Page 34 of Overruled

Eighteen

Dani

“Are you sure we were invited?”

I catch Nate gaping at the crystal chandelier and open my mouth to answer, but Vera is one step ahead of me. “Technically, you weren’t. You invited yourself.”

“As if you didn’t want me here,” Nate huffs. “We’re a threesome.”

“Don’t call us a threesome,” I groan.

His brows knit. “A posse?”

“Not better,” Vera sighs. “Also, inaccurate.”

“I don’t even know why I’m here,” I hiss, linking my arm with Vera’s to keep her close as we weave through a sea of crisp suits and idle chatter. “I must be insane.”

“Pfft. We all know why you’re here,” Nate snorts. “And his name is—”

“If you like your balls,” I warn, “I wouldn’t finish that sentence.”

“Testy,” Nate tuts. He whips his head around, searching the area. “Isn’t there supposed to be an open bar at these things?”

“I hope so,” I mutter.

Nate tugs on Vera’s other arm. “Let’s go get our baby bird some liquid courage.”

Vera arches her eyebrow. “Why do I have to go?”

“I only have two hands,” Nate points out. “I can’t carry everything.”

She narrows her eyes suspiciously, but eventually unwinds her arm from mine before giving me a look. “Stay here. We’ll be right back.”

I watch them go, Nate already teasing Vera about something that’s making her scowl. Her midnight-blue dress complements his navy suit perfectly, almost like they planned it, but I know if I were to point that out, they’d both kick me, most likely. Well, Vera would.

Stay here, I scoff internally. As if I know anyone here. It seems all of Alexander Hart’s guests are over sixty, and none of them look nearly as friendly as my parents’ work friends. Most of them look like they haven’t smiled in years. It’s daunting, and it makes me wonder again why I came.

When Ezra texted me details about the party as promised, my immediate urge was to blow it off, to assert again that I wouldn’t be attending.

But something about his expression when he’d told me about it, the almost eager tone of his messages when he asked…

I couldn’t seem to find it in me to say no to him.

Which is nothing new, if I’m being honest. I’m just having a harder time pretending the urges aren’t there now.

“Champagne?”

A pretty brunette in a vest and tie offers me a flute and a smile. I take one gingerly, returning her smile with a nod. “Thanks.”

“Of course,” she says back before continuing through the crowd.

I take a sip as I scan the groups of people littered about the wide ballroom, looking for signs of Nate and Vera. Knowing them, they’re probably arguing at the bar over what to bring me. I’m not looking for golden-brown hair or a teasing grin, that’s for sure.

Seriously, what am I doing here?

“Ah, Ms. Pierce,” a dry voice says behind me.

I bristle as I turn, recognizing it. “Mr. Hart.”

Alexander Hart looks the same as I last saw him—completely put together and just as cold. “I wasn’t aware you were coming tonight.”

“Neither was I,” I answer coolly. “My invitation was last minute.”

His grin isn’t at all friendly, and I don’t like the way his gaze travels down the length of my clingy, red dress. “Well, the more the merrier, I say. Anything for charity, am I right?”

“For charity,” I echo. “Right.”

“I assume Ezra invited you?”

“He did.”

His eyes are calculating, and I keep my expression carefully blank.

“I hear you have been doing well representing dear Bianca,” he remarks, bringing his own glass to his lips, his blue eyes still on me. “But you have always given Ezra a run for his money, haven’t you.”

“I try,” I answer tightly.

“He must really…respect you,” Alexander says with that same unkind smile. “It is rare for him to invite friends to these functions.”

“I don’t know if I would call us friends.”

“Oh?” Alexander leans in closer, enough that I can smell his too-strong cologne. “What would you call yourselves then?”

“Dani.”

I take a step back from Alexander to put distance between us, finding a very irritated-looking Ezra standing beside us. “Ezra.”

He’s gorgeous in his tailored black suit, his golden skin and hair seeming richer against the dark color. Even angry, his green eyes are hard to look away from. It’s why I’ve always done my best not to look too deeply. I’ve always been afraid I might get lost there.

“I was just complimenting your…friend on her efforts with the Casiraghi case,” Alexander explains. “Ah.” He flashes me that creepy smile again. “But you said you are not friends, correct?”

“Senator Wilson is looking for you,” Ezra tells his father evenly.

Alexander nods before winking at me, and I have to fight back the urge to shudder. “Duty calls, I suppose. It was good to see you, Ms. Pierce.” He levels a stare at Ezra, clapping him on the shoulder. “Come say hi. The senator and his wife are big supporters.”

“Sure,” Ezra mutters sullenly.

