Page 123 of Brazen Obsession

“Brat.” He runs his fingers over my dangling earring.

I mock pout up at him. “Your brat.”

“Mine.” His smile turns wicked. He turns to Drew. “I’m going to make her come at the table while you watch.”

Drew chuckles and says in a dry tone, “Oh no. Don’t do that. How scandalous.”

Dante shakes his head and offers me his arm. “If you need a timeout⁠—‍”

“Just say mercy?” I smile graciously at him.

“Ah, pip, we’re going to have so much fun tonight.” Dante leads me to the door.

“After my mother leaves.” I point at the others who follow us and then at Dante. “I will not have my mother seeing any of this—‍” I wave in their general direction. “Decorum is expected until the adults leave.”

“We are the adults.” Dante opens the door for me.

“You know what I mean.” I grab my skirt and Drew escorts me down the steps to the car.

The lighting is dim and people are everywhere in the ballroom. The point of the masquerade theme isn’t really to disguise yourself from anyone. After all, this is an event. Everyone wants to be seen and to see who’s here and who they’re with.

We move into the room and head to our table.

“Finny!” a voice shouts from across the room above the din.

Finn flinches as we turn toward Olivia Clark. She has a mask on a stick over her eyes and she lowers it as she hurries toward Finn with a broad smile. Before she can make contact, I step in front of him.

“Olivia, how nice to see you again.” I give her my best smile.

She stops and looks at me. “Yes. Hi, Sara. How are you?”

She tries to sidestep me, but I step in her way. Finn’s hands go to my waist and he moves up against me, holding me like a shield between him and the blond.

She practically stomps her foot. “Excuse me, Sara, but I’d like to talk to Finny. In private.”

“Anything you need to say can be said here,” he says.

Olivia’s face turns a little red. “You’ve been avoiding me.”

“Not particularly.” Finn’s words tickle the hair beside my ear.

A shiver goes through me. I smile at Olivia. “We’ve been busy. Haven’t we, Finn?”

I turn slightly over my shoulder to meet his mischievous green eyes.

“Desperately, flower.” He smirks. “I can’t get enough of you.”

Olivia’s eyes narrow on us.

“I thought you were dating Drew Young.” Olivia glances over at Drew as he walks back with Wyatt and our drinks. She almost looks smug, like she’s caught us in a lie.

“I am.” It’s the truth.

“And she’s dating me.” Finn slides his arm possessively around my waist. “Well, really, we’re all living together. Is that still considered dating, darling?”

“You’re living with Finn Lawson and dating Drew Young?” Pretty sure we just blew Olivia’s mind. Any sense of decorum she might possess goes out the window as she stares at me with her mouth open.

Dante steps up next to me. “Maybe I can help clear up matters.”