Love Required Read Online Free Page B

came to the dance floor, Jason paused and allowed her to come up next to him. She looked up at him in question. He could only give her a smile as he gestured for her to follow the path around the dance floor. She did, allowing him to place his hand on her lower back to guide her. Tori flinched when his hand made contact, but she relaxed a moment later. He wasn’t sure if he should be worried about that reaction, but he convinced himself this was the gentlemanly thing to do. Plus, he wanted to touch her.
    It was selfish, he knew, but that didn’t change his mind. Getting closer to his table, he knew the second Allie caught sight of his approach. Her face took on a knowing glint as she turned and whispered something to Mike before looking back at Jason.
    Jason extended his hand forward, showing Tori they’d arrived. “Here we are.”
    Tori looked up at him and asked, “What exactly is it you need from me?”
    He just smiled as he moved to her other side, positioning himself between Allie and Tori. “I just need you to say what you said in the kitchen.”
    Tori gave him an adorable shrug as she turned her attention toward the table. Standing on her right side, he caught sight of a long scar that ran from the corner of her mouth at an upward angle toward her ear. It was clear she had used something to cover it up, but his height over her afforded him a view. It was so precise, which told him it was not an accidental injury; it was intentional. The thought of someone deliberately hurting her stole his ability to speak, and they were left standing at his table in awkward silence.
    Allie spoke up, “What’s going on, Jason? Did you get in trouble in the kitchen?”
    Shaking his head at Allie’s sarcasm, he distanced himself from the vision in his head. He looked at Allie as Tori leaned forward, placing the plate of dressing on the table. She let out a small laugh as she defended him, “He was no trouble at all in the kitchen. In fact, he asked me to make sure we brought out extra dressing for you so you wouldn’t have to go without. He was very insistent.”
    Tori looked back up at him and winked before turning back to the table, waiting for whatever it was he brought her out there for. She winked at him . He thought that was one of the hottest things a woman could do. It showed she was flirty, confident, and comfortable. He really liked that. Not to mention the vibrant green eyes she was winking at him with were like emeralds set in ivory cream surrounded by a crown of deep auburn hair. Her hair was in such vibrant contrast to her eyes, it made both features stand out more. He had to fight the urge to reach out and touch her. It was a strangely hard thing for him to do.
    When she turned back to look at him, she had that questioning look on her face again, and he realized he was making a fool of himself by only staring at her and not speaking to the table of people looking up at them. He could care less what his family and friends thought; it was her he didn’t want thinking he was an idiot. Finally finding his voice, he said, “Everyone, this is Tori. She was helping me in the kitchen when she said something I thought you should hear.”
    Jason could see Mike smirking behind Allie. Jonathan and Zane were also sporting matching grins. Allie’s narrowed eyes and raised eyebrow showed she knew he was up to something. He loved knowing he was about to take her down. A smile spread across his face as he thought of his plans once she became the table bitch. Looking back over to Tori, he asked, “Could you please repeat our conversation in the kitchen for my family here?”
    “Um, okay. Well, first you complained that it was going to be a long night. Then I said, it can’t be all that bad, you’re at a party after all.” She said to the table before turning to look at him again. He smiled and gave her an encouraging nod. Her answering smile was like a punch to the gut, and he had no idea why this little woman had such a