A small amount of nerves and guilt return. Guilt because of what I did last night with a stranger even though these three men have made their interest obvious, and tiny excited butterflies. I smile at the three of them, but before I can do anything else, my twin notices I’m here.
“Jazzy, there you are! I thought I was going to have to come up and drag you down.” Jaxon strides over to me and yanks me into his arms, hugging me tight. “All good?” he whispers for my ears only, and I nod my head, unable to answer with how tightly I’m pressed against his chest.
He pulls back and looks at me carefully, and I have a moment of panic that he’s going to know, but he just smiles and drags me out of the doorway. Greetings are shouted at me from every direction, and it’s not long before Nana grabs me and drags me over to where Emma and Molly are still pinned down by Lindy and Rowena.
“It’s a rescue mission,” she whispers out of the side of her mouth, and I smother a chuckle.
Emma and Molly stand up, and both of them give me a hug, Emma whispering in my ear, “Kill me now.” I can’t smother the chuckle that bursts out of me this time.
“Why are you so happy?” Lindy asks, raising an eyebrow as I sit down at the table. Before I can answer, Jaxon comes over and hands me a glass of champagne, giving me a kiss on the cheek.
“Thanks, bro,” I say to him as Hope and Harlow join us. Harlow’s champagne glass has OJ in it, so she must be having mimosas, but Hope’s is full of sparkling golden champagne. I clink glasses with both of them.
“Happy birthday to my sisters,” Hope says loudly, and everyone cheers. I down half the glass before putting it down in front of me.
“How was your night?” Harlow asks, taking a small sip before placing it back on the table.
A blush colors my cheeks, and Hope snorts. “I’ll tell you later,” I whisper out of the corner of my mouth just as Lindy pipes up again.
“What happened to you last night, Jacinta? I saw you head downstairs to dance with the public, but you didn’t come back up to the VIP.”
Harlow reaches for her glass and takes another sip, hiding her smile. Bitch is going to let me deal with this on my own. Straightening my spine, I plaster my public Jacinta smile on my face. I can’t stand this woman, and she’s one of the reasons I’m grateful I’m not running Couture anymore. I know her contract is coming to an end, which must be why she’s making nice with Molly and Emma. I’m about to deliver an epic slap down, but Hope jumps in.
“We had a blast dancing the night away. The dance floor on the public level issomuch better than the one in VIP. Everyone lets loose and doesn’t care what anyone else thinks.”
“You totally missed out,” Rowena says, a smug grin on her face. “There were so many celebs in the VIP area, like Sean Walsh, Jarred Reed, Cayden Storm, Hayden Christie, a couple of members of Sanctuary of Chaos, and even Selena Cross and Evangeline Masters.”
Hope snorts. “Declan has most of them on speed dial, and Evangeline is one of Jacinta’s closest friends. All those celebs were there because one of the Summers invited them. Sanctuary of Chaos reached out to me for an invite. They were back from tour and wanted to blow off some steam. I was happy to put them on the list. They’re great guys.”
“Who are you talking about?” Holden comes over and leans in, giving Harlow a kiss, his hand pausing on her belly for a moment. They share a secret smile, and my killer gossip instincts kick in.
I stand up.“Oh, Hope was just schooling Rowena on how all of last night’s VIPs were there by invitation from us, which Lindy should have known anyway. Who wants another drink? Harlow?” I ask, heading for the temporary bar that’s been set up on one side. I pour the three of us some more champagne, but a hand on my arm startles me, and I knock one of the glasses over.
“Shit,” I hiss, grabbing a cloth to wipe it up while giving myself a moment to get my breathing under control.
“Are you okay, Jazzy?” Jace’s Southern drawl brings a shiver down my spine like it always does, and goosebumps erupt on my skin under his hand. When my eyes meet his unmatched ones, they’re shadowed despite the smile that’s on his face. I hadn’t realized until this moment how much I had missed him. We’d spent a whole week hanging out and drawing and doing shit together when we were in Prague and afterward at Chuck and Melinda’s. I wouldn’t hesitate to say that apart from Harlow and Hope, Jace is probably my best friend. But that’s not all I feel for him, and I don’t think it’s all he feels for me. My head just really isn’t in the right spot for any kind of relationship, let alone the complicated one I think he wants to entangle me in along with the two men standing at his back.
“Oh, hi. I, yes, I’m okay. You just startled me,” I tell him, my breathing coming a little bit faster. Over his shoulder, Alex and Shane are looking at me with the same kind of laser focus. I had only seen them briefly after the kidnapping because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to see the pity in their eyes when they looked at me. To my relief, all I see now is concern.
“Hi, guys.” Even to my own ears, my voice sounds breathy. Alex and Shane reply, but I don’t hear it because Jace has pulled me into a tight hug, pressing a kiss to my head.
“I was so fucking worried. Thank God you’re okay. Youareokay, aren’t you?” He pulls back and studies me hard, so I put a fake grin on my face and wave a hand.
“Of course! Nothing a few good therapy sessions won’t sort out. Now, tell me about you guys. How are you all? Are you excited for your first show, Jace? Emma and Molly showed me some of your designs, and they are freaking gorgeous! I can’t wait for the world to see your line. Everyone is going to want to steal you from us.” I tuck my arm into his and turn him so that Alex and Shane aren’t left out of the conversation.
My tongue just about falls out of my mouth when I get a good look at the couple. Alex’s golden blond hair is longer on top than normal, and he’s got it styled over to one side. His gorgeous, tall model body wears anything and everything well, but he looks particularly snazzy today in a pair of slacks and a polo with a popped collar. In contrast, Shane’s slightly shorter form is stockier but just as nice, and he’s wearing simple jeans and a shirt. His gray-streaked brown hair is combed back, held in place by something, and his beard has been trimmed short. They make such a delicious couple, and Jace’s ice-blond boyish looks and black-rimmed glasses fit in perfectly. They would belong on the cover of any magazine.
A shiver shudders down my spine, and I can’t control it. All three of them see it, and the worry changes to something very different.
“You look gorgeous as always, Jacinta.” Shane’s gravelly voice is a whole sensation on its own to my heightened senses, and I involuntarily squeeze my hand on Jace’s arm. He chuckles quietly.
“You certainly seem to be radiant.” Alex is frowning slightly as he looks closely at me, and my pulse speeds up, but he quickly shakes it off. “To think you went through such a harrowing ordeal only weeks ago. You look like you’ve just returned from a spa.” His over-the-top compliment makes me smile.
“Are you guys going to New Orleans with Jace for the launch of his line? Have we booked you to walk in it, Alex? And you to photograph it, Shane? I’m afraid I’m a little out of the loop now that I’ve handed the reins over to Emma and Molly.”
Before they can answer, a voice interrupts. “Why is Jace getting a show while nothing has been booked for me?” Alex’s and Shane’s faces blank at the sound of Rowena’s voice, and Jace’s body tenses behind me. “Do I need to sleep with you too to get somewhere in this industry?”
ChapterSix
