The Cheater Read Free Page B

silence.
    Every few minutes Carter glanced at Adam, trying not to let him see she was studying him.
    She couldn’t help thinking that he looked great. He wore jeans and a plaid shirt—nothing special, but on his lean frame they had an easy sexiness.
    In the same clothes, Dan would have looked neat and buttoned-up, somehow. But with his shaggy hair and dark eyes, Adam was almost a rock star.
    Carter watched as they rolled through the Old Village. “Where are we going?” she asked him.
    â€œThe Underground. Ever been there?”
    â€œNo—not yet.” Carter didn’t want to admit that she’d never even heard of it.
    They were slowly cruising through a seedy warehouse district. The streets were deserted, lit only by an occasional street lamp. They turned down a dark alley and Carter noticed a lot of cars parked outside one of the warehouses. There was no sign—just a red light over the door.
    Adam pulled into a small clear area. Carter knew that this was it—the Underground.
    Without a backward glance at Carter, Adam climbed out of the car and started toward the door with the red light over it. Carter followed him.
    Adam pulled open the door. Carter was suddenly hit by a blast of loud music. A brawny bouncer stood just inside. He glanced at Adam and checked Carter out, but he didn’t stop them.
    The club was huge, dark, and crowded. Some people sat in a corner, smoking and talking. Others were crammed in the center of the room, dancing.
    Most of the guys had Adam’s careless, slightly dangerous look—uncombed long hair, scruffy clothes, combat boots. The girls wore jeans or tight dresses, dark lipstick, and sneering expressions.
    Carter knew she didn’t fit in, no matter how hard she had tried not to dress “like a North Hills princess.” Her jeans were torn at the knee but clean, her blond hair neatly trimmed. Her skin had a pampered glow. She felt a little uneasy as she glanced around the club and saw hostile glares in the eyes of some of the girls.
    But knowing she was out of place comforted her too. At least, she thought, I won’t run into anybody I know. As Adam had said, the Underground was no country club.
    Adam took her hand and led her through the crowd onto the dance floor. They started moving to the pounding beat. Adam was the first guy she’d ever danced with who didn’t look stupid while he danced. He moved loosely, with cool detachment. He danced in his own little world, but once in awhile he gazed at her with burning eyes and gave her that smile.
    The music went on and on without stopping, one song moving seamlessly into another. Carter found herself getting lost in it. She forgot about the people all around her and just danced.
    She glanced up at Adam and found him staring at her while she moved. They locked eyes and danced together, without touching.
    The room grew more crowded. People bumped into them, pushed them closer, but it was all part of the music and the beat. The club was getting hotter, the music even louder.
    Carter didn’t know how long she danced. She felt a drop of sweat slide down her back.
    The crowd had thinned a little when Adam took her hand again and pulled her off the dance floor. He stopped at a table and asked for two glasses of water.
    Carter drank the water quickly. She was very thirsty. Her face and hair were now damp with sweat. She was having a good time. It surprised her.
    â€œLet’s go,” Adam said. He put his glass on the table, pulled hers out of her hand, and set it down too. Then he led her to the door.
    Outside, the air was cool. Carter smiled and said, “It feels great out here!”
    Adam unbuttoned his shirt and fanned it around his body to cool himself off. “You’re a good dancer,” he said.
    Carter blushed a little. “So are you.”
    She glanced around, looking for the blade Mustang. A lot of cars were gone. It must be later than I realized, she