Page 31

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R OWAN

“Holy shit, Row. You’re gonna win me the pool tonight.”

“You mean thirty percent of the pool.”

The emerald-green, one-shoulder slip dress I found on clearance is a little snug around my chest, but falls gracefully over my hips and down my legs. The high slit is only noticeable when I walk, and I chuckle when Brock’s eyes grow as I walk across my small living room.

He takes my coat from my hands and helps me into it.

“You look hot. Damn, Row. I can see why you’ve been hiding those curves. They’re fucking dangerous.”

I chuckle as we make our way down my apartment stairs.

“Thank you?”

“Hell yeah, that was a compliment. You’re going to be a showstopper.”

“I’m not interested in stopping any show,” I say quietly as he helps me into his low-slung sports car.

“I know, sweetheart.” He brushes his hand down my cheek with brotherly affection. “But there’s one who is going to bust a nut when he sees you.”

“So very romantic, Sinatra.”

Brock tips his head back and laughs. “Is romance what you want from me, sweetheart?”

“Not in the least. I want to have fun.”

“Now that, I can do.” He closes my door and rounds the hood.

I wipe my sweaty palms on my coat and give myself a mental pep talk.

You will not freak out when you see Miles with another woman. You pushed him away and told him you wanted to be friends so you could work on your mental health. Of course he’s moved on.

“Cold?” Brock asks as he turns up the heat.

“No. Just a little overwhelmed. This is a little out of my comfort zone. I’m more of a jeans and sweatshirt kind of girl.”

“And you look sexy as hell in those as well.” He pats my knee and keeps light conversation going for the twenty-minute ride.

By the time he pulls up to the valet, he has me laughing and almost forgetting about seeing Miles with another woman.

“Come on, gorgeous. Let’s knock ‘em dead.” Brock holds out his hand and helps me from the car.

“You mean bust a nut?”

He tips his head back and laughs, which has me smiling as we make our entrance into the ballroom of the Four Aces Casino. The hospital fundraiser is well attended by Boston athletes, business owners, and a few celebrities. Brock ran through the list during our drive over, and while I don’t normally fangirl over the rich and famous, I do feel glamorous—if not out of place—to be in their company.

Crystal chandeliers drip from the ceiling and elaborate floral arrangements are centered on dozens of round tables scattered around a dance floor.

“Champagne?” Brock takes two glasses from a passing waiter and holds a glass for me.

“Thank you.” We clink glasses.

“To an unforgettable night.”

“To an unforgettable night,” I repeat. I highly doubt I’ll forget seeing a woman draped on Miles’s arm.

“Damn, Row.” Declan sidles up next to us and kisses my cheek. “You clean up really well. Fucking smoking hot.”

“Thank you. Are you here with someone?”

Brock snorts. “She’s staking her claim on the jackpot. I told her I’d split it with her.”

“Not splitting.” I elbow him in the ribs.

“My date’s hot, but she’s got nothing on you,” Dec says.

“Where is she?”

He shrugs. “Currently hitting on a hockey player she used to hook up with. She’s into threesomes, as am I, but not with another guy. Maybe the winning lady will join us tonight?” He wiggles his eyebrows and I roll my eyes.

“Dude. Show some respect. Kids these days.” Brock shakes his head.

“Holy fuck. Who’s that with Buck?” Dec looks over my shoulder and my shoulders stiffen. “She’s a fucking babe.”

I can’t, I won’t turn around to look.

“Shit. I didn’t think he’d really bring someone,” Brock mutters and gives me a sympathetic frown.

Wait. Does he know? My cheeks burn with embarrassment and I lift my bare shoulder in nonchalance. “Didn’t everyone bring a date?”

“He wasn’t planning on coming until I told him I was bringing you.” His eyes flick over my shoulder and I watch as his pupils dilate. Oh my God. Even my date is checking out Miles’s date.

“Who is she?” Dec asks.

“No idea,” Brock groans as he blows out a gruff breath.

I might as well melt into the floor and continue to let everyone in my universe walk all over me.

“Shit. He’s coming over here.” Brock curls his arm around my waist and pulls me into his side.

What the hell is he doing?

I feel his presence behind me, then I smell his spicy cologne. He doesn’t normally wear it. Only when we were dating. Those two times. Miles told me he’d had the bottle since his college days and only slapped it on for special occasions.

I see him reach into his tuxedo pocket and pull out a wad of bills. He hands them to Brock. “There’s no competition tonight. You’ve clearly won.”

Miles turns and dips his head, his mouth so close I can feel the brush of his breath across my bare shoulder. “You are stunning, Rowan. Absolutely breathtaking.”

He hasn’t even seen my entire outfit. Only the view from behind and an obstructed side view.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“Who’s the chick you brought?” Dec asks, obviously unable to read a room. “Think she’d join me and my date in a threesome?”

“The fuck?” Miles gets in Dec’s face and growls down at him. “Stay the fuck away from her or I’ll cut off your dick and ram it so far up your ass you’ll be choking on it.”

He storms off and the three of us stand there speechless.

After he drains his champagne, Brock says, “I’ve never seen him like that before. So serious. So angry. Maybe we went too far.”

