Nate understands that I’m done and launches into the latest cute thing Danny is doing. Every time he talks about the eight-month-old baby, he sounds like a proud dad.
While he talks, I walk back to my den. Joy’s perfume still lingers in the air. What I’d give to smell it all the time, to always have her in my space.
Something crinkles under my sock, and I frown when I find a piece of thick cardstock. It’s black with gold lettering and a single word on it: Crave.
I flip it over, my eyes scanning it. It’s an invitation to a New Year’s Eve party.
There’s an address, but I’ve never heard of this club. Not that I’m into clubs. Even when I was young, I avoided them. Being raised by addicts means I don’t care much for the party scene. I’ve seen where it leads.
“Have you ever heard of a place called Crave? I think it might be Club Crave.”
“Nah, you want me to look it up for you? Hold on, got my laptop right here.” He types on his keyboard then lets out a slow whistle. “It’s a playground for billionaires.”
“A playground?” I repeat.
“You know, the way grown-ups play,” Nate keeps his voice so low that it makes me think Danny is in the room. He’s been trying to clean up his language ever since he met the little boy.
I let loose with a string of profanities. No one is hooking up with my pretty assistant. If she wants a date for New Year’s Eve, I’ll be her date. No one else.
Chapter 5
Joy
“What do you think?” I ask Bobby as I step into my kitchen.
Bobby looks up from his seat at the breakfast bar where he’s been studying another script. I don’t think he’s taken a day off in years. He’s always working on his next project. “You look nice.”
“Pretty enough for a club?” I ask as I twirl around in the red sleeveless halter top dress with the sweetheart neckline. The gold-sequined sash tied on my side makes me feel extra cute. If there’s one advantage of my mom owning a movie company, it’s that I can borrow cute dresses from the wardrobe department anytime.
I’ve spent the past week eating too much ice cream and crying over Ford. I gave myself the time I needed to grieve, and now I’m trying to move on.
I’ve finally acknowledged that we’re never going to be together. He’s tattooed on my soul, and I know there’s no way I’m ever fully going to get rid of him. But I have to try for my sanity’s sake.
“What’s the game plan again?” I ask Bobby.
“I’m going to pick you up at midnight,” he says. A funny expression crosses his face. “Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?”
If it were anyone else, I would think Bobby were interested in me. But I know he sees me as a little kid sister. Tonight, I don’t want to be anyone’s kid sister. I don’t want to be an employee or an assistant. I just want to be seen as a beautiful, sensual woman.
Still, I can’t help chuckling at the idea of Bobby coming along with me. “Your parents would be furious if you were caught in this club.”
“My father would probably have a stroke,” he agrees.
“Why do you always do what they want?” I ask. I know I shouldn’t pry, but I can’t help wondering what Bobby’s deal is.
He shakes his head, a shadow crossing his features. “You don’t understand my family.”
“I know that families are complicated. I hope you know that if you need to talk about yours, I’m here for you,” I answer, surprised at how much more I like Bobby now that I know he’s not going to marry my sister. They never would have worked together.
“There’s nothing to say. No deep, dark family secret or tabloid fodder. Just boring family drama, but thanks.” He stands from the kitchen stool and wraps his arms around me, pulling me close for an unexpected hug.
I hug him back, swallowing a lump in my throat.
It’s dark by the time that Bobby drops me off outside of the club. It’s not a seedy little building like I had imagined. No, this looks like a regular office building from the outside. It’s all sleek lines of chrome and glass.
I can see a large foyer through the double doors that’s filled with dining tables and servers wandering around with trays of filled flutes and various fruits. To the casual observer, it almost looks like there’s a business party going on. But only a few people know the full truth.
Before I can step inside, a large man in a suit with a bald head approaches me. He holds out a hand as he looks me up and down, taking in my red dress and sash that shimmers underneath the streetlamp.
