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God. I have no idea why I stayed with him for so long.
Elliot raises his eyebrows, tilting his head and watching me closely.
“Oh my god,” I murmur. My whole body feels like it’s on fire. “I didn’t mean to say any of that out loud. Oh, fuck.”
Turning away, I cover my face with my hand. Now I look like a girl who’s baiting him for sympathy and attention. Dammit.
“Hey.” His voice is gentle as he takes my wrist in his hand, spinning me to face him. “Don’t worry about it. He’s obviously been on your mind.”
“I wish he wasn’t.” I shake my head, sighing. “I’m so sorry, Elliot. I didn’t want to dump any of that on you.”
His arm slips around me, and I can’t help but relax into him. He smells so good. “Let’s get you a distraction, then. Me and the guys can keep your mind occupied.”
I practically melt at the grin he gives me. And as he pulls me across the ballroom, I notice the undeniable heat building in my lower stomach. I know he probably didn’t mean he and his friends would keep me occupied that way, but I can’t stop my brain from going where it wants to go.
When we join the two men leaning against the wall, Oliver’s face lights up. Rhett gives me a small nod, his eyes traveling over my body and making me squirm.
“You look like a princess,” Oliver says, leaning in and kissing me on the cheek. He smells of vanilla and a woodsy musk scent that has my head spinning.
When his lips brush against my cheek, I lose all words. These three men have completely invaded my senses, and my body is drawn to them in a way my mind can’t quite comprehend.
I’m sure it’ll catch up eventually.
“Finish your punch, Wren,” Oliver says, looking at me like I’m a toddler who just did something cute.
For some reason, I find myself doing exactly what Oliver told me to. When my cup is empty, Elliot takes it from my hand.
With a gentle push in Oliver’s direction, he says, “Have fun.”
Then I’m in Oliver’s arms as he whisks me to the dance floor. I let out a giggle. Both his arms wrap around my waist, pressing me into his hard chest.
Finally, I remember how to speak. “You look nice, too.”
“You’re adorable,” he murmurs, and I feel my world spin as he dips me backward. I grab onto his shoulders before realizing I don’t really need to. This man is strong.
When he pulls me back up, I gasp in a breath. His eyes crinkle as he smiles. And right now, with the music filling my ears and his very presence dizzying my senses, I’m pretty sure there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep that grin on his face.
“So—uh, how do you know Elliot and Rhett? Are you friends? Business partners?”
“We met in high school, and we’ve stuck together ever since.” One of his hands leaves my back, coming up to brush a few stray hairs out of my face.
“That’s nice,” is all I can manage.
His fingertips linger on my skin, skirting across my jawbone. When they fall to the sleeve on my arm, I let out a breath. No man’s touch has ever affected me this way.
Geez. What is it about these guys?
Thankfully, I’m able to pull myself together more quickly this time. I smile up at him, and he returns it with an easy grin.
“Tell me, princess, what do you like to do other than read?”
“Hmm.” I tilt my head toward the ceiling, frowning like I need to think about it. Finally, I say, “I like puzzles. And word games. Oh! And I love being outside. Well, when the weather is warmer. Snow and I don’t really get along. It makes me anxious.”
His smile fades for a moment at that last part, like he’d do anything to make sure I’m never anxious again. But the crack in his happy composure only lasts for a split second. “Puzzles, you say? And word games? My god, you really are just as much of a nerd as Elliot.”
I clasp my hands behind his neck. “You’re not?”
He shrugs. “School was never my thing. Although after watching Elliot and Rhett over the years, I must say, knowledge really is power. But there are plenty of types of knowledge—book smarts are only one of them.”
