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“You, me, Celine, the club. Be there or be square.”

She holds up a finger as she names each thing and ends with a palm in the air. Zav slaps it with no questions asked.

These two together are trouble.

“All right let’s go. Nobody misbehave please, this is a perfectly legal observation, and it’ll stay that way.”

I glance pointedly at Zavier, and he holds his hands up in surrender before answering.

He pouts and adjusts his glasses where they’ve slid down his nose. “Now when have I ever misbehaved?”

Music pulses through the large space and I’m hit with déjà vu sitting in a booth with Ava in Vex. This time is different, though, because we have a particular redhead with us who glances around and takes everything in with sparkling inquisitive eyes.

“I can’t believe we’re back here.” I try to ignore the heat of Zavier’s palm where it rests on my thigh under the table. The man insists on being glued to my side at all times.

“Believe it,” Ava responds mid crunch. “Funny enough, we’re here for the same reason as the first, which is not in fact to have fun, but to scout out the scene.” She gives me a pointed look which I stick my tongue out at.

I laugh sheepishly. “Sorry.”

Ava wags a finger at me. “Don’t apologize. We both know you’re not one bit sorry.”

“Speaking of, we’re not going to find out anything just sitting here.” Zavier nudges me out of the booth and hops out with a flourish. “Will you do me the honor of a dance?” He holds out a hand like we’re at a regal ball and not a nightclub and tops it off with a wink. “We can check things out inconspicuously that way.”

He offers me his hand, and I slide mine onto it. Pointing at Ava before Zav can pull me away, I say, “Why don’t you hang out at the bar and see if you can glean anything from the bartenders?”

She picks up her drink and slides out of the booth. “You got it, boss.”

Zav weaves us through the throng of bodies to not quite the edge of the dancefloor and pulls me in tight. I gasp at the feel of being pressed so firmly against him. My eyes flick up to his. I know I’m here for investigative purposes and can’t afford to get distracted, but I can’t help it the way lust shoots through me.

I’ve always wished a man would look at me the way he does.

He might not have told me he loves me, but there’s no mistaking the emotion reflected in his eyes behind his glasses.

Brushing my ponytail off my neck he blows lightly on the delicate skin raising goosebumps in his wake. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. He turns me around and my back fits effortlessly to his front as our bodies move to the music.

Realization trickles through me and I gasp, flipping back around to face him. “You fucker!” I yell over the music. Spinning around to face him, he simply grins in response, knowing exactly what I’m going to say. “It was you!”

“What was me?” He plays dumb like he loves to do.

“My sexy stranger from the club that night.”

How long has he been lurking around? How could I have been so blind?

“You think I’m sexy?” His long eyelashes bat at me.

“I know you like to stalk me, but exactly how long have you been watching?” I inquire, poking his chest as his hands drift down my body, settling low on my waist.

“I can’t hear you over the music!” Zavier points to his ears.

“You liar! Of course you can hear me!” I purse my lips at him, and he grabs my hand, twirling my body into his and holding me tightly.

I’ll let it go. For now.

“You’re thinking too much. Just feel the music with me. Andlook around,” he reminds me. “Don’t forget why we’re here.”

I hate that I got so distracted by him that I forgot the whole reason I had asked to come here in the first place.

I spot Ava at the bar, where she chats with the bartender. When her gaze flits my way, I see the hurt in her eyes. I wish I could wave a magic wand and make this whole situation with Spencer better for her, but I just have to hope the saying of time healing all wounds applies here too.