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“What about the one from the gala? Has he gone on that date yet?”
“Not that I know of. She lives out in Illinois or Wisconsin, so I don’t know if that has any real potential.”
“They seemed to get along pretty good on the dance floor. At least before shit hit the fan. Speaking of shit hitting the fan—what the hell are you going to do about Scarlet? I can’t see Hammer being all that excited about you going on a date with your ex.”
“Scarlet saw the interview and gave me a pass on the date. I reimbursed her.”
Tristan cough-chokes on his beer. “You gave Scarlet fucking Reed a hundred thousand dollars to get out of a date with her?”
“Seemed like the right thing to do. It wasn’t her fault I couldn’t uphold my end of the bargain. If I’d taken your advice like I should have and manned the fuck up, I wouldn’t have been in the auction. Aurora would have and should have been my date that night.”
“That was an expensive lesson.”
“And totally worth it since I got the girl.”
Aurora’s eyes find mine from across the room. She’s so fucking beautiful, and she’s mine. I will spend the rest of my life loving her. She looks around, maybe checking to see who’s watching out of habit. Then she rolls her eyes and sashays across the bar toward me.
“And I’m out. I’ll see you later.” Tristan claps me on the shoulder and walks away.
I drink in the wide smile and impish look on her face as she approaches. “How’s it going, Princess?”
“My dad left?” she confirms.
I nod.
She links her hand behind my neck. “I feel weird about being affectionate with you in front of him,” she admits. “I don’t want to throw it in his face, but also, kiss me, please.”
I pull her close and press my lips to hers. It feels damn good to love her without reservation.
She fiddles with the top button on my shirt. “I’m suspiciously sober considering the number of margaritas I’ve consumed.”
I run my fingers down the back of her arm. “I wonder why that is.”
Her bottom lip slides through her teeth. “Switching to virgins was smart.”
I arch a brow.
She clears her throat. “The number of times I’ve masturbated to that facial expression is obscene. Take me home and put me to bed, please.”
I tap her lightly on the ass. “Go say bye to your friends.”
“Okay!” She kisses my cheek and bounces across the restaurant to where the girls are sitting. A round of hugs follows, and then we link pinkies and step outside into the cool evening.
She threads her arm through mine and rests her cheek against my biceps. “As much as I wanted to celebrate today in bed, and I absolutely still do, it was so nice to be out with our friends.”
I press my lips to her temple. “Loving you out loud feels so much better.”
“You are the best boyfriend in the universe.” She squeezes my arm. “And my dad seems to be handling things.”
“He is.” I open the door to our building and usher her in out of the cold. “We’re driving to practice together tomorrow.”
Her face lights up as I hit the elevator button for the penthouse floor. “Really? Who suggested it?”
“He did.” The elevator zips upward.
“I’m so glad to hear that.” She runs her hands up my chest. “You and my dad have been so close for so long, and this changes that, but I didn’t want the damage to be permanent, too.”
“We both love you too much to let that happen.” I kiss her softly.