“We?” Dec squeezes Brock’s shoulder. “I’m the one who said I wanted to fuck his date. He’s gonna chop my balls off. Miles is never serious about his women so I didn’t think he’d care.”

In a way, Dec is right. Miles has never been protective of a woman before. Not even of me, not that he ever needed to be.

“Come on, Row. Let’s dance.” Brock takes my glass and sets it on a nearby tray. He pulls me onto the dance floor and keeps his body at a respectable distance. “I’m sorry about that.”

“There’s no need for you to apologize.” I fight back my tears and try not to tense when Brock places his hand on my lower back.

“Full disclosure? I thought Miles had a thing for you, so I asked you here to taunt him. Make him admit his crush. I gotta admit, I’m a little confused over his reaction. Unless there’s a history between you two I don’t know about? Sorry if I overstepped. I was trying to play matchmaker.”

“No need to apologize, Brock. You didn’t mean any harm.” I don’t admit to any past history between Miles and me, and I appreciate Brock keeping my back to where Miles and his date must be.

“Mind if I cut in?” I stiffen in Brock’s arms when I hear his voice.

“Rowan? Holy shit. You look amazing. That color looks so good on you. Nice tits too.” I snap my head around and stare at the woman.

“Fucking Jules. Can you control your mouth for at least tonight?”

“Julia?”

My eyes dart between Miles and Julia. His sister is his date. He snapped at Dec because he propositioned Julia. My body lets out a sigh and I take in her appearance. I’ve only seen her in ripped jeans and large sweatshirts. Her silver dress is gorgeous and compliments her body without showing off too much.

“You look beautiful. It’s so good to see you again.” I release Brock and give her a hug.

“Same. Kinda pissed at my brother for letting you go, but by the way he’s been eye fucking you since you walked through the door—”

“Jules.” Miles rubs his hand over his face.

“Sister?” Brock asks, his lip quirks into a smile. “Sure, man. You can dance with my date, and I’ll take care of yours.”

“Hands where I can see them,” Miles growls.

“Should I give you the same warning?” Brock claps his shoulder then brushes a chaste kiss on my cheek. “You can buy him a steak dinner with your winnings. Shall we?” he asks Julia, whisking her across the dance floor.

Her cursing is drowned out by the music, and I stand frozen in my heels as I look up at Miles.

“Hey,” he says.

“Hey.”

“You look magnificent. May I?” He holds out his hand and I take it in mine.

“Magnificent, stunning, breathtaking. Did you look up words in a thesaurus tonight?”

“Are you calling me a dumb jock, Doc?”

“Never.” I giggle.

“God, I missed you, Rowan. Missed your laugh.” He rests his cheek on my head.

Miles doesn’t press his body into mine, but I brush against his erection more than once while dancing. He hisses quietly and I discreetly pull my hips away, but then he pulls me in tighter to his body.

We dance through two more songs before the music quiets and dinner is called. Miles escorts me to our table and Julia pushes between us.

“I had our tables switched so I could sit next to you. I don’t know a single person here other than you, and the next player who attempts to feel me up is gonna get their dick pierced with the fucking pointy spike on these damn shoes Miles made me wear.”

“Those shoes make your legs look fucking sexy as hell though,” Dec says from the other side of the table. When Julia gives him the death stare, he holds up his hands. “I’m all for piercing my dick but not with those shoes. Besides, I didn’t try to feel you up.”

“Yet.”

“So there’s a chance?” He grins at her and she turns her back to him.

“Are all your friends this pathetic?” she asks Miles.

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“Hey. I take offense to that. I’m nothing but a gentleman. Tell her, Row.” Brock places his hand on my lower back and helps me to my chair, taking the seat to my left.

I don’t miss the growl from Miles and hold my laughter back when Julia plops herself in the seat to my right.

Dinner ends up being fun. Dec and Trent’s dates are the typical women they pick up at bars, only classed up for the event. They have no desire to join our conversations and drape themselves over the guys, who don’t seem to mind.

Julia and I chatter throughout dinner, and Brock and Miles add their own flair to the conversation, mostly adding crude or immature humor, which Julia and I both laugh at. It’s like we’re out as four friends and nothing romantic is happening, much to my dismay.

And if I’m reading the room right, Miles isn’t too happy about Julia monopolizing my attention. We’re finishing dessert when Julia checks her phone.

“Oh, fuck. Miles. We have to go.”

“What is it?” he asks, looking over her shoulder.

“The grant I sent this morning bounced back. I must have sent it to the wrong email. I have until midnight or I’ll miss this opportunity. Fuck. We need to go.”

“Can’t you resend it from your phone?”

“No.” She stands up and tosses her phone in her purse. “The email and all the attachments are on my computer. Shit. Can you get me home in thirty minutes?”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Bye, Row. Call me. We’ll do drinks some night, okay?” Julia gives me a quick hug.

“Absolutely.”

Miles reaches for my hand and squeezes. “I’d like to take you to dinner sometime, Rowan.” He leans down and brushes a kiss across my temple.

“Okay.”

I stare after him until he and Julia turn the corner. Sighing, I turn back around to find Brock is staring at me.

“I knew it.” He grins.

“Knew what?”

“You and Buck. So is this a lovers reunion or a first date thing?”

I give him a mischievous smile. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”