Crimson and Clover by Juli Page Morgan Page A

laughter, he examined his foot with a sorrowful frown. “Ruined. Looks like I’ll have to throw them out with Katie’s boots.”
    “What’s wrong with Katie’s boots? They looked fine to me.” He closed his eyes and sank lower in his chair. “Haven’t seen George lately, have you?”
    “Nope. Why? You didn’t want me to say anything to him before you got back, did you?”
    “Hm-mm.” An errant curl fell across Jay’s face as he shook his head and he flicked it back with a forefinger. “Just hoping he’s not found a new band.”
    “Not that I’ve heard.” With a groan, Adam got to his feet and stretched. “I think his band is playing at Middle Earth tonight, though. We could fetch Stuart and go hear them, maybe talk to George about joining us.”
    “Sounds good.” Jay swung his feet off the table and stood. “We’ll have to take the tube, though. I’d probably wrap the car round a tree or something in this state.”
    “You are going to change your shirt, I hope.”
    “I am not.” Jay checked the pockets of his jeans to make sure he had enough money on him. “Stuart’s from America and will be able to properly appreciate it. Of course,” he sniggered. “He’s also from Dallas, so I’d better watch myself. Don’t want him getting romantically attached.”
    “What’d the bloke do when he found out Marty wasn’t a girl?” Adam asked.
    Sobering a little, Jay shook his head. “You don’t want to know.” Anxious to change the subject, he cocked a brow. “D’you want to stop by for Katie while we’re fetching Stuart?”
    “What? Oh.” Adam looked uncomfortable. “No, she’s out with Maureen tonight. The Marquee, I think.”
    “Let’s head there first, then.” Jay grabbed his jacket from the back of the couch. “Maureen’s always fun and I’d like to see Katie again. I had a good time at her place last night.”
    “Sure, get me into trouble.” At Jay’s questioning look, he shrugged. “She wanted a girl’s night and if I show up, it’ll look like I don’t trust her.”
    Jay paused in the act of opening the front door. “Oh. Like that, is it?”
    “Well, y’know … ” Adam rubbed the end of his nose, his cheeks flushed.
    “All right, then.” Jay shrugged. “We’ll get Stuart and head to Middle Earth.” His forehead creased in a confused frown as he locked the door. Had he made a colossal mistake telling Katie Scott he wanted her? He could have sworn she was into him, but perhaps he’d misread the signals. With a sigh, he pocketed his keys and followed Adam down the drive.
    There was another explanation, one he was reluctant to admit. He’d been so mesmerized by Katie that he could have missed a roomful of signals. When she’d asked him to dance he’d been powerless to refuse; the desire to hold her in his arms had been too strong.
    Remembering the feel of her body against his and the elusive scent of jasmine that rose from her hair made a surreptitious adjustment of the front of his jeans necessary. Another sobering thought struck him, one that removed the need for further adjustments: She must think him a total fool. That, or a total wank. After all, he’d come on to Adam’s girl.
    Guilt twisted in his belly and he grimaced. He’d known Adam for years and considered him his closest friend. No way would he ever try to move in on a girl if Adam was involved with her, no matter how attractive he found her. And, damn, he was attracted to Katie Scott. He’d hated to leave her party so early but he had reached the end of his restraint when they’d stopped dancing. If he’d stayed another minute he would have probably … No, there was no probably about it. He’d have kissed those tempting lips in front of everyone, kissed her until they were both breathless. And then he’d have found her bedroom and divested her of that insanely short, lust-inducing dress before making love to her for hours. And hours.
    With a deep breath, he pushed those thoughts from his