“Excuse me?” I was starting to get a little heated from the drill of questions she had no right to ask. It was none of her business.

Megan shifted her weight and took a sip of her wine. Her purple dress was beautiful, but not on her. “Well…there are rumors, and I don’t know if you want to know, but—”

Jake gaped between Megan and me, then back to Megan. “I don’t think she really cares, Megan.”

She shot him an evil eye that made him back away. “Well…as I was saying. I’m just thinking of you. This really doesn’t concern me. Rumor has it that Max likes to pick an apple, shine it up, eat it, and spit it back out when he’s finished. So do be careful. You should stay away from him.” Then she walked away, waving to someone from afar.

“Hey,” Jake cheered, slightly rubbing my arm. “It’s probably the alcohol talking. She really isn’t that—”

Before Jake could finish his sentence, I took the wine glass out of his hand and gulped it down. Either I was really buzzed or the phone was really buzzing in my purse, but I ignored it. I was already feeling light-headed, but the alcohol was helping me forget…forget what Megan had said…forget Max…especially Max.

“Let’s dance.” I tugged Jake toward the band where people were swaying to the music.

As Jake and I danced—though I couldn’t really dance since I was in the stupid dress that I now wanted to take off—Megan’s words echoed in my mind, lingering a bit longer than I wanted them to. No way was I going to be that apple that shone for him, and no way was I going to be that apple he would spit out…oh…what else did she say? I couldn’t remember any more.

Swaying to the music, strands of my hair that were pinned up fell onto my bare back. Though it was not a backless dress, it did reveal half of my back, but I didn’t care. Twisting to the left, I saw Max. He had moved closer to the dance floor too, and he was still with that blonde chick and several others, but it looked like he was not paying attention to them. Whatever…I didn’t care. But I knew I did care for only one reason...his eyes, staring at me, were too intense; he could’ve burned holes right through me. Or was he burning holes through Jake? Not only that, he twitched a little when Jake’s hand went around my waist. After that, I looked away…somewhat intimidated by Max…somewhat afraid.

The music that pounded through the floor changed its pace to a calmer one, which was a relief because I couldn’t move another muscle. Plus, the room was scorching hot, like a harsh, searing summer in Los Angeles when it was over one hundred degrees. Was I sweating, too? I wasn’t dancing fast for that long. The room started to spin, and there was a humming sound in my head. Everything seemed to move at a slower pace. I could feel my arms draped around Jake’s neck, but I didn’t remember doing it. I couldn’t even register when Jake’s mouth opened to say something. Even through my haze, I realized that I was utterly high.

Wondering where Max was, I turned to look where he’d been before, though it felt like it took a great deal of effort to do so since my mind and body were not in sync. He was gone. Then I heard his sexy voice singing in my eardrum. It was not my imagination. Max was standing next to me, and I felt Jake’s grip on my waist loosen.

Max’s strong arms held me in place as he swayed to the music. I wasn’t sure what I was doing…maybe just standing there. One thing for sure, somehow my arms were on his. “How many drinks have you had?” His tone was stern but gentle.

“I…I think…one…no, two?” I replied softly, unable to look him in the eye. Basically, I was talking to his chest. I was worried I had lost my job.

“You want to talk to my chest, or do you want to look at me?”

I was in trouble…a huge amount of trouble. Not only was I buzzed, I was sure I was red from head to toe, blending in with the dress. And clearly, this was totally unprofessional. Feeling ashamed, I let my emotions get the best of me. I let Max get the best of me. Maybe he couldn’t tell? I hoped.

“Look at me,” he ordered.

I peered up slowly, squinting my eyes. My head was throbbing, pulsating like my heart.

“Just as I thought,” Max said in monotone.

“Sorry…I’m sorry. I’m so hot.” I was sure I slurred my words, because they sounded unclear and strange to my ears.

“You’re hot…in more ways than one,” he said, gliding his arms to my back. When he touched me, I quivered, aware of his hands on me even in this condition. “Geez…Jenna!” His voice was loud. I heard it vibrate in my head, but I was pretty sure the loud music drowned out his voice. Max touched my cheeks and pulled me away, with his fingers tightly gripped on my arm. “You’re burning.” Now his arm was around my shoulders. “Come on. I’m taking you out of here.”

Chapter 16

Blinking my eyes open, I couldn’t recall how I got there…elevator, I thought. It was quiet, away from the crowd, away from the noise, but I was still roasting inside, as if my body were an oven, baking at the highest temperature. Feeling something cold underneath my bottom, I looked down to see myself sitting on a granite counter, and the slit on my dress parted open, exposing my legs from my upper thigh down. Lazily glancing around, I noted there were two sinks and three stalls. I was in the women’s restroom. Someone walked out of the stall. No, I was in the men’s room. What the heck?