His grin is lethal. “Sweetheart, I’m scared of nothing. I just don’t want to embarrass the rest of the male population in this room.”
“Wow.” I laugh and tug harder. “Come prove it then.”
And he does.
To my absolute shock. Not only can Bryce dance, he can dancewell. Confident, effortless rhythm that should be illegal. At one point he twirls me, and someone whistles. Then he leans in and murmurs, “Still pretending you don’t want me?”
I swat his arm and pretend I’m not internally combusting.
We dance until we’re breathless. Until my cheeks ache from laughing. Until Dex does a body roll so dramatic the DJ salutes him.
Then hunger…not emotional, but literal hits.
Shari reappears, hair wild, lipstick slightly messed up, eyes sparkling. “I need food immediately or I will pass out in a glamorous but medically concerning way.”
The four of us migrate to a long table covered in trays of appetizers that look both expensive and confusing.
Dex holds up a small pastry. “What’s this?”
Colby answers confidently, “Caviar pillow.”
A waiter overhears. “Actually, that’s a vegan mushroom tart.”
Colby blinks twice. “That’s what I meant.”
Bryce picks up something tiny and chocolate-coated, holding it between his thumb and forefinger as he looks at me.
“You should try this.”
“What is it?”
“No idea.” He smirks. “But it smells like sin.”
Before I can grab it, he lifts it to my mouth.
I freeze.
His expression doesn’t change… steady, focused, teasing with a layer of heat I feel everywhere.
Slowly, I part my lips.
He feeds it to me.
The chocolate melts instantly, rich and dark with caramel and salt.
I make an involuntary sound.
Bryce’s eyes flare like I just did something inappropriate in church.
Dex slaps his hand on the table. “Well damn, someone bring me ten of those. I want that reaction frommydate.”
Shari elbows him. “Calm down, Casanova.”
Bryce doesn’t break eye contact. “Good?”
I swallow. Barely. “Dangerously.”
The music shifts again and laughter rolls across the ballroom. Fireworks glitter faintly outside the windows. Everything feels warm and alive and too easy.
