“What’s wrong?”
“Claudia!”
“Still my name!”
“Don’t you remember what happened that night?!” Sophie squeaked, grabbing Claudia’s arm. She bugged her eyes, staring at Claudia until her memory caught up.
Her eyes rounded with recognition. “Oh. My. God. That was the guy you made out with?!”
“Yes,” she gulped. “I panicked and gave him the wrong number.” Sophie's throat went dry as he stalked straight to them, his eyes bored into hers.
He wore a dark linen button-up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showing off the Celtic knots she'd noticed the first time they met.
“Sophie, right?”
She nodded mutely.
“Well, hello there. I didn't think I'd see you again.”
“Hi. You’re here?”
“Yes, I am, I am a part owner.” He turned to Claudia. “I didn't know you two knew each other…”
“So of all the clubs, she walks into yours!” The whole table could hear Claudia’s harsh whisper. Sophie wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole.
“I see you’re playing the play party roulette.” Aiden nodded at the chip next to her drink.
“Yes she was!” Claudia nudged her elbow. “I was telling her how the club was expanding!”
“Lidia talked me into it,” she confessed.
“Meant to be?” Aiden met her eyes in silent challenge.
Sophie bit her lip, nodding in silence. His presence hasn’t changed since that night. She felt the familiar zing of excitement she’d experienced that night many months ago.
It was the martini, it had to be. Sophie wasn’t this careless and unguarded otherwise. It was the same thing that happened the night they met.
“I wouldn’t want to change your plans.”
“I’ll take it!” Claudia plucked it from the bartop before she could argue. “She obviously has someone to play with, so she doesn’t need it!”
Sophie was going to kill her. They were best friends for over a decade and a half, but at this moment, she wanted to run her over and then cry at her funeral.
To further add to her humiliation, the strong-jawed man that Aiden was with before he came over had joined their gathering.
“This is my business partner and co-owner, Zack.”
“Hello. I had to come see who had my business partner so enamored that we missed our conversation with Jenkin’s that night.”
“I apologized and fixed it, remember? I was otherwise occupied.” Aiden’s eyes darkened. “There were more pressing matters.”
Sophie remembered the smell of his cologne mixed with her perfume when he pinned her in the dark corner, and they kissed like teenagers.
Aiden glanced over Sophie’s head and smirked. “Seems as though Claudia left you in our care, Sophie.”
She looked over her shoulder and sighed at Claudia’s abandonment.
“Come with us, we will give you the tour if she hasn’t already.” Sophie took Aiden’s extended hand, leaving her drink behind as he led her away.
