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“She give you any hints about what she wants to do to celebrate?” Whatever it is, she’ll want Tally involved.
“Her mom’s coming to visit, but I’m keeping that a surprise—unless Zara can’t contain her excitement and ends up telling her. It’s been a few months since she’s seen her.”
“Is she coming on her own, or bringing North with her?”
“Pretty sure he’s coming,” he says.
“Are they staying with you?”
“If it’s just the two of them, yeah.”
“It still blows my mind that your ex and her partner stay with you when they visit.”
He shrugs. “It’s easy because she and I weren’t meant for each other. If we hadn’t had an amicable split, it would be different. She’s a great mom to Peggy, and we get along better as friends than we ever did as a couple. Besides, her lifestyle and mine don’t mesh. I’m not the sharing type.”
“Yeah, me neither.” I sip my drink.
Zara is a total free spirit. She’s been in an open relationship with North for as long as I’ve known Roman. Sometimes when they visit, they bring an extra friend along and stay at a hotel. I don’t pretend to understand the dynamics since half the time the extra “friend” is a woman and half the time it’s a man, but it seems to work for them. Personally, the idea of sharing Aurora with someone else makes me feel homicidal. Not that she’s mine.
Dallas drops into the chair beside me and chugs a bottle of water. The hair at his temples is damp with perspiration, and his dress shirt is open at the collar. “Roman, you look like a bodyguard. Hammer is safe out there. The entire team knows better than to hit on her.”
“She would never date a player anyways. I would never allow it,” Roman adds.
I choke on my scotch.
Roman claps me on the back. “You all right?”
“Just went down the wrong pipe.” Six months ago, I was playing bodyguard along with Roman.
Tristan is out there with Rix, grinding her body against his. When she tries to spin around, he grabs her hip and drops his mouth to her ear. She melts against him. I look away and my gaze snags on Shilpa and Ash. They’re slow dancing even though it’s a high-energy song, oblivious to everyone around them. What I wouldn’t give to be able to touch Aurora like that.
“Why aren’t you two out there?” Dallas asks, pulling me out of my head.
I point to my leg. It’s the only excuse I have right now to keep me from doing something I shouldn’t.
“I don’t dance.” Roman polishes off the rest of his drink.
“Untrue. I’ve seen you out there before.” Dallas finishes his water.
“Amendment: I don’t dance unless I’m drunk, and we have practice tomorrow, so getting shitfaced is off the table.”
“Suit yourself.” Dallas hops up and heads for the girls.
Roman pulls his phone from his pocket and frowns. “Shit. I missed a call from my agent. I need to check my voicemail. You mind watching Peggy’s purse thing?” He pushes the tiny, pale blue clutch across the table.
“Sure, no problem. Take your time.”
He heads toward the exit, and I settle back in my chair, scanning the dance floor as Aurora’s favorite song comes on. Her gaze catches on her dad’s empty chair as she looks my way, and she crooks a finger, inviting me to join them.
I shake my head. It doesn’t matter that it’s all I want—to go to her. To touch her freely.
She leans in and says something to Hemi, who nods. And then she’s slipping through the crowd, weaving between bodies as she heads for me. Her hair is damp at the temples, her skin glistening. She’s just so fucking beautiful.
She leans down, lips skimming the shell of my ear. “Why are you all alone?”
I turn my head, our cheeks brushing. “Your dad needed to check a message. His agent called.”
“Come dance with us.” She leans back, eyes moving over my face. She’s been drinking, but she’s not drunk.
