Hot Holidays

CHAPTER 6: Ellie

CHAPTER 6: Ellie

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“I wasn’t wrong,” Ellie said as soon as Adrian sat back down after saying goodbye to his sister and her friends.

“Oh, you were so wrong.” He leaned back on his chair, his hands behind his head. “Did you want to stay here until midnight or leave now and ring in the new year together.”

“More like bang in the new year,” muttered Alison.

Harker laughed not even flinching at Ellie’s glare.

“That’s not going to happen, I wasn’t wrong.” She tilted up her chin, doing her best to maintain her composure but it wasn’t easy. Her body screamed hurrah while her brain...No, it couldn’t be her brain. That organ had quit functioning a few shots ago or she’d never have agreed to Adrian’s bet. It had to be her instincts sending up warning flags like it was a parade.

“You are such a little liar.” Adrian leaned close, his lips almost touching hers. “You’re cute but I’ll need to punish you for all these lies. I have to keep your moral character in mind.”

“My moral...” She pushed him away not even wanting to think about why the idea of this man punishing her was making her wet. “I’m not lying.” She was sticking with that. “I said you were checking her out and you were.”

“She’s my sister. I was not checking her out.” He shivered. “That’s disgusting.”

“But she’s right,” said Harker. “You were watching her.”

“Watching is not the same as checking someone out.”

“I agree with Adrian,” said Alison. “I watch my nephews and I’m definitely not checking them out.” She grimaced. “They’re eight and ten.”

“But they aren’t in a bar.” Ellie was getting behind this logic. “If I see a guy staring, repeatedly”—she sent Adrian a look—“at an attractive woman in a bar, I’d say he was checking her out. He may be looking at her because she looks familiar or because he thinks she stole his dog, but no matter what he is watching her intently.” She wanted to pat herself on the back. No one could argue with that logic.

“I wasn’t watching her intently. I was keeping an eye on her to make sure she stayed out of trouble.”

“Keeping an eye on her would constitute checking her out, even if it’s in a non-s****l way, if you ask me,” said Harker.

“I didn’t,” snapped Adrian.

“But I am,” said Ellie. “I call for a vote.”

“She wasn’t wrong,” said Harker.

“Two against one,” she said.

All eyes fell on Alison.

“Alison come on. You don’t check out your nephews. You’re on my side, right?” Adrian smiled sweetly at her.

Alison frowned. “Sorry. She has a point with intently. I don’t intently stare at my nephews.”

“I wasn’t...” He glanced around the table. “Damn it.”

“Ha.” She’d won and she was thrilled. She loved winning but more than that she loved irritating Adrian.