’d let her walk back alone.

Maybe I don’t always act like a gentleman, but buried deep down, that’s exactly what I am.

In fact, my motto has always been ‘ladies first.’

And if that doesn’t say it all, I don’t know what does.

I shrug. “I’m more than ready to call it a night.”

It’s a relief when her muscles loosen, and we resume walking in companionable silence.

For the first time in my life, I’m locked on one girl.

I assume that once we sleep together, my interest will wane, and I’ll be able to move on. A little voice inside my head wonders what will happen if that doesn’t turn out to be the case.

I quash that thought before it can burrow into my brain and cause irreparable damage.

Because there’s no way in hell that’s going to happen.