[h3] Duke and Dean [/h3]

Duke was taken aback for a moment when Esme placed her hand against his chest and put some space between them. For a moment, he was afraid that she was going to push him away completely and that he had ruined the moment. But behind all of the potential negative tension that could bubble, Esme was obviously trying to hide a smile. This was something Duke took great pride in and he tilted his head back a bit.

The serious look that came next caused Duke’s heart to flutter in his chest. Once again, he had to read her expression, and every single micro expression on her face to try and decipher whether he had ruined the night. He decided to assume the opposite and when she accused him of trying to get her drunk, Duke turned his eyes up toward the ceiling briefly, showing that she wasn’t completely off.

“I mean…I…” He started, but then she turned and looked at the bar, and once again Duke’s heart fluttered at her words. The flirtation was back, and it was definitely…most definitely giving a lot of mental images. He mulled it over, scanning Esme’s face as she turned her eyes up to his and willingly continued to tease him, right back to winding him up, something that he found almost addictive. He would have to be careful, or his own worst temptation would take over, and the odds of him making yet another ill timed move would skyrocket.

“Well, there’s only one way to find out…” Duke murmured, leaning a bit closer to Esme’s face, right as her face melted into a smile, and her laugh sent his heart racing with a mixture of excitement and initially…embarrassment. The excitement took over completely as Esme stepped around to his side and began to tug him toward the bar. “Yes, Ma’am!”

Duke thought about the best course of action, while dodging women asking him to dance as he and Esme made their way to the bar. He could see none of them, concentrating only on Esme’s arms around his own, and the way their bodies brushed as they walked. He didn’t skip a beat as they approached the bar. He pulled his arm from Esme, wrapping that arm around her waist, and then reached down, sweeping her off her feet to carry her the rest of the way. Once at the bar, he gently sat her down on a barstool and sighed with a proud smile.

"There! I swept you off your feet. Score one for me tonight..."

He laughed and then realized the bartender was approaching them, breaking up the potentially productive moment. Smiling at the bartender, he instantly held up two fingers, “Two uh….Old Fashioned on ice.”

The bartender smirked and nodded, asking with his eyes if Duke wanted the top shelf whiskey as he turned around, to which Duke gave a thumbs up and then turned back to Esme, hopping up on an empty barstool. Without skipping a beat, he scooted his seat closer to Esme’s and leaned his elbow on the bar, turning to her.

“So, whiskey might be dangerous. I remember the last time we both drank whiskey together…at a bar. Maybe the fanciness of this place will keep me out of trouble.” Duke teased, leaning in close so that Esme could hear him, but also to test the waters of her tolerance and flirting. The bartender sat their drinks down, and Duke leaned back a bit with a sigh, sliding her drink toward her while picking up his own, “Here’s to trouble!”

[h3] A little while and several drink later [/h3]

Dean sifted through the crowd, finding that everyone looked a bit similar in the dim lighting and through all the masks. But finally, Duke’s hat stood out at the bar, moving around as if he was telling some insane story, or likely talking up some girl. Good. He was talking up a girl. Maybe he would have a good night and would at least be appeased…and not as much of a clingy puppy.

But as Dean approached the bar, and both Duke and Esme came into view, his eyes shot from: Duke’s bright smile, Duke’s fingers drawing circles on the back of Esme’s neck, to the mostly empty drink in front of him, and finally to the flush in Duke’s cheeks. This was a recipe for disaster, and Dean could feel it in his bones. 

He quickly stepped up beside Esme, and leaned in to kiss her on the cheek, “Miss me? Or is Mr. Oil Tycoon filling in a little too nicely.”

“Oh no. Here comes the buzzkill.”, Duke groaned, clearly buzzed (possibly very drunk) and disappointed.

“Oh I’m sorry that I’m finished with the job we came here to do, and now I would like to have a drink with my girlfriend. Is that…bad?” Dean responded, causing Duke to hold up a finger.

“Shut your mouth before you blow all the work WE have been doin’. It’s actually been good out here. Thanks for askin’.” Duke slurred, looking around to make sure no one heard Dean, even though Dean was practically whispering in the loud room. 

“No one heard me, idiot. Plus, we’ll be out of here soon. But first, I want a drink.” 

“And I gotta go find a bathroom. Don’t…don’t miss me too much.” Duke slurred, standing from his stool and stepping away. Dean watched him for a moment, realizing that the vibe Duke was giving wasn’t just being drunk…it was jealously.

“Oh no…” Dean sighed, picking up his drink as the bartender returned. He tapped his fingers on the bar for a moment, and then turned to Esme, “He’s gonna bolt. He’s drunk and he’s feeling…left out. You might want to…go get him. If I go, he’ll just throw a fit.”

Duke passed a few of the women who had been trying to cling to him the entire night, dodging their hands as he legitimately searched for the restroom. If anything, he just wanted the quiet for a moment. The thought of running off crossed his mind, but he had promised Esme. Even if he was upset, felt left out, and felt like he was trying to keep himself together to not ruin his one solid friendship, he didn’t want to think about her reaction to him leaving.