Jumped Read Online Free Page B

gin and tonic. “Thought you might be thirsty after your murder attempt.”
    â€œHa.”
    He sat in the chair next to her. “Seriously. They’re putting him in an iron lung right now.”
    She laughed, hesitated, then said, “Thanks.”
    Finn frowned. “Damn, I should’ve known—you just want water. You want my club soda?”
    â€œNo, it’s fine.”
    â€œNo, I forgot—you hate sparkling water. Be right back.” He stood.
    â€œFinn, it’s fine.”
    â€œUh-uh.” He looked at her like a stern father staring down a toddler. “Stay put.” He strode toward the bar.
    â€œFine! Be that way!” she called after him, but he could hear the laugh effervescing in her voice.
    He returned with water, which Bethany gratefully accepted. Finn sat next to her and attempted to chat with Amanda, Grady, and Bethany over the music. The whole time, he willed the celebrity couple to leave so he could be alone with his ex. Amanda and Grady were still newlyweds; Shouldn’t they be off necking somewhere?
    Bethany grabbed her hair and fanned her neck, sending the sweet floral scent of her shampoo Finn’s way. Holy hell. The perfume must’ve jostled a memory loose, because he suddenly wanted to press his lips against that damp, soft skin on her neck and tangle his hands in that hair. Now he really wanted Amanda and Grady to go.
    Bethany said to him, “Hey, I didn’t see you on the dance floor. Afraid I’d embarrass you? Scared you wouldn’t keep up?”
    He barely recovered from his fantasy, but he managed to say, “You’re heartless. You’ve already forgotten what you did to poor Harris.”
    â€œNobody was holding a gun to his head. He could’ve left whenever he wanted.”
    â€œDancing with you is like staring at a solar eclipse—by the time you realize you should stop, the damage is done.”
    â€œYou never had a problem keeping up.” She gave him her slyest smile. Which made him want to adjust his trousers.
    â€œI never danced with you eight thousand feet above sea level, either.”
    â€œWanna give it a go?” Her gray eyes were alight. She was practically impish.
    He smiled, lifting one side of his mouth. “Why not? Right now?”
    She smiled a challenge back at him. “Hells yeah!”
    He laughed. This was pure Bethany.
    He got to his feet. He wanted to offer his hand, but instead he pulled out her chair for her. Less skin-on-skin contact was safer. And to think he was stone-cold sober.
    The DJ was playing eighties songs, which was fine by Finn. When he caught up to Beth, who had eeled her way to the middle of the crowded floor, a Michael Jackson song was ending. “It’s Raining Men” started, and every woman within a twenty-five-mile radius screamed and converged on the dance floor. It was a veritable rave. Finn was besieged by screeching females fueled by alcohol. Everyone was feeling the love, and unfortunately for Finn, it seemed they all unleashed it right at him. He was their darling. He was trying to be polite, but some of these gals were ruthless. One twerked at him, backing herself up until she made contact. He tried to back away, but someone else had pressed her vibrating butt to his. He was trapped.
    He looked at Bethany, who had been shoved a few feet away. She was laughing so hard, she’d stopped dancing. She stood there, hand covering her mouth, shaking, tears rolling down her cheeks. He raised his hands in a gesture of defeat and shook his head.
    â€œYou’re too sexy for this song!” she shouted.
    After the initial enthusiastic flurry, the group’s collective hedonism dissipated as the next song began—Madonna, when she had a mole. Finn ended up dancing in the midst of the throng, and whenever he turned to face Bethany, the cluster turned with him. The consolation prize of not getting to dance with just her was that he got to