Portia slapped his arm.
“Ow!” He rubbed his stinging biceps. “What was that for?”
“You haven’t paid attention to a word I said.”
True, though he’d never admit it. “Of course, I was. Blah, blah, blah, Tommy. Blah, blah, Tommy’s so amazing.” Killian pitched his voice to a high falsetto. He’d teased her like this since the day she’d announced she was in love with his other best friend. A longing for simpler times flashed through him. He added “Tommy’s so dreamy” and a fake swoon with his hand on his forehead.
“You’re horrible.” Portia smiled. “Horrible, but not wrong. He’ssooodreamy,” she parroted his tone, “and great in bed.”
“Stop, please stop,” he cried, half serious, half not.
She laughed. Killian raised his glass to his lips, remembering it was empty too late. “Whereisyour handsome husband? He promised me another drink.”
“You know him,” Portia said. “Probably saying hello to everyone he sees.” Still, she scanned the crowd around them.
Tommy Gilmore was flighty and flirty and the life of any party. Portia was the serious one in their close-knit trio, weighed down by too much work and too little appreciation from her father. And Killian? He was the one who just didn’t give a damn anymore.
He loved his friends, used to love his life. Part of the investor class, he and Tommy had grown up with no responsibilities, as well as too much money and not enough sense. Unlike Portia, the only expectations Killian’s family had ever placed on him were to sit back and enjoy the money that rolled in from long-ago investments.
That had been enough for his father and grandfather. Enough for him too. Lately, though, he was so fucking bored. What waswrongwith him?
Killian eyed his empty glass. Wait for Tommy or fetch his own damn drink?
This was what his life had come to—an existential crisis around an empty glass.
“Excuse me, Ms. Tremaine?” The confident voice behind him was pitched loud enough to be heard over the music and the chatter. Probably some damn newsie wanting a photo. Another party, another front-page story about the rich and the beautiful doing nothing.
He pasted on his fuck-you-paparazzi smile. Next to him, Portia had done the same. They turned in unison to face the interloper. Bracing for a blinding flash and an obnoxious question or two, Killian came face-to-face with a stunning woman in black synth-leather—and froze.
“Well, hello there.” He swapped his paparazzi smile for his most charming.
But her attention was on Portia, and she was completely ignoring him. That was unexpected.He blinked, but didn’t dim his smile.
For a second, he almost wished she was a newsie.Theynever ignored him.
God, you’re such an asshole, Killian. Make up your mind.
He watched the newcomer, envying her concentration. Her focus. He’d never been that intent on anything. He and Tommy had tried anything and everything. Partying. Drugs. Never a job, though—that seemed a little extreme. Was that all it took? Portia would laugh her head off if she knew what he was thinking.
Enthralled by the courier, Killian stepped closer. What would it take to get all that attention focused on him?
“Urgent delivery for you, Ms. Tremaine.”
Before Portia responded, their trio was joined by a disgruntled-looking security guard. He was panting and his face glowed red. Exertion or embarrassment? Either way, Killian didn’t appreciate the interruption.
“I told you to wait.” The guard directed his ire at the lithe courier.
Killian turned toward the guard, intent on protecting the courier. Wait, what was he doing?
Portia waved the man off. After a burning glare at the courier, the guard stomped off.
Killian sighed. Sometimes, when people got between the Tremaine heir and company business, blood was spilled and lives were ruined.
Not tonight, though. Too bad—it would definitely liven things up.
While Portia attended to the ritual of accepting the package, he watched the courier. His interest in the woman far outweighed his curiosity about the package.
The courier wore her fair hair in braids. The simple hairstyle drew attention to her vivid blue eyes. Although surgery and modern lenses made any eye color possible, Killian was sure hers was natural. No one in her position would spend credits on such a useless upgrade.
