I wager how much to tell him. Though I don’t dislike Simon, I’m not entirely sure where I stand with him.He’s friendly, flirtatious, even, but he hasn’t made a pass at me or tried to kiss me and I’m in heat. He’s an alpha. Luke can barely keep himself together half the time—I know, I can see the way he longingly stares at me—but Simon hardly looks at me with anything but mischief.
It’s… odd.
“I ran into Luke this afternoon,” I say, figuring that’s safe enough. “On a run.”
“I see,” he says, sipping his drink. “Would you care to dance?”
I chew on my lip, weighing how to answer. Is this his ploy? His move?
As if he can read my mind, he sets his drink down in the corner next to mine.
“I promise I can keep my hands where Jesus can see them, darling.”
I laugh at his snarkiness.
“You can trust me more than you can trust any alpha, in this room.”
“Is that so?” I ask, my gaze appraising him. Simon grabs my drink and practically downs it in one gulp.
“It’s not you, it’s?—”
“I swear if you sayme…”
Simon smiles, his perfect teeth making his natural dark features stand out all the more. He looks like a vampire, or rather the sparkly kind people like to hate on.
“It is me, unfortunately.” He sets the glass down, offering me his hand. I carefully take it as he lifts it to his lips.
His kiss on the back of my hand is polite, warm. He doesn’t hover or linger like an interested alpha should.
His gaze lifts as he drops my hand, and I note the way his entire body tenses and his breath catches as he looks over my shoulder.
“There you are, Simon, I’ve been looking all over for you.” Charlie’s voice carries from behind me. And then I smell that heady scent of apple pie, and my own breath hitches.
I turn to see Luke standing there in his suit he bought the other night. His pants cling to his hips perfectly, his suit jacket drawing attention to his long arms, his thick muscles.
His dark hair is swept back, and I note he’s shaved, which makes him look like a whole other person. My insides heat, my thighs suddenly feeling rather moist.
“Luke,” I say, my voice cracking because holy hell on wheels…
Lucas Pembrook is like something straight out of my wildest dreams.
He catches my gaze, his green eyes sparkling beneath the light of the chandeliers.
“Emily Marie,” he says, licking his luscious lips.
Lips I know taste as sweet as they look.
“Emily has promised me a dance,” Simon says, his voice shifting back to a tone of arrogance. I’ve noticed that he speaks this way in front of Luke and Charlie, mostly.
When he is with me and his sister, his tone is more carefree. But I suppose that’s a natural alpha reaction. It’s just another way for him to assert his dominance.
“Has she now?” Luke says, clearing his throat.
Simon winks at me so quickly I know the others don’t catch it, and suddenly I realize the game he is playing is one that works in my favor.
If there is one thing I’ve learned with Luke, it is that he needs to be pushed. And seeing me with another alpha—primarily Simon—is something he can’t stand.
So I nod as I take Simon’s hand, smiling gleefully as I say, “Yes, I would love to dance with you, Simon. Thank you forasking.” I shoot a glance at Luke who stares at me with stoic reverence as Simon chuckles.
