“What’s going on?” Reese lands beside me, resting her arm over my shoulder as she pants out of breath.
“We’re heading in, sweetie.” He drops a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll have your envelope on your pillow by the time you get upstairs.”
Reese’s eyes glisten with tears as she nods.
Her stepmother leans into her. “Warren is looking for you, love. Rumor has it he has a dozen long stem roses with your name on them.” She gives a quick wink. “Enjoy the night.” They take off for the house, and Reese continues to glare at her stepmother long after she’s gone.
Roses. A girl like Reese deserves roses all year long.
“What are the roses for?” I’m already sorry I asked. It’s probably a housewarming gift and she’ll slap me for even looking in her direction.
She glances down, and I note the silver tiara on her head.
“It’s my birthday.”
Oh shit.
“God, it’s your birthday?” I ask as if she’s contracted some fatal disease before wrapping my arms around her waist to comfort her. My chest pounds wild over hers, and I’m panting because it feels as if Reese were lost, and I found her again.
“Yes.” She looks up from under her lashes and gives a sad smile. “And I was so afraid I wouldn’t see you.” Her eyes drift down to my arms latched around her, and I can feel her body go rigid.
“Sorry.” I drop my arms to my sides. “I got carried away.”
“No, don’t be.” She pulls my hands back around her waist, low to her hips right where I want them to be. “You had it right the first time.”
“Reese.” A tiny smile floats to my lips. It’s her birthday. I’m sure every person here has offered her a hug. I’m sure if she had to she could play it off, but a small part of me wants to believe she has me holding her for an entirely different purpose.
A shadow darkens the overhead light, and I glance up at Warren before doing a double take.
“Enjoying the party?” He jumps down from the retaining wall.
Neither Reese nor I say anything, neither one of us moves.
“I asked if you were enjoying the fucking party?” He slams into my shoulder and knocks me back a good three feet. The band starts up again, and my head starts to throb.
“Warren, stop!”
“I’m not stopping.” He charges at me again. “Was this shit fuckingtouchingyou?”
“Relax.” Reese lays her hand over his stomach. “He was just wishing me a happy birthday. Cool it will you?”
Warren takes another step in, and I’m ready to bury my fist in his chest—give him a fucking heart-stopper right here as a gift to Reese and myself.
Reese glances from Warren to me as if she were at a crossroad.
“Here, let’s dance.” She pulls him by the fingers and they disappear into the tangle of bodies.
The crowd moves between us like a busy New York sidewalk, and all memory of the brief exchange with Reese—with Warren—melts away like an illusion.
I glance back at the crowd and find my sister staring at me, so I head over.
“Where’s your boy toy?” I gruff. I’m ready to kick some ass and A.J. is as good a place to start as any.
“Where’s your girl toy?” she counters. “Oh, wait. She’s dancing with herboyfriend. How does it feel to be second rate?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
I head back to cabin because God knows I do know.
