“He’s a walking pitch deck.All style, zero code.”
“So, you’ve hung out with him before?”
“I’ve avoided him before,” I correct.“There’s a difference.”
And now—now I know exactly why my instincts flagged him.
He left this woman.
Sage.
He saw her value...and passed.
And that makes him the dumbest man in Seattle.
Which, frankly, is a competitive title.
I spin her again, then pull her back."He's watching us, by the way.Looking constipated."
She glances over my shoulder."Oh my god, he does look constipated."
"Probably the strain of dating someone young enough to be his daughter's older sister."
"That's a very specific age gap."
"I'm very good with numbers."The song is building to its crescendo, and I make a decision."Trust me?"
"With what?"
Instead of answering, I sweep her into a dramatic dip, holding her suspended as the music swells.Her eyes go wide, but she doesn't panic, trusting me to hold her safe.
"Show off," she breathes.
"Efficiently showing off," I tell her, pulling her back up as the song ends.
Applause ripples across the dance floor, and I'm suddenly aware we've attracted attention.Several couples have stopped to watch, including?—
"Oh shit," I mutter.
"What?"
"My grandmother.Two o'clock.Moving fast."
Sage turns to look, and I catch her hand."No sudden movements.She can sense fear."
"Luke!There you are!"Nana Sterling appears as if summoned by dark magic, resplendent in navy silk and enough diamonds to fund a small country."And this must be Sage!"
"Nana—"
"Don't 'Nana' me.You were holding out."She turns to Sage with laser focus."He didn't tell me you could dance."
"I can't," Sage says."Luke just?—"
"Nonsense.I saw that dip.Very nice."She links her arm through Sage's, effectively stealing her."Come.You must meet Eleanor Reeves.Connor's grandmother.We have so much to discuss."
"We do?"Sage looks back at me helplessly as my grandmother drags her away.
"About the wedding, of course!"
