Page 23 of The Wicked Love

I clear my throat before bringing the mic to my lips. “Thank you for that kind introduction.” I smile. “Ladies, gentlemen, they, those unidentified, and everyone in this room, thank you so much for your attendance tonight. Without all of you, The Chambers Hotels would not be where it is today—the most luxurious hotel in thirty-two states with four more opening before the end of the year.”

Cheers and applause once again erupt in the room, glasses raised.

I continue, “Tonight is not about me or the Chambers family. It is about you. To everyone who makes nights like this possible.”

I raise my glass in toast, and everyone follows.

“To you.”

“To us,” or “To me,” rings through the room as glasses clink.

I hand the mic off to Dante as I descend the stage stairs and rejoin Austin, Max, and Keanu.

Austin is holding two glasses of champagne and offers me one, but I decline, as I always do.

“No, thank you.”

Austin laughs. “It’s just a glass of champagne.”

I swear, in that split second, I learn exactly who Austin is. Austin is the guy who gets his way and obviously can’t respect the fact that I don’t want a glass of champagne. I won’t put anything in my body that takes me out of full control.

It takes everything in me to not flip out on him. But I need him to keep this charade going for Callum. So, I bite my tongue until I taste blood from my teeth piercing the delicate flesh.

Austin walks over to a table and sets both glasses down, leaving them before making his way back to me.

He offers me his hand, and I reach out and place my hand in his again. I wait for any tingle, any feeling at all, but nothing comes.

“Dance with me?”

I look around. He must be crazy because not one other couple in this room is dancing.

I don’t move a muscle, except for my lips. “No one else is dancing.”

He chuckles, replying quickly, “Yet.”

Touché, Austin.

I’m not quite sure what compels me, but I let him guide me to the open floor between guests, and the classical music flows through the room.

Austin places one hand on my hip, and the other stays locked with my hand, held high to our side.

Soon, couples join all around us, and before we know it, we are in the center of the room full of dancing couples.

Austin smirks. “See? They just needed the first push. Most people do.”

I smile back, playing my nice role. “So, Austin, what were you doing here today?”

He looks up, scanning the room as he says, “I was meeting my boss here. I’m an intern for a branch of The Carver Firm in Pittsburgh. But I’m getting transferred to the one here.”

Shocked at the coincidence, I respond, “Oh, really? I happen to be good friends with the Carvers. That’s crazy. Small world.”

Something passes in his eyes. Concern? Worry? Fear? I can’t tell. It’s gone as fast as it came. But I can tell you that the taste it leaves in my mouth is more bitter than when I bit my tongue earlier.

“That really is crazy. I look forward to meeting them in person. I’ve only spoken to Mr. Carver on the phone,” Austin replies.

Austin stiffens, his hand tightening around mine suddenly, and the hairs on the back of my neck rise.

But then I feel a hand at my back, and I can tell it’s Keanu without looking. I could recognize his scent anywhere, like fresh linen with a citrus undertone.