Miles doesn’t speak until I return my gaze to his. “Why did your face get all red just now?”
“Must be…” I hastily look around for a culprit before spotting a trio of candles on the center of the table, “the candles.” I point at them with my fork for emphasis, and that’s when I realize they’re flameless candles.
Smooth, Jordie. Real smooth.
“Something going on between you two?” Miles asks, eyes narrowing with suspicion.
“Absolutely not,” I say quickly, and it’s technically the truth. There’s nothingcurrentlygoing on with Phoenix and me.
He reaches across the table and takes my hand, his gaze compelling mine to lock with his. “You can talk to me, Jordie. About anything.”
My lips twist to the side for a second, and then I tell him the truth. “We spent a night together, but it was only a one-time thing.”
When Miles leans closer, the fake candlelight illuminates the widening of his green eyes. “Did you…” At my nod, he sits back and blows out a long breath. “Wow. Okay.”
I swirl a piece of asparagus through the hollandaise sauce, but I don’t eat it, instead inspecting the scowl that’s building on Miles’s face by the second. “I feel like you’re judging me.”
His forehead smooths, and he shakes his head. “Never. I guess I’m feeling…” I eat the asparagus as Miles massages the back of his neck. “Jealous.”
“You had your chance, Soren,” I tease, kicking him lightly beneath the table.
He chuckles, the sound self-deprecating. “I’ve never regretted a decision more.” His face turns serious. “I miss you, Jordie.”
“I miss you too,” I say before clarifying, “as a friend.” Because as fond as my memories with Miles are, the chemistry I thought we had pales in comparison to what I felt with Phoenix. What I still feel with Phoenix.
Miles nods in resignation, and we resume eating. “He didn’t take advantage of you, did he? Because I swear to Christ, Jordie, if he did, I will fly to Houston and beat the fire out of him.”
“He didn’t. I promise.” I lift my glass to my lips and take another drink of wine. “It was completely consensual andvery, very good.”
One of his eyebrows makes a slow ascent toward his hairline. “Very, very?”
I shrug. “I was going to say very, very,very, but I thought that might be overkill.”
“That feels like a challenge.” He smirks. “Any chance I can take you back to your hotel and see if I can get a fourthveryfrom you?”
A giggle bursts from my lips. “I don’t think so, but thanks for the offer.”
He shrugs and hits me with a dazzling grin. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
“The girls are in the bar,” I say, checking my phone as Miles pulls his sporty little car beneath the hotel’s portico. “I’ll stop in and say hi to them, just to be sociable.”
“Is Sabrina with them? Because I’d like to run in and give her a hug. Let her know I’m thinking about her.” This is one of the things that drew me to Miles. He was always sweet to my friends.
“She’s there with Carrie, Heather, Zena, Jax, and Liz.”
Miles hops out and comes around to open my door before tossing the keys to the valet. “Keep it close. I won’t be long.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Soren,” the young man says.
Miles places his hand on the small of my back, but before we can enter the hotel door, we’re interrupted by a squirrely looking dude with a cameraman in tow.Great. Paparazzi.
“Jordie, Miles. So good to see you two together again. Are you rekindling your romance?”
“No comment,” Miles says, guiding me to keep up with his increased strides.
“Yeah, but you had dinner at Flank, and now you’re going into a hotel together,” the man taunts. “Does that mean you’re going to?—”
Miles whirls around, fire simmering in his voice. “I don’t think you want to finish that sentence, you little fu?—”
