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I tilt my head, looking around like I’m asking him a question. His posture stays rigid, eyes scanning the party. “I take it you’re here on business?” He sounds annoyed.
Good. I’m just as curious why he keeps turning up where I am.
“I am. And you?”
With a grimace, he scoops his hand under my arm, gently, like he’s always been, but he drags me along around the side of the house. Hedges cover any line of sight, and he leans in, tilting my chin back and waiting for just a second, long enough to get my permission, before stealing a deep, slow kiss.
It’s as breathtaking as I remember. And over way too quickly.
“I haven’t seen or heard from you in days. I was going out of my mind. Are you running a hustle on one of these rich idiots? Hellena, this isn’t a safe place to try and?—”
“Says the guy in disguise playing security guard. Are you here digging up secrets?” I let all of the sarcasm tint my words.
“I am working. You need to get out of here. Hellena. I'm not sure what you think you're doing?—”
“She’s doing what you told her to, actually.” Tell’s eyes widen at the deep and arrogant voice behind me. “Working for me.”
Shit.
Evan is at my back a second later, and I’m engulfed in two scents, that warm, crisp summer rain scent of Tyler on one side, and faint cologne and mountain air on the other. It’s like getting chilled and warmed up at the same time.
Fucking goosebumps from head to toe.
Nearly pinned between two gorgeous men has me flustered enough until I realize they’re staring each other down in a way that can only mean one thing. They don’t just know of each other.
“Soooo. How do you two know each other?” I sidestep so I can see them both.
“We’ve run into each other here and there.” Tell’s lip curls up somewhere between a sneer and a smile. “You didn’t tell me you took a job working for him.”
We’ve texted. Mostly idle flirting. Planning to plan a get-together. It’s been a crazy couple of weeks. I probably should have told him, but…
“Bullshit,” I say instead. “You had to have known what you were getting me into.”
“I told you when I gave you that card that I wasn’t sure what you’d find. I do, now.” He’s not lying. I guess Evan’s methods work, keeping his associations hidden.
“Well, I found a gig. One I actually kind of… like.” For some reason, I feel defensive all of a sudden.
“Sorry, Hella. I didn’t mean to?—”
“To insult her?” Evan looks extra bored, which means he’s wired. Extra tense. “Tyler, right? Or should I call you Gill? Maybe Stephano? What’s this character’s name?”
Tell’s shoulders tense up visibly, the vein on his head bulging as he clenches his jaw. “Funny coming from the Ken doll parasite. You’re just as good-looking as ever, DeSante. Suck anybody dry lately?”
“I’d be happy to offer you that kind of service, for the right price.” Evan smirks.
“You’d choke.” Tyler’s voice drops an octave.
“On all your lies? Certainly.” Evan leans into me, gesturing that we should go. “It’s a good thing Hellena could see right through you. Hope you enjoy the rest of the party…”
“Yeah. Hellena and I see each other, actually. I hope that’s not an issue for you.” Not that we actually have, but I don’t correct him.
“I suppose it depends on which one of ‘you’ she’s actually seeing.” Evan sniggers.
Electricity pulses between the three of us, charging the air and making my scalp tingle. A thrill zips down my spine that I have no business enjoying. If I don’t step in, one of them is going to do something stupid.
“Okay! Let's all just get back to the party that we're here for before someone notices us yelling in the bushes.” I can feel the flush of embarrassment tinting my whole body scarlet.
Both of them glance at me for a second, then back to each other. Daggers.