I wait until he’s gone to speak. “I know he’s your dad, but that guy gives me the creeps.”

“Yeah.” Ezra’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “I didn’t think you were coming.”

“Neither did I,” I tell him honestly.

Like his father’s, Ezra’s eyes sweep down the length of me, but this time, it fills me with heat instead of the chilled sensation Alexander left. “You look…” He pauses, working through a swallow, and I feel goose bumps creeping across my skin as he takes in my red silk dress. “You look amazing.”

“Thanks,” I say quietly. I clear my throat, looking past him at the room we’re standing in. “This place is…something.”

“Alexander has never been one for subtlety,” Ezra tells me.

I nod. “I can see that.”

“I’m really glad you came,” he says in a low tone that’s meant just for me. “I have to go talk to them, but…stay? I’ll find you in a bit.”

The old Dani would argue with him, would be bristling at him telling me what to do, even posed slightly like a question, but this Dani…she’s nodding. Subtly, but still.

“Okay.”

This time his smile feels more real, and it surprises me how much I enjoy seeing it.

“Good.” He reaches to gently brush his fingers over my elbow, and even this slight touch is enough to fill my stomach with butterflies. “I’m glad you’re here.”

I open my mouth to answer, but the words won’t come.

This is all new territory for me. So I nod again, because it’s all I can think to do.

I watch him weave through the crowd, my eyes lingering on his back for far too long, long enough that I don’t even know how much time has passed when I jolt at a hand on my shoulder.

“Where did you find champagne?” Nate quizzes. “I got you one of those Popsicle drinks you like.”

I glance at the amaretto sour in his hand, grinning. “I guess it wasn’t a complete mistake bringing you.”

“Arguable,” Vera says, sipping her cosmo.

Nate rolls his eyes. “We all know you both love me.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” Vera chuckles.

Nate takes a long draw from his whiskey glass, winking at her before making a satisfied sound. “So? Are we going to liven this party up? Hit the dance floor?”

“I will not be dancing,” I say immediately.

Nate hooks his arm in mine, a feat as I am now holding two drinks. “Like hell you aren’t.” He shoots Vera a pointed look. “You too, grouchy.”

“Call me grouchy again,” Vera says with narrowed eyes.

Nate grins. “It’s called foreplay, babe.”

I can’t help the laugh that bubbles out of me. One day, the two of them are either going to make each other very happy, or I’ll be representing one of them for murder. No in-between.

“Whatever,” Vera huffs. “One dance.”

“That’s the spirit,” Nate cheers.

He looks down at me expectantly, and my eyes unconsciously flick to where Ezra disappeared briefly, tearing them away immediately after and downing the rest of my champagne before setting the glass on a nearby table.

“What the hell,” I say.

Nate beams. Vera barely hides her smile.

I’m still trying not to look for Ezra.

···

Dancing to a string quartet in a group of three people is just as difficult as it sounds, but Nate is nothing if not determined. His good humor has always been infectious, even though I hate to admit it, and by the time the third song ends, even Vera is laughing, albeit grudgingly.

“I need a break,” I tell them both at the end of the song. “My feet are killing me.”

“Never understand why you ladies wear those toe stranglers,” Nate says.

I point at said toes. “I have to stay in shape for my side business on FeetFinder.”

Nate wrinkles his nose. “I’ve seen your feet. Not sure you’d be killing it over there.”

“Rude,” I tsk. “I’ll have you know I charge per toe.”

He waves me off with a roll of his eyes. “Go take your break, Bilbo.”

“Vera?” I shoot her a look. “You coming?”

Nate grabs her arm, pouting. “Don’t be a square. You wore sensible shoes for a reason.”

“I didn’t have dancing with you in mind when I put on my shoes,” she says with a hint of amusement in her tone.

He waggles his brows. “Be that as it may…”

“Fine,” she huffs. “One more.”

“That’s my girl.”

“I’m not your—”

“Yeah, yeah,” he laughs.

I shake my head as they move further into the crowd of geriatric fat cats shuffling in a much less ostentatious manner than my friends, casting them one last grin before I weave my way out to the edge of the ballroom floor.

There are still people lingering about; murmured conversations surround me on every side, and I’m struck with the realization that almost a half hour has passed since Ezra disappeared into the throng with his father.

I can’t help but let my eyes pass over the sea of people, but he’s nowhere to be found.

No doubt still networking with Alexander.

Although, after what I’ve seen of their interactions of late, I can’t help but wonder if it’s something Ezra actually wants to do or it’s something expected of him.

I don’t know what’s more surprising about the idea of it—the fact that it might be true, or the fact that I’m wondering about it in the first place.