I finally took my eyes off Xavier to retrieve my drink from the bartender. I paused, savoring the sweet taste. When I looked back up to where Xavier had been standing, he was gone. I took that as my cue to move on and mingle about. I had invited my law school classmate, Genie, who’d permanently relocated to D.C. after we graduated. She was supposed to be coming with her fiancé. I proceeded to stroll around the first level of the club, surprised when one guy gripped my arm for a dance. Before I could even turn down his offer, a security guard came out of nowhere, effectively ending that request.
“You okay?” the burly man asked.
“I’m fine.”
He took a few steps away, checking out the rest of the crowd, but I still felt like I had eyes on me. I chuckled to myself as I took another sip of my drink.
Minutes later, I spotted Genie with her fiancé. We gushed over each other’s outfits for a few moments before she introduced me to her fiancé. I promised I’d introduce her to Xavier whenever we reunited. I had no idea where he was at this point, but it was okay since I was enjoying the music, and Genie was a riot to be around. She and I danced to countless songs together while her fiancé made his rounds with the people he knew in the building. After awhile, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see that same security guard from earlier.
“Boss man wants to see you upstairs,” he grunted.
He began moving people aside to let me pass. I grabbed Genie and informed her that we were going up to meet with Xavier. I wanted to introduce her to him. She grabbed her fiancé, and we followed the huge security guard who parted the crowded club with ease. Taking the stairs, we bypassed the second floor, which had a more laidback feel than the lower-level, but the music was still upbeat.
We followed the security guard toward the elevator that led to the third level. Stepping off, the volume of the music was considerably lower, and a much slower pace. The atmosphere up there was less flirty and more business-casual. Xavier wasn’t difficult to spot, as he stood over the two other men he was speaking with. When he took a scan of the room, his eyes landed directly on me, and my entire body warmed up as those beautiful lips spread into a grin, and that dimple appeared. My heart fluttered and Genie bumped me from behind.
“He’s cute,” she trilled in my ear.
Nah, Xavier Grant was manly, handsome, magnetic. He could never be so basic as to just becute.But I kept my comments to myself and led Genie and her fiancé toward the man who held my attention.
“I thought I was going to have to send out a search party,” he murmured, wrapping an arm around my waist.
“I didn’t want to disturb you while you were working,” I responded honestly.
His lip turned down into a frown that had me thinking I’d said the wrong thing. Not wanting to ask what that was about, I turned to Genie.
“Xavier, this is my good friend, Genie. We graduated from Georgetown together, and this is her fiancé, Garrett.”
“Pleasure is mine. Chanel’s told me good things about you. You two enjoying yourselves tonight?” he asked, taking a glass of scotch a waiter had just brought up.
I raised my brows when he took the amaretto sour that was sitting on the tray as well and handed it to me.
It was a small gesture of consideration, but made me feel cared for, for he’d considered me when I wasn’t even in the room. “Thank you.”
“You two drinking anything? Just let my guy here know,” he told Genie and Garrett. “Oh shit, I need to catch up with Steve about some things. It’ll be quick.”
“Go.” I gestured with my head for him to handle what he needed. “We’ll be fine.”
“A’ight. Mingle for a little bit but don’t go far. I’ll only be a minute,” he promised.
At that moment, Genie whispered that she needed to use the restroom, but insisted I didn’t need to come with her. Garrett eventually found a few more people to engage in conversation with, so I sipped my drink, gazing out the glass window at the lower levels. Looking at the different people enjoying themselves, I couldn’t help the sense of pride I felt for the man I’d come with. I always knew Xavier would make a success of himself. He was a natural-born leader, and while many took his relaxed, in control demeanor for being overly laid back, I’d always picked up on his underlying intensity. It seemed his mind was always working, trying to figure things out or improve upon something. He worked his ass off and deserved every ounce of success he’d earned.
Smiling, I took another sip of my drink, just thinking about all the ways in which I wanted to congratulate Xavier that night in our hotel room. However, before I could conjure up an image of all the titillating things I wanted to do to Xavier, a chill ran down my spine, causing me to frown. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
“If it isn’t the lovely Chanel Combs. It’s been quite a while,” a deep male voice intoned behind me.
A queasy feeling rose in my belly at the underlying lasciviousness mixed with charm in his voice. Slowly, I turned around to find a pair of dark brown eyes staring at me over the brim of a glass of scotch. Not for the first time, I noted how much this man looked like his son.
“Mr. Miller.”
“Now Chanel, we were almost family. No need to be so formal.” He lowered his glass and let his gaze scour over me from head to toe.
The feeling of being completely exposed under his gaze had me on edge. I’d often felt that way about Ethan’s father.
“That was many years ago, sir. How are you doing?” I tried for polite conversation.
His grin grew. “I’m well. The lobbying business continues to be good to me. I see you’re doing well yourself.” That comment was followed up by another visual perusal of my body. “What are you doing here tonight? With anyone I know?”
I shook my head. “Um, I’m with—”
