It felt so amazing to be held by him again. He was so strong and tall, even with my heels on, and his scent was divine. I recognized it as the cologne I used to buy him immediately.
I knew that night was short-lived, but in that moment, I didn’t care. I would savor it as much as I could, until I had to let reality back in.
I was Cinderella at the ball, and until midnight struck, that’s who I would remain before my pumpkin-shaped Jasper appeared to clog up my freedom again.
That recurring thought raised its head.
How did I get here?
SEVEN
STORM
“I can feel your fiancé’s eyes drilling into the back of my head. Any advice?” Reed whispered in my ear as we swayed to the music. He had his hands on my waist, and mine were now on his shoulders. I decided to remove them from around his neck; it looked too intimate.
“Just avoid copping a feel in plain sight, and you should be OK,” I replied as I pulled my head back and looked him in the eye.
“Damn it,” he cursed, mischief threaded into that expression. “I was banking on the chance of at least half a grope.”
Fuck I had missed him. I felt his fingers slide against my bare back—the slightly calloused tips tracing my skin, before coming to rest at the base of my spine.
“He’s probably still sore about the fact that I thrashed his ass at golf.”
“Well, there is that. There is also the fact that you made a fool out of him during brunch. You should be careful, Reed. He doesn’t like to lose.”
He shrugged his wide shoulders and whispered with a cheeky grin. “I’ve taken bigger dumps than him.”
I tried to bite my lip closed to stop the laugh, but a chuckle left my mouth anyway. “You’re so gross, Reed,” I said with a shake of my head. I used to love that refreshing, coarse way he spoke sometimes. It was so raw and real. Being brought up to appear perfect and say the right things was draining. Reed’s unfiltered tongue had been such an eye-opener when I’d met him as a stuck-up sixteen-year-old.
“Anything to make you smile, baby. Your laugh is still as adorable as it was four years ago. And you love my uncouth side; it balances out your society girl.”
“Do you still eat with your mouth open?”
Dimples appeared when he grinned. That was new. “Only to piss you off, sweet cheeks.”
“You didn’t at the club. Was that for my fiancé's benefit? To prove you fit in?” I knew what I was saying wouldn’t hurt his feelings. Reed knew how to play the perfect gentleman when it suited him, but he also loved to shock. He hated airs and graces and all that fake bullshit.
“I didn’t need to prove anything. I’m as good-looking as fuck and have an arm like a cannon, so life is pretty good right now, and besides, your fiancé was being offensive enough for both of us.”
“You shouldn’t have made those snide comments. You made it clear that he’d rattled you. You’re a celebrity; surely your PR team has explained how important it is that you hone your poker face. Maintain a stiff upper lip in public.”
He yanked me closer and said in a dark voice. “I’ll show you stiff, sweetheart. Just say the words.”
“Reed!” Could he take anything seriously? That would be no.
He rolled his eyes, dropping his teasing attitude. “Well, what did you expect? The fucker was on my ass the entire game, and then when we got to brunch, he just couldn’t let it go. His nose got bent out of shape first, and so I retaliated.
“You’re really going for the he started it crap? What are you, ten?”
Reed probably didn’t even realize that Jasper knew of our past relationship. He must have just thought Jasper was being a possessive jerk at the club.
“Anyways, let’s forget about that pretentious jerk-off with his lame ass golf handicap. You look gorgeous in this dress,” Reed said with a head tilt as we danced. I wasn’t aware of anyone else on the dancefloor; I just saw us.
I smiled, basking in his compliment.
“Although you’d look much better out of it,” Reed said with a wolfish look.
“Reed,” I warned in a low voice. “Can’t we at least try to be friends? Without the suggestive comments?” I sneaked a glance at the couple who were dancing the closest to us, but they appeared wrapped up in their own conversation.
